Dining Room Before & Afters

The DIYer and her family spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so they needed ample seating.

“I feel like I am in a Parisian cafe every day,” the DIYer says.

This DIYer’s advice? “Don't be afraid to go bold.”

It looks like a work of art!

“It’s a real showstopping space,” the homeowner says of the “after.”

The “after” adds color and drama but still feels bright and cheery.

The blue reminds me of wildflowers!

There’s not a lot paint and wallpaper can’t fix, according to this DIYer.

“Put on some music, kick everyone out of the house, and have fun,” the homeowner and designer says. “Nails and glue gun required.”

This homeowner’s advice? Don’t be afraid to go bold.

The furniture is secondhand but so elevated.

The new dining room looks like it could come from an episode of "The Jetsons."

Yes, it’s possible to make your rental’s white walls look chic without painting them.

A few extra steps helped the DIY look totally luxurious.

Who knew you could do this in a studio?

Some DIY tricks helped me pull it off.

“This sun-soaked nook has lived MANY lives,” the homeowner says.

The after is “a really unique design and a real focal point” in the approximately 50-square-foot space.

The homeowners wanted “something brave,” and the designer they worked with delivered.

There's now a dash of color in an unexpected spot.

This once-blank space is now a collector’s dream.

The after mixes a modern touch with the home’s historic charm.

Now, it’s warm and functional for a family.

“I’m proud that we were brave with our color choice despite some initial apprehensions,” the homeowner says.

A cheery blue paint color and statement-making wallpaper came in clutch.

The new space looks like a swanky lounge at your favorite fancy hotel.

Because the DIYers already owned the plywood and the base of the bench, the project was basically free.

This dining room kept the classic black-and-white color palette, but everything else is totally new.

The cabinets may be new, but they’re designed to fit in with the architectural details of this 1926 home.

“I've been wanting a new table for the dining room for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity to go a bit ‘extra’ on it,” this DIYer says.

This home was part of a Sears catalog kit, and many of its original features can be seen in the living room today.

The new kitchen feels a lot more inviting.

Vintage furniture and a fresh light fixture help, too.

Nope, we didn’t drop a zero on that total cost. Budget-friendly DIYs were the key to this dramatic transformation.

A family has a place to gather for $300.

DIYing as much as possible helped keep costs low, and allowed for splurges on bigger ticket items like appliances.

This accent wall is pure sunshine.

Wait until you see the fridge.

This dining room bar feature goes from too-small to totally grand.

The space is bright and welcoming now — a far cry from the blah brown of before.

The new look is perfect for the home's Palm Springs location.

These homeowners took a value pack of MDF baseboards and made magic on their dining room walls.

This pro restorer used historic photos to help revive his 1960s aluminum trailer.

This couple used BILLY bookcases to cover an awkward door and add much-needed storage to their historic condo.

And the most epic record storage shelving unit fit for two chefs and music lovers.

There's a little something for every style here.

This IKEA hack didn't require any power tools.

Goodbye, "very thick layers on layers of wallpaper." Hello, moody, family-friendly, vintage-inspired space!

For $180!

During Meredith Svoboda's final walk-through of her Nashville home, she photographed the dining room, "dreaming of the life I could bring to this room," she writes.

Painting a large-scale indoor mural doesn't have to be so daunting. After all, it's only paint!

Some snazzy wallpaper and new paint do a lot to make this kitchen feel bigger and more inviting.

This complete basement overhaul was a three-year labor of love.

Strategic wallpaper placement helped up the drama in this sophisticated dining room redo.

"My three goals were to make the room fancy, fun and functional and I believe that I achieved all three," this DIYer says — the perfect trio for a formal-meets-family-friendly dining room.

The multiple projects involved in this room redo help give it tons of character.

"I got some raised eyebrows when I told people I was painting the dining room pink and painting a mural on the wall," DIYer Natalie Metzger says. But her advice when it comes to paint is to "just go for it."

The new dining room mixes old and new to create the perfect balance.

This DIYer was inspired by fond memories of the passed-down camper from when she was a child.