In yesterday’s Weekend Recap, I mentioned that I’m starting to tackle a little makeover in our dining room. And I supposed I shouldn’t even call it a makeover since it’s never really been “made” to begin with. So, it’s more like a completely blank slate that I’m now officially ready to tackle! The big decision is: to paint or wallpaper to bring the room to life?
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Our Current Dining Room
As of last week, our dining room still looked like the image below from our spring home tour.
The initial plans for our home (which is essentially a spec home with a few modifications) didn’t have a dining room. This area along with Kurtis’ office were actually supposed to be a side covered porch. But, with us already having a large porch out front, as well as a screened-in covered porch out back, we really didn’t need another outdoor space. So we chatted with the builder, and they agreed to carve out these two rooms for us. Thankfully it was relatively inexpensive because they had already planned for a roof over this area, so it was just a matter of fully closing it in!
DINING ROOM SOURCES: Dining Chairs | Dining Table | Rug | Chandelier | Abstract Art | Vase | Faux Viburnum
With that, the room is rather small but more than enough space to accommodate a dining table and chairs. We’re even more grateful that having this space means we don’t also have to squeeze a dining table in our living room area like the plans originally called for. Since it’s set back from the main living area, I feel like it also creates a great opportunity to do something a bit more bold. Hence the decision between wallpaper and paint!
You can see in this photo from our Christmas home tour last year, where the dining room sits in relation to our living room.
And here’s an even older pic standing in our kitchen looking in shortly after we moved in.
With such proximity to both our living room and kitchen, I feel like it’s important to have all of the spaces feel cohesive as I consider a direction to go with the design!
My Prior Design Plan
Shortly before we moved in, I made the below design board for the dining room. I laughably thought I could fit a buffet table in this small space. The room only measures about 10.5′ x 11′ so there definitely isn’t space. So unfortunately that makes the room even more plain currently!
ORIGINAL DINING ROOM DESIGN PLAN SOURCES: Dining Table | Dining Chairs | Chandelier | Buffet Cabinet | Curtains | Wallpaper | Faux Greenery | Vase | Rug
To Paint Or To Wallpaper?
Wallpapered Dining Room Options
I love wallpaper, and envision a fair amount of it in this house! However, I think I’m having a difficult time committing to a pattern because the dining room is in such a common area and is open to so many spaces. I still love the paper in the plan above, but the background color is definitely more creamy than white and I worry with all our white shiplap it may just look dirty. I also know I change my mind decorating fairly frequently so I think it adds to my hesitation in committing to something that seems more “permanent”.
Another concern is the ceiling height. We have 12′ ceilings on our main floor (which we love!), but I’ve spoken with a few wallpaper experts and those heights can be challenging. Both in terms of install as well as pattern repeats and how much paper you may need.
Below is a mood board I made earlier this year in my office with some of my favorite wallpapers, fabrics, and paint colors I had been collecting. You can find sources for everything here. I also have a lot of other really great wallpaper options in this post on Colorful Coastal Wallpaper.
The fern wallpaper is still a favorite, but when I priced it out with our 12′ ceilings, it was rather expensive for something I’m not 100% forever committed to! If it were a space that would more easily accommodate an accent wall or something like that, I’d probably consider further. I also considered adding wainscoting around the bottom, but with the ceilings being longer than any one wall, the dimensions just looked really odd.
So, while wallpaper isn’t totally out of the question in this room, I’m not quite as gungho for it as I once was. Or I should say, at least in this room! Wallpaper will be happening elsewhere!
Painted Dining Room Options
So, recently, I’ve been contemplating painting the room. And when I say the room, I’m considering walls, trim, ceiling everything in a color washing effect. I also envision adding some board and batten in a grid format around the room (much like we did in several spaces in our Omaha home).
Late last week, I hung a few of my Samplize samples on the dining room wall. I love their samples because you can order multiple paint brands, the samples are large, and they use real painted (versus ones at the paint store that are just printed on). I knew if I went the paint route, I wanted a blue gray paint color that wasn’t too dark or saturated. More of a mid-tone blue gray that leaned muddy versus bright. The room doesn’t get much natural light compared to the spaces surrounding it, so I wanted to play up the cozy effect.
The samples I tested were (left to right, starting at the top and working down): Benjamin Moore Smoke, Benjamin Moore Blue Heather, Sherwin Williams Niebla Azul, Benjamin Moore Santorini Blue, Benjamin Moore Water’s Edge (the color of our Omaha interior front door but looks SO dark here), Sherwin Williams Breezy, Farrow & Ball Parma Gray, Benjamin Moore Wales Gray, and Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray.
DINING ROOM SOURCES: Dining Chairs | Dining Table | Rug | Chandelier | Vase | Abstract Art | Faux Viburnum
And by Saturday I bought a gallon of paint. I always feel like paint provides a fairly cheap and easy makeover. Granted, I about died when I realized that a gallon of Benjamin Moore Aura paint is now $89.99. WHAT?! But, in the grand scheme of things, I could cover the room in paint for less than half the price of one roll of wallpaper I was considering. So, I had Kurtis pick up a gallon of Benjamin Moore Smoke while he was out running errands Saturday. And I will say the coverage was pretty great with only one coat.
