If the kitchen is the heart of
the home, then the dining
room may be akin to one
of its arteries. The mood created
in the kitchen spreads to
the dining space where family
and friends gather to eat and
enjoy one another’s company.
Dining rooms can get lost
in the home renovation shuffl
e, as many homeowners tend
to focus on renovating kitchens
and bathrooms instead.
Homeowners do not have to
invest a lot of money in renovations
to give their dining
spaces awe-inspiring makeovers.
Here’s how to do so on
a budget.
• Lighten and brighten.
Dining rooms were once very
formal spaces. Dark woods,
large pieces of furniture, overthe
top chandeliers, and other
details could be found in many
homes. But now that houses
are being built with open fl oor
plans, dining rooms can blend
with other spaces, which have
moved to lighter colored walls,
fl ooring and furniture. A fresh
coat of vibrant paint can work
wonders and it doesn’t cost
much. If you can’t remove a
fl oor, cover it with a brightly
colored area rug.
• Switch things up with
slipcovers. Slipcovers can be
changed each season to dramatically
COURIER LIFE, D 22 ECEMBER 10-16, 2021
alter the look of a
dining room for little investment.
Slip covers also protect
chairs and can be easily laundered
after spills.
• Add fl oating shelving.
Floating shelves provide muchneeded
storage or display
space without the need to invest
in another piece of furniture.
Depending on the shelving,
they can work in modern
design schemes or even farmhouse
dining spaces.
• Clear out the clutter. It
might be time to say “so long”
to that large curio cabinet and
the knickknacks within it. Curio
and china cabinets used to
be de rigueur, but plenty of
people now prefer more open
and airy dining rooms. For
those who want to keep the
cabinet, try decluttering inside
to only include the very
best display pieces and see if
the cabinet can be refi nished
with paint or a lightly colored
stain.
• Improve lighting. Make
the chandelier the statement
piece of the space. Go for a
bold color or an innovative
design. Then add accessories
throughout the space that coordinate
with the chandelier.
• Add bench seating. Those
who need additional seating
may not have to get entirely
new furniture. Swap out some
chairs for benches, which can
fi t a couple more guests than
chairs.
• Create depth with color.
HGTV says that using various
Homeowners do not have to invest a lot of money in renovations to give
their dining spaces awe-inspiring makeovers. Metro Creative Connection
shades of the same color in a
space can add depth. Coordinate
drapes, walls, seat fabrics,
and accessories for a cohesive
design.
Renovating a dining room
doesn’t require a large investment
of time and money. A few
simple steps can give dining
spaces a whole new feel without
busting homeowners’ budgets.
— Metro Creative Connection
Home
Budget-friendly dining
room renovation ideas
Catch All NFL & NCAA Football Games Here
2022 BEST OFBK. COM
BEST RESTAURANT
AMERICAN/CONTINENTAL
WE REPAIR & BUILD COMPUTERS
Austin Air Purifiers • Air Conditioners
WITH COUPON ONLY. EXP.DECEMBER, 31, 2021
WE ARE OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY
36
/EXP.DE