How I Turned A Boring Dining Room to Show Stopping

Hello Loves!

Since we moved into this home this past April, this boring dining room has stumped me. Actually, it hasn’t. I knew what I wanted. Problem was I have champagne dreams on less than a beer budget. I’m more of a Natty Light budget in a Solo Cup if you know what I mean. I wanted (and still do if I’m being honest) wallpaper. Some people cringe when I say that. I have no idea why. I’m not talking about your great-grandmothers wallpaper here, or maybe I am, if your great-grandmother had exceptional taste.

I wanted Schumacher wallpaper in my dining room, but the price between the wallpaper and the wallpaper hanging people to do three-half walls–yes, you read that right, three-half walls, was going to be a whopping…wait for it…wait for it… Six Thousand Dollars! 

After I picked my jaw up off the floor and gave my heart a giant smack so it would beat again, I said not today Satan. Not today. So I had three options the way I saw it. I could save my money for the next ten years to afford the wallpaper, and by that point I wouldn’t want the wallpaper anymore, I could sulk in bitterness of pretty things being so expensive, or I could pivot. After some sulking in the chip bag, I decided to pivot.

I knew I wanted dramatic and moody for my dining room. Something that screamed classy, rich, and warm–mind you on my Natty Light budget. So what’s a girl to do? Pull out her paint brush and suck it up buttercup. So, that’s what I did. And while I may not be the best painter in the world, OK, maybe I am the worst, I think the transformation turned out alright. But, I’ll let you decide for yourself.

Before. As you can see we needed a little help.

Dining Room   Dining Room

And After!

So, it’s not my dreamy wallpaper, but I think it’s pretty dreamy all it’s own. I spent about 400 dollars on paint and paint supplies, because naturally I had to buy everything, from tarps, to rollers, to brushes, tape, paint, etc. The color I picked was Sherwin Williams, Smokey Blue. I’d used it in my old house and loved it. The velvet green bench is a new find from Marshalls at steal of 150 dollars. Everything else I pulled out from closets, moved around the house, and it all landed where it did.

As the months go by, I am sure I’ll make more changes. Maybe a cherry piece of furniture on that empty wall? Or when spring rolls around, changing the curtains and the bird pictures to something more colorful? But for now, I love it. And if you love it too, I created an Amazon shopping list for you where you can mimic this style! You’ll find it here.

Remember, everything you buy, I make a small commission from at no extra cost to you!

Happy shopping and happy decorating. And remember, show me what you do!

 

Always check back here where you’ll find Stories with Heart and Homes with Heart!

XOXO,

Erin

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