Happy dining room summer tour day
I’m so excited to be joining Marty and friends to share some summer ideas and inspiration.
Today?
Today is all about the dining room–the give a mouse a cookie edition.
You see. I went shopping at a yard sale and found some plates and that inspired a mini-celebration for the twins’ first good grade on a summer school test which inspired a trip to Trader Joe’s and the first peonies of the season which inspired these flower arrangements which inspired this table setting which inspired this FREE DIY charger project.
Whew.
Did you follow that?
It’s a little extra.
Just like me.
Let’s take a tour of the dining room. I have some fun budget decorating tips and DIY’s just for you.
The dining room in our home is just across the way from the dining room.
It’s behind this set of vintage french doors.
And if you opened the doors?
You’d see this.
It’s the dining room set for a party.
Blue and white striped chairs on a rug full of color with an amazing chandelier and layers of patterns.
The flower arrangements? They are made with peonies and hydrangeas from Trader Joe’s.
Budget Decorating Tip 1:
If you are making an arrangement like that with a wide mouth vase? Just make a grid on the top with scotch tape.
Here’s a close-up of the walls in the dining room next to the lamps.
You can see the texture up close.
Budget Decorating Tip 2:
Create a faux finish on your walls with drywall mud and a comb. Yep. A comb. That’s what made the ridges and texture on the walls.
These chairs were so inexpensive and I LOVE the pop of pattern against the dark wood.
They came from Wayfair, but they needed a little something to make them stand out.
Budget Decorating Tip 3:
Add buttons to the back of your chairs. This is a NO-SEW project. You can see how I covered the buttons and attached them to the chairs.
See those peonies in the arrangement.
Whenever I buy peonies they are always so closed up and take forever to open (sometimes they never open).
Budget Decorating Tip 4:
It’s easy to get them to open if you know this peony-opening tip.
And now?
Here’s my favorite budget summer decorating tip of all.
These chargers.
I made them for FREE.
And here’s the step-by-step how I DIY’d them.
DIY FABRIC CHARGERS
- Trace a circle onto cardboard with a pencil.
- Cut it out.
- Cut out a circle of fabric.
- Place the cardboard circle onto the wrong side of the fabric.
- Glue in place with hot glue.
- Your chargers are ready to use.
- You can also add Mod Podge to the top of the charger to make it easier to clean stains.
I hope you enjoyed this dining room tour.
And now?
For the next stop on the tour?
Be sure and check out my friend Kristen from White Arrows Home.
disclosure: affiliates are used in this post
Here are a few more tours from some of my favorite friends
Monday
Tuesday
Setting For Four, Duke Manor Farm, Decor To Adore. House By Hoff , Inspiration For Moms, Pink Peppermint Design
Wednesday
Thursday
Seeking Lavender Lane , StoneGable , Designing Vibes , CITIRINELIVING ,  Our Southern Home ,  Southern State Of Mind
Thank you! I enjoyed your tutorials...esp. the videos! How do we get your daughters bk on Girls Crafting? Blessings to you & yours!!
The dining room looks stunning. The DIY chargers are such a great idea! You are extra amazing!
Please tell us how to make the gold orbs in your dinning room tour.
Oh I do love, love, love your dining room. Such a gorgeous space and the wall treatment - genius. Your tablesetting is stunning and of course you always amaze me with your photography. I enjoy each tour and always come away with so much inspiration. Thanks so much for joining in again this season, your home is always such a special trea.
I love buying peonies from Trader Joe's but they never open for me unless I peel out some of the outer petals.
Karianne, I love this post about celebrating your girls achievement! Do you often feel like there should be two of you because of all the directions in which your brain is traveling? I sure do feel that way and I get so inspired just looking at your blog. You are really a big help to me! Your dining room is so lovely and I spy the rug that I need to put in my breakfast nook. I have been updating my kitchen that was last done in the mid 70's. I have gotten new appliances, new kitchen sink, getting new flooring, painted the walls a clean white and soft gray. I painted the cabinets white and added new hardware. My counter tops are a soft pretty