Transform a basic dining room into a beautiful traditional space with classic details and playful pattern in fabric and wallpaper choices. Get the scoop on lighting, wallpaper, decor, and more in this lovely dining room makeover photo tour.
This dining room has taken a very different style turn from the one in my last home. We went from farmhouse style to traditional, and it has been so much fun to learn how to decorate in a whole new look!
It all started when I realized the farmhouse furniture I had built and brought with me from my former home was 1) too big for this new space and 2) not the right style for my home.
While I worked out a plan for decorating the room, I initially had the walls painted Kendall Charcoal above the wainscoting.
While I was selling my farmhouse table and media console, I was generously gifted my grandmother's dining room furniture set. Not only is it the perfect size for my room, but it also fits the more classic style of my home.
So, I set out to make the room coordinate with the furniture!
The Design Plan
Before I start any room makeover, I create a design plan to see how all of the pieces will work together. Seeing everything "in the room" is the main goal of the design plan. You can find the full dining room design plan here.
I made plenty of tweaks along the way. I also hired an interior designer (Sydney Collins Interiors) to help select a few details, like the trim tape, chair fabric, rug, and lamp shades. She also helped it coordinate with some adjacent rooms.
The second purpose of the design plan is to keep me focused, on track, and able to picture the end result. I always feel lost in the middle of a project and start to doubt myself. With the plan in front of me, I can stay the course and trust the process.
You can learn more about how I create this design plan in my post: How to Make a Mood Board (in 3 Easy Steps!).
Dining Room Sources: Buffalo Check Curtains | Countryside Morning Wallpaper | Brass Curtain Rod (I prefer the old style, so I bought it on Ebay.) | Brass Curtain Ring Clips | Square Glass Curtain Finial | Dori Sisal Rug | Mirielle Embroidered Trim Tape in Porcelain | Jane Churchill fabric Marla in Teal | Paint Color: Oyster Bay (SW) | Linen Lamp Shade Fabric in Light Blue
Traditional Dining Room Tour
This dining room is on the main floor of our home, just to the left as you walk in the front door. I wanted it to be a showstopper with its own style and vibe.
It's a beautiful room with layered board and batten on the bottom third of the walls and detailed crown moulding. Two windows face southeast, and two doors lead to the entryway and butler's pantry.
My vision included several beautiful patterns and a focus on a blue and green color scheme.
If you love this style, check out my blog post on Grandmillennial Style.
Dining Room Before
Let's take a look at the original photos of the dining room from when we moved in. This pistachio green is making a comeback in home decor, but it isn't my taste.
I initially painted the top two-thirds of the room in Kendall Charcoal to coordinate with my existing furniture and called it good for now.
When I received my grandmother's antique dining furniture, I wanted a room that showed off the beautiful dark wood. And here's how it looks now!
Dining Room Paint Color
I originally planned to paint the trim and moulding in Carolina Gull by Benjamin Moore. In the end, I went a bit lighter with Oyster Bay from Sherwin Williams.
I wanted a light-medium green to create more contrast between the walls and the furniture. But Oyster Bay offers less contrast between the blues and greens, so I may repaint it darker in the future.
The green walls and wallpaper made the furniture look less red. I know green sits opposite red on the color wheel, so that's expected. But it was really noticeable when half the room was still gray and the other half was green.
I really love Oyster Bay, and it coordinates beautifully with Comfort Gray in the kitchen. I'll use Comfort Gray again in the laundry room, so the colors will flow nicely from one room to the next.
Traditional Dining Room Wallpaper
I had originally chosen a floral tree wallpaper that's very popular right now. Honestly, its popularity and more modern feel turned me away from the first wallpaper we had selected.
So, when I went back to Sydney for other ideas, she suggested this green toile wallpaper. It worked perfectly with the Oyster Bay paint, and it's absolutely beautiful!
I love that it has a traditional style and depicts a forest scene with sweet little deer and a cute bird. It feels very reminiscent of our backyard.
Learn How to Install Paste-the-Wall Wallpaper.
Ornate Brass Mirror
The mirror was one of the first purchases I made for this room. I knew it was perfect the moment I saw it. At more than 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, it makes a statement and bounces light all over the room.
The mirror's frame is actually metal, and it's very heavy and sturdy! I love it so much.
Dining Room Drapes with Trim Tape
The taupe buffalo check curtains were chosen to balance the floral wallpaper. It's a classic geometric pattern that also echoes the plaid painted wall visible across the entryway in the office.
I added blue trim tape to the curtains to make them more custom and to bring a pop of blue to that side of the room.
Recovered Seat Cushions with Blue Geometric Fabric
The dining chairs were originally covered in maroon needlepoint floral covers. They were handmade by someone in my family, so I first planned to have seat covers made to go over the cushions.
I pulled in a fabric with a smaller blue geometric pattern for the seat covers.
But then I decided the 80-year-old seat cushions needed to be replaced. So I took on my first-ever reupholstering project and shared it here: How to Reupholster Dining Chair Covers.
Dining Room Lamps and Lamp Shades
The blue and cream pleated fabric lamp shades are one of the biggest splurges in this room. I tried to find something comparable for less, but either it wasn't in stock or the color wasn't right. These handmade shades are perfection, so I saved up for a few months to order them.
The double gourd lamps are also gorgeous and more than I would normally spend on a lamp. But again, sometimes a less expensive option just isn't quite right.
I tried these double gourd lamps first to see if they would work. I liked them, but they weren't the right color. (One is now in my office, and I LOVE it there!)
At first I worried the white lamp base would look too stark, but it's a beautiful white that coordinates well with the wallpaper background. I know I'll treasure these lamps and shades for life.
Dining Room Chandelier
This gorgeous Visual Comfort chandelier is a stunning 8-light brass fixture. I have the sconce from the same line in my powder room.
I first spotted this chandelier two years ago when I started looking for a replacement dining room chandelier, and I fell in love with it. I kept an eye on it until it went on sale for Black Friday.
Then I waited almost 6 months for it to arrive. The brass is beyond beautiful, and the curves and details are perfection. I'm so glad I saved up for this beauty.
Funny story: I knew I wanted a ceiling medallion above the chandelier. When it came time to install the chandelier, I had completely forgotten to get a medallion. So I quickly ran to Lowe's and found the best one available. I don't love it, but it's probably too much of a pain to change at this point. Ha!
Dining Room Rug
This natural fiber rug has a lovely fish scale pattern and a rubber backing to keep it from sliding around the floor. I wanted a jute or sisal rug in this space to bring in a contemporary feel and tie it to the many other natural fiber elements in my home.
I originally bought a two-toned diamond sisal rug but sent it back, because it competed too much with the other patterns in the room. In the end, I love the subtlety of this rug, which still has a little bit of pattern.
Traditional Dining Room Finishes
I've added just a few finishing decor touches to the room, and not too many. I like to let a room evolve over time, so I plan to add art later as I find pieces I love.
For now, the square glass finials on the curtain rods are one of my favorite details.
I also added these plates to the wall between the curtains. The pear platter is no longer sold, but it inspired this room's color scheme, so I had to include it somewhere!
The colorful key tassel on the china cabinet adds another layer of beauty and whimsy to the room.
The faux orchid in a blue and white bowl is something I bought last year with this makeover in mind. I knew it would look perfect in the middle of the dining table.
And finally, I found the antique brass candle sconces at a local thrift store. I love how the blue tapered candles repeat the secondary blue color.
How do you like the room makeover? I'm so happy with how it turned out, and I hope you find inspiration for decorating the next room in your home!
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