DIY: Frugal Dining Room Remodel

DIY projects allow you be creative, customize your own style and allow you to save an incredible amount of money. Your Retail Helper

After almost two years in our current home, we completed our first major DIY Remodel. We converted a Formal Living Room and Dining Room into one larger Dining Room. AND, we did it all for around $700.

We bartered with a friend for some contracting help to take down the wall that divided the two rooms, scrape the popcorn ceiling and patch the walls / ceiling (Cost $0).

My husband did all the electrical (Cost $0) and also built the custom wainscoting (Cost $100) for the far end of the wall . I painted the ceiling and walls (Cost $200).

The curtain rods for the three windows are from Bed Bath & Beyond. I was able to use 20% off coupons for each set. (Cost $96). The curtain sheers were a deal from 1SaleADay.com several months ago (Cost $16 w/Free Shipping). I made the orange curtain panels myself (for three windows). The fabric was from Hobby Lobby and I used coupons on all my purchases (Cost $100).

We bought one light from Lowe's using a $10 off coupon (Cost - $90).

The pendant lights above the Dining Room Table are a DIY project. I bought pendant lamp kits from Home Depot (Cost $30).

The Pendants themselves are Pasta Jars I bought at Hobby Lobby. They were on sale for 50% off (Cost $6 for two). My husband used a Holsaw to cut a round hole in the top of the lids. We then threaded the light kit through the lid and then screwed on the glass. We had looked at similar Pendant Lights at some of the box stores that cost anywhere from $100-$150 each. I love the look of these lights and they only cost us $18 each to make. Thanks, Pinterest for the inspiration.

BTW, we bought EcoSmart energy efficient low heat lightbulbs for the Pendant Lights, so they wouldn't get too hot in the enclosed glass (Cost - $8).

At some point in the future, we'll put Hardwood Floors in this room and add White Trim around the perimeter. I'm on the hunt for deals at my local Habitat for Humanity store, Craigslist, Builders Auctions, etc...

We're thrilled with the outcome of the project. What a dramatic change! We have a ton of DIY Remodel Projects in this home, so stay tuned for more.


Check out more DIY cost saving ideas and projects here.


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