A Dated 1980s Dining Room Gets a Chic Makeover That’s Like “Being Immersed in an Oil Painting”
Some home design trends are destined to become classics that never go out of style (think: Shaker-style kitchen cabinets, hex floor tiles, and picture frame molding). But others are definitely more short-lived (remember spray foam decor?).
The dark red wallpaper in this 1980s dining room definitely fell into the latter category. Homeowner Alexis Moore (@alexisnicolemakes) says the space hadn’t been updated since it was built, and the overall effect was drab. “It felt super outdated and lacked my personal style,” Alexis says. While there were some nice aspects to it — like the hardwood floors, the natural light, and the openness of the space — Alexis didn’t have any love for that overwhelming red wallpaper.
As part of the One Room Challenge, Alexis decided to give her dining room a makeover over the course of just eight weeks. Here’s how she turned this dated space into a cozy, vintage-inspired dining room.
The wallpaper got a cover-up.
The old wallpaper had seemingly been pasted directly to the drywall, making removal a nightmare. So instead, Alexis just skipped that part, painting directly over the wallpaper with a paint color in a shade that’s sort of tan, sort of gray (Sherwin-Williams’ Hardware). The secret to success? Lots of prep work, including filling in holes, skim coating the walls, and priming. “It was scary, but with lots of prep work, you’d never even know!” Alexis says. (Find more tips for painting over wallpaper here.)
Above the chair rail, Alexis installed a beautiful vintage-inspired forest wallpaper (Wall Blush’s Wdded Woodlands).” I have never wallpapered a space this large! It was a tad scary, especially with the investment that wallpaper can be,” Alexis says. “I had a friend who has more experience with wallpaper come help me with the first few panels and gained the confidence I needed to finish the project solo!”
“New” furniture transforms the space.
While the furniture is all fresh to Alexis, most all of the pieces in the final look are secondhand. The table and chairs came from Facebook Marketplace, and the buffet came from Habitat for Humanity Restore. (Alexis also sold her old table, chairs, and buffet on Facebook Marketplace to offset the cost.) “The vintage pieces are also my favorite touch to any space as they add character to a space and give a lived-in cozy feel,” Alexis says.
Final touches got just as much attention.
Alexis got a lot of her decor secondhand as well, including the oversized antique-looking mirror. What she didn’t buy used, she bought at a discount; the lamp, for instance, is a HomeGoods find for just $30.
“One thing I always tell friends is don’t settle for a piece just because it’s the only thing you saw when you spent 20 minutes looking,” Alexis adds.”If you invest time, I bet you can find just the thing you wanted!”
Her persistence in her own home paid off, creating a space that’s absolutely bursting with drama. “I have a collection of antique oil paintings, and this room makes me feel like I am just immersed in one,” Alexis says. “I love the character, the moodiness, and as always proud I did it myself and of all the things I found and used secondhand!”
This project was completed for the Spring 2025 One Room Challenge, in partnership with Apartment Therapy. See even more of the One Room Challenge before and afters here.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.