A $50 Light Fixture Is a Total Game Changer in This Dining Room Makeover

Emma Kershaw
·3 min read
7
Black and white checkered tile floor, built in book case in corner, blinds on window, french doors with glass panels
Black and white checkered tile floor, built in book case in corner, blinds on window, french doors with glass panels
Black and white checkered tile floor, built in book case in corner, blinds on window
Paper mache oval lighting fixture, arched corner built in book cases, round white table with dark wood mid-century modern chairs, black and white checkered tile floor
Paper mache oval lighting fixture, arched corner built in book cases
Paper mache oval lighting fixture, arched corner built in book cases, round white table with dark wood mid-century modern chairs, black and white checkered tile floor, arched door way from kitchen
Paper mache oval lighting fixture, arched corner built in book case, round white table with dark wood mid-century modern chairs

ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER

HOME TYPE: Bungalow

PROJECT TYPE: Dining Room

STYLE: Eclectic, Vintage

SKILL LEVEL: DIY

RENTAL FRIENDLY: Yes

Historic houses and apartments often come with charming design features you wouldn’t find in a new build. Renter Kristin Lundeen has a 1927 bungalow, and the dining room has some of those cool features. (Hello, checkered flooring, arched doorways, and built-in shelves!) It just needed a few of Kristin’s own design touches to really feel personal.

“The space felt very white, so I knew I wanted to bring in more color and interesting textures,” she says. “I knew I wanted to swap the light fixture in the dining nook area of my kitchen to a lantern-style hanging pendant to replace the harsh overhead lighting that was previously installed.”

Black and white checkered tile floor, built in book case in corner, blinds on window, french doors with glass panels
Paper mache oval lighting fixture, arched corner built in book cases, round white table with dark wood mid-century modern chairs, black and white checkered tile floor

An under-$50 light solution adds drama.

Removing and installing a new light fixture in a historic bungalow wasn’t exactly easy. It took Kristin a while to locate the electrical box, but once the power was turned off and the old fixture was removed, it took around an hour for her to install the new one.

It cost under $50 all together, but the new light fixture looks well beyond its price point. The White Oval Paper Lanterns come in a pack of two and cost $39.99, and Kristin says it’s a close lookalike “of the Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Light” which retails at around 10 times the price of the Amazon pick. She used an IKEA HEMMA cord set under $10 to install it.

Paper mache oval lighting fixture, arched corner built in book cases, round white table with dark wood mid-century modern chairs, black and white checkered tile floor, arched door way from kitchen

Secondhand furniture fills in the space.

To keep the project budget-friendly, most of Kristin’s furniture was purchased secondhand — including a chic marble-look dining table and four wooden chairs that she lucked out on while searching through Facebook Marketplace. “I was so excited to find a secondhand option that was more affordable but still looked elevated,” she says, although it was a challenging hunt.

“I struggled to find a dining table that would fit this space because it is narrow, and I often walk through it to get into the kitchen,” Kristin says. “An oval-shaped table ended up being a great choice and fits the space nicely.”

To complete her character-rich dining room, Kristin dressed the built-in shelves with stacked books, greenery, and sentimental trinkets, like the vintage ornaments that her grandmother collected during her travels in Europe.

Kristin is thrilled with the results and says the room now feels so much cozier. As for next steps in her home makeover journey, she is heading to Pinterest for inspiration. “I’d love to add even more character in this space by having mismatched, funky chairs,” she says. “I’ve seen this on Pinterest and think it is such a unique way to bring character to your dining space!”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.