Updating Your Dining Room

This is one of my favorite makeovers because I took a dated dining room and transformed it to reflect a more contemporary, global style with simple changes you can do as well.

One of the easiest ways to update the look of a dining room is to swap out the chairs.  In this makeover, I bought woven, sea grass chairs because I love the contrast of textures against the dark wood of the table. It also immediately changed the design style of the room from traditional to ethnic.  If you prefer a more modern setting, then chose upholstered or leather parson chairs as an alternative.

The china cabinet also appeared very '70s, but by removing the glass doors, we now have an open hutch to appreciate the collectibles and pottery. Displaying formal china in a hutch is very predictable, so my suggestion is to include other pieces such as vases, decorative boxes and even sculptures for more visual interest. Don’t forget about the top of the china hutch either—this is a great display ledge for decorative elements, too.

And I must say, one of the biggest mistakes I find as a designer is when a homeowner places a ceiling fan above the dining table. It's neither decorative nor functional! Instead, hang a beautiful light fixture above the table, which has more presence and defines the dining room space. Also, a designer trick is to install a dimmer switch to control the mood lighting in the room for dinner parties.

These simple changes can help change the look of your dining room without spending too much money. The key is to work with what you have and add some new pieces to get a brand new space in the end.