Eve’s Dining Room Makeover: Before and After
We’re excited to share the after photos of Eve’s dining room makeover. When Eve reached out in February for decorating advice, we recommended paint colors for the fireplace, walls, and trim, plus a few affordable accessory ideas for the window and table. Those small changes created a dramatic, elegant update without a big budget. Below is Eve’s note about the transformation:
“When I first contacted you for help I promised myself that not only would I implement your recommendations immediately, I would also immediately send the after pictures. Here I am three months later – but I have an excuse… I cannot believe that such a simple thing like paint color can have such a grand effect. I LOVE MY ROOM NOW! The change was so immediate and so wonderful, I wish there was a way to capture the feeling of the room in my pictures. The new curtains made quite a difference too, and a quick trip to the basement helped me to uncover a white mirror I had purchased for my daughter’s room and never hung (it found a home on the fireplace wall). The paint colors you suggested are colors I would never have chosen, even as I made the purchases I was nervous of the end result. I’m so happy I trusted you. Walking into the house now gives me a sense of peace and order. At first my family and I felt like we were living in someone else’s house. Now we want the whole house to feel this way! You guys are awesome, THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! – Eve”
Here’s the before photo of Eve’s dining room. Her goal was to make the space feel more glamorous and luxurious:
And here are the after photos showing the refreshed room after a few strategic, budget-friendly updates:
The difference is striking. The transformation was achieved with a handful of inexpensive changes:
- Repainted fireplace to update its look
- New wall color to create a luxurious, unified backdrop
- Larger mirror above the fireplace to reflect light and add scale
- New curtains and blinds to frame the window and add softness
- A neutral runner on the table to break up the heavy wood and add warmth
Here’s the budget breakdown Eve shared. It demonstrates how accessible a high-impact dining room makeover can be:
- Wall paint (Glidden’s Silver Plum): $23
- Fireplace paint (Glidden’s Ready Mix White): $23
- Mirror: free from basement
- Curtains & blinds (Ikea Ofelia Rund curtains, Target clearance jute blinds): $33
- Plants & planters in window (planters from Ikea): $28
- Tabletop accessories (from Pottery Barn & Ikea): $50
- TOTAL: $157
For under $200, the room gained a calmer, more polished atmosphere. The updated wall color and crisp trim create a sophisticated canvas, while the white fireplace paint and oversized mirror brighten the space and add a refined focal point. Window treatments bring softness and proportion, and simple tabletop styling gives the dining area personality without clutter.
We suggested that Eve might consider staining or repainting the table a darker mocha tone in the future to fully complete the look. She hasn’t tackled that yet, since it’s a bigger project, but the room already feels inviting and finished. The change proves that thoughtful color choices and a few well-chosen accessories are often all you need for a dramatic before-and-after result.
Congratulations to Eve for taking the leap and trusting the recommendations. Small, intentional updates can transform how a room feels and how you experience your home. What do you think of Eve’s dining room makeover—did she do an amazing job?
Update: We no longer accept commissioned mood board clients and now focus on general inspiration boards. If that changes in the future, we’ll announce it.