Art on a Budget

How I Refreshed My Dining Room for Under $10

Every year as spring approaches, my focus shifts to the heart of the home: the dining room. Hosting Easter brunch is a long-standing tradition in our family, and I love the ritual of setting the table and prepping the room for our guests.

However, this year I realized something: my wall decor was stuck in a time warp!

The 15-Year Itch: Time for a Change

I've had the same mirror and print hanging in my dining room since we moved into this house—nearly 15 years ago. While I still appreciate them, I felt a desperate need for a change. "Change is good," as they say, but my wallet wasn't exactly ready for a high-end art gallery spree.

Pro Tip: Before buying new, always look at what you can re-purpose.

Last year's Easter table

Since professional art was out of the question, I went "shopping" in my own basement. I remembered a score from earlier this year: three sets of canvas stretchers I found during a Crate and Barrel going-out-of-business sale. They were just sitting there, waiting for the perfect DIY moment.

The Fabric Hunt (and the Bored Toddler)

My vision was simple: three fabric-covered panels. To make it happen, I headed to the fabric store with my daughter.

Note to self: Taking a child fabric shopping is rarely a "good idea." Within ten minutes, she was ready to go, but the hunt was just beginning!

I struggled to find the right balance of style and price:

• The "Dream" Fabrics: Beautiful, but $10/yard (even with a coupon).

• The "Okay" Fabrics: Around $5/yard, but I couldn't find three that complemented each other.

Then, I struck gold. I found a print I loved on a material that wasn't exactly "traditional" fabric—it was the sturdy, wipeable material typically used for tablecloths. It wasn't too "plasticky," had a gorgeous print, and best of all? It was only $1.50 per yard.

The Transformation: From Tablecloth to Gallery Wall

Even though I could only find one print I liked, I bought two yards and decided to get creative. Here is how I turned a single roll of discount material into a custom trio:

1. Staple: I cut the fabric to size and stapled it tightly over the canvas stretchers.

2. Paint: To keep the three pieces from looking identical, I used acrylic paint to fill in some of the shapes with different colors. This added depth and a custom "designer" feel.

3. Hang: I used two panels to replace the old mirror and placed the third on the opposite wall to tie the whole room together.

The Result: Easy, Peasy, and Cheap!

And voila! The dining room feels brand new, fresh, and ready for Easter brunch. It's amazing what you can achieve with a little bit of basement treasure and some discount "fabric."

Updating your home doesn't have to cost a fortune—it just takes a little imagination (and maybe a speedy trip to the store before your kids lose their patience!).

Thanks for stopping by!

Click HERE to see this year's Easter tablescape.

For the new dining room reveal, click HERE.