Add Life To Your Dining Room With $50 and 5 Minutes: 8 Designer Ideas

Let’s be honest: dining rooms tend to collect dust for most of the year — a sit-down dinner at a table for six just feels unnecessarily formal when you have the kitchen island (or let’s be honest, the sofa) calling your name. But come November, the dining room gets its moment in the spotlight. From Thanksgiving dinner to holiday brunches and beyond, dining rooms play host to some of the most festive and anticipated gatherings in the last three months of the year.

So, is your dining room ready for its close-up? If the answer is no, never fear — we have a handful of quick, easy, and inexpensive ways to refresh your dining room in five minutes or less. From fresh flowers to musical chairs, the following designer-gleaned tips will prep your dining room for hosting season in a snap. Keep scrolling for our expert tips ranging from zero to roughly $50.

1. Dining room decor: Swap your seating

If your dining room furniture is feeling a bit stale, we highly recommend playing a quick game of musical chairs. Swap in an office chair or a set from your breakfast nook for a cool mis-matched look that feels fresh and modern. It’ll make your space feel brand-new for a grand total of zero dollars.

2. Dining room decor: Fresh your drapery

Add a soft pop of pattern and color to your dining room with some fresh curtains. You can go the custom route for heirloom-quality prints, or just hit Target or Home Goods for a quick and affordable pair that’ll switch up your design aesthetic. Remember: Hang them high and wide to make your space look big and breezy.

3. Dining room decor: Add a floral centerpiece

The easiest, most timeless way to add new life to a dining room? Fresh flowers. Bring a vase out of storage and pick up some cheap blooms from Trader Joe’s for a quick and easy glow-up that’s beautiful and a touch festive. In just a few minutes, your dining room is dinner party-ready.

4. Dining room decor: Hang artwork

Dining rooms deserve a little design love, too! Skip the blank walls and bring in some artwork, even if you’re just borrowing a piece from the upstairs bedroom or basement for the evening. Paired with greenery and a few decorative elements, your dining space will feel ready for hosting season.

5. Dining room decor: Add drama with candles

Nothing makes a meal feel special, celebratory, and a touch festive like burning candles. Bring a few of your favorite holders and tall tapers out of storage for a subtle touch of drama for the evening — they lend the perfect touch of ambiance.

6. Dining room decor: Lay a table linen

This is the perfect solution if your dining table has seen better days, or you just don’t love the design anymore. Go the custom print route with The Inside for a beautiful, high-quality piece, or order a crisp white table cloth on Amazon for an inexpensive refresh. The addition of fabric adds the perfect touch of texture and softness to any dining room.

7. Dining room decor: Bring in fresh fruit

If our Havenly photoshoots are any indication, we fully embrace the humble fruit bowl when styling dining rooms. This easy and inexpensive trick adds a beautiful natural element to your table that feels both effortless and elevated. Best of all? It’ll run you less than five dollars.

8. Dining room decor: Think seasonal

When in doubt, look to the outdoors for inspiration. From apples and pears to dried hydrangeas, cinnamon sticks, and fresh-cut branches, the holiday season offers a plethora of natural elements to play with — some of which you can find in your own backyard. You can use these items to create your own centerpiece or elevate place settings in minutes.

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