One thing is for certain, I grossly underestimated how much more difficult it would be to paint a room with 12′ ceilings. I had to make so many trips up and down the ladder. When the walls are taller than they are wide, it’s never a fun option 😉 I tackled half Saturday and the other half Sunday. We’re really loving the color for now! It was rainy and cloudy most of the time I was painting and when I took these pics on my phone so I’ll get some more accurate photos soon! The wall was also still half wet here.
I’m still going back and forth on color washing the room (meaning also painting the trim and ceiling). At this point, the baseboard bothers me the most left white. I think to most people the room looks finished (other than the fact I haven’t rehung the art yet to make sure the walls cure). Below you can see just how accurate those paint samples are!
Now that the room is fully painted, I still love the idea of adding board and batten in here, but I think this is a great first step.
Once I get the room all put back together (whether soon or after we move forward with board and batten) I’ll be sure to share an update!
I’m also planning to measure later this week for wallpaper in a different room! I’d really love to know how to do it myself, so I’ll start upstairs in a lesser seen room (and one that also “only” has 10′ ceilings).
Other Posts You May Enjoy
Following are some additional posts you may enjoy related to this topic. Simply tap the name of the article below you wish to explore further.
- Colorful Coastal Wallpaper
- The Best Coastal Paint Colors
- The Best Blue Gray Paint Colors
- The Best Blue Green Paint Colors
- Modern Coastal Round Dining Tables
- Modern Coastal Cottage Dining Chairs
- Colorful Coastal Amazon Decor
- Colorful Rugs
- Coastal Wall Art
- Amazon Coastal Decor
- Coastal Bathroom Mirror Ideas
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I’m like you, I like to change things up a lot and would have a hard time doing something as bold as wallpaper. However, I have considered doing it in a laundry room, that or a really bold bright paint color I would never consider using elsewhere. It would be a fun way to brighten up the laundry room and it feels like less of a commitment! Maybe that’s an option for you?
I agree Lynn! That’s where I’m at too. I think I’m going to start with an upstairs bathroom, but love the idea of the laundry room too!
After just removing a wallpaper border I said to myself no wallpaper ever again! But you are much more ambitious than me! Also much younger; 😅
Also when we moved into this house 31 years ago a wise lady suggested painting first while the walls are new and maybe wallpaper later when they are not!
I LOVE the color you chose! It really brings the dining room to life!
I love the color, is it SW or BM?
“The samples I tested were (left to right, starting at the top and working down): Benjamin Moore Smoke…”
“I had Kurtis pick up a gallon of Sherwin Williams Smoke”
The dining room is beautiful!
Oops! Good catch! It is Benjamin Moore Smoke 🙂
I think painting the ceiling is a great idea. Doing so would bring a bit more intimacy and leaving the trim a contrasting white adds architectural interest. I like a bit of color and the colors of the rug in your office are beautiful. Maybe a brighter rug would be the perfect touch (your table vase colors). And yes curtains, as in your first rendering, adds that touch of welcome and softness.
So easy when the home is someone else’s home!
Beautiful. What about Board and Batten and wallpaper?
I like the trim white in a costal look. I think the colour washing is too modern and moody for this room, especially being open to other rooms with white trim. Just my opinion 🙂
Since you do love wallpaper, but are a little afraid of the long-term commitment, have you considered wallpaper for the ceiling? It will give the added color and drama without being such a “stand out” and too overwhelming from the rest of the house.
Love the paint color! If you are not sure about wallpapering, I would hold off and live with the painted walls. Not too crazy for the fern paper. I would like beadboard or wainscoting on the bottom and wallpaper on top. Take your time. You have a knack for decorating, so I think whatever you do, it will be fabulous!
Yay! I love it! Adding color looks like real decorating to me instead of just filling a room with basic stuff. I’ve had good luck with unpasted wallpaper, I just paste the walls, then slap the paper up, and trim the excess. Plus most paper now comes off in strips, so it’s easy to remove later. I would not recommend that peel and stick stuff, but I believe that’s more for craft projects. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do! Good luck!
Looks great! Did you paint without using painter’s tape? Did you freehand? I am more than impressed if you did. Now I must give it a go to
Your site cut me off before I finished. My last word was “too”. Happened again as I typed this.
Well done! I loved your wallpaper choices, but the painted walls are an excellent foil to emphasize the bold pattern of your woven chairs, the unique shape of the chandelier, the patterned rug, and artwork.
Its gonna be great! How about a lovely plate rack to compensate for the buffet?
Oh my gosh – I gasped out loud at the wallpaper. I can’t wait to see the finished result.
Love the paint color! It seems to be perfect there!
Love the paint color. And I like the idea from another commenter about wallpaper on the ceiling. Have you thought of a colored grasscloth wallpaper? You don’t have to worry about pattern repeat (and maybe easier for a first-timer) but it would provide some texture with the color.