My husband and I have dubbed 2012 The Year of Thinking Small. Rather than tackling big renovations in areas of our house that sorely want it, we are opting to get instant satisfaction — minor changes that make a major difference. First up: making over our dining room, a dull space with a formal dining room, an outdated chandelier and not much else. I have tons of ideas for giving this room a little more zing, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money. So I’m searching for methods to add panache on a $500 budget, and that means scrimping in some areas and splashing out in others. My biggest splurges would be fabrics — a pricey custom table runner in a design that I couldn’t resist, as well as a complementary print to pay for the seat chairs. But I will need to control myself when it…
Jazz Up Your Dining Room for Less Than $500
