How to Redecorate a Dining Room

Your dining room is a place where you entertain family and friends. It can be a casual space where your family gathers to have dinner and discuss their day or a formal place used only for special occasions. However you use it, your dining room should be welcoming and uniquely you. If your dining room is looking a bit tired, with faded wall coverings, outdated furnishings and lackluster window dressings, it may be time for a makeover. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Decide on a decorating style for your dining room. Study decorating magazines and books. Make notes on the dining rooms you like best and why.

2

Empty the room. Take out all the furniture, rugs, everything hanging on the walls, including window coverings and removable shelving. If you intend to replace light fixtures, take down the existing ones.

3

Measure the room and draw a floor plan to give yourself an idea of what size furniture to use.

4

Replace worn carpet. Clean existing carpet if you are keeping it. Pull up carpet to expose wood floors or have wood or tile floors installed. Roll out an area rug under the table. Be sure it is large enough that when the chairs are pushed back, they are still on the rug.

5

Cover the walls. Choose colors. For a small dining room, keep the colors light. Make a large room cozy with the use of deeper hues. Paint or paper the walls. Highlight them with wainscoting and crown molding if you wish.

6

Dress the windows. Coordinate your window treatments with the room's colors. Choose window coverings that reflect the decorating style you chose.

7

Repurpose items. Decide what to get rid of and what, if anything, to keep. Use furniture pieces, art work and collections that fit your new decorating style. Reupholster chairs to coordinate with your new color scheme and dcor. Strip the finish from your dining room table and paint or stain it to go with the wall colors, window treatments and flooring.

8

Purchase or acquire new furniture. Choose items that are proportionate to the size of your room. Take into consideration how you intend to use your dining room. Think about how many people you will be accommodating and how often it will be used. Opt for a table and chairs that can stand up to wear and tear if your family will be dining there often. If space is at a premium, go for a drop leaf table that can be opened for guests but folded down when not in use. Buy a sideboard for linen and china storage and to provide an area to set out food. Pick out a china cabinet with glass doors to display collections and fine china.

9

Accessorize the room. Dress the table with a table cloth or place mats. Highlight the table and sideboard with floral arrangements or centerpieces of your choice. Display fine china and crystal on shelves. Hang a grouping of platters on the wall above the sideboard. Choose paintings, prints and photos that reflect your style.