Six DIY Dining Room Upgrades Under $200

You don't need to renovate your whole room to get more out of it. Here's how to redo your dining space on a budget.

Updating your dining room can give you a good reason to gather around the table for a meal as well as upping your entertaining game. Improving your seating, storage, and the overall design of your space can help you get more out of your dining room, but those upgrades can add up quickly. Luckily, there are some updates you can DIY on a budget that will still help you transform your space and make it a magnet for gatherings.

Add a chair rail or wainscoting panels

If you have a large wall or two, or if you have a few doorways or windows, adding some millwork can upgrade the look of your space without costing too much. You can choose to add a chair rail for around $6 per eight linear feet, making this type of molding the most affordable. You can also choose to use a decorative trim to create custom box frame molding, also for about $6 per eight linear feet. Adding some wainscoting panels can also give you the feel of a more customized space for around $6 per linear foot. For this project, you’ll need a miter saw and finish nailer to DIY.

Add some sneaky storage

Taming clutter without banishing serving items to a faraway closet will make your dining space more user friendly while also giving you a cleaner, more well manicured look. You can choose a low profile corner cabinet for around $80 to stash servingware and linens, keeping the clutter down while also not taking up too much floor space. You can also opt for bench seating with storage for around $170 to hide some of your linens or accessories while also adding some seating.

Create a display for dishware

If you have some favorite dishware, you can turn it into a display as well as giving you a convenient place to keep it. Add some ledge shelves $70 to perch your dishes on, or you can choose a larger bookshelf for around $120 as a display piece. If you have a smaller collection, you can also choose a wall-mounted shelf set to create your display.

Swap out curtains and chair fabrics

A new tablecloth can change the look of your dining room, and you can usually find a great one for under $50. But you don’t need to stop at the table to make over your room. You can also swap out your drapes for between $40 and $60 per window. If you’re tired of your chairs, you can add slip covers to change them up for between $18 and $40 per set of four. The nice thing about slipcovers is that you can also take them off to launder them, making them easier to clean.

If you have dining room chairs with upholstered seats, you can give them life with new fabric for around $15/yard. You can estimate that each seat will use about a yard of fabric.

You’ll need a screwdriver and a staple gun. You can take the old upholstery off by removing the seat from the chair by unscrewing it from underneath. Then detach the old fabric by prying out the staples holding it one and then use the old fabric as a pattern to cut your new piece. Then, you can rewrap the new fabric over the chair seat and staple it onto the underside of the seat and reattach it to the chair by screwing the seat back on.

Add some bold lighting

Adding a big chandelier can give your room a new look while also improving the quality of your lighting for around $180. You can also opt for a natural fiber woven fixture to create a more airy, botanical feel for around $120. Make sure to turn the power to your light fixture off at the breaker before doing any work on removing your old light and installing your new one. You’ll need a screwdriver as well as wire strippers and wire nuts to connect your new chandelier.

Add a wet bar

Even if you don’t have the space for a wet bar, you can add a bar area to your dining room for tea, coffee, or your favorite spirits. A bar cart is one way to add a drinks feature to your dining area for between $60 and $170, but you can also opt for a cabinet for around $200 with a countertop surface with more storage and a larger prep area for making more complicated drinks. Adding a bar space is a perfect opportunity to repurpose vintage and thrifted furniture as well. An old dresser, desk, or console table can be easily remade into a bar area as well, often for free or cheap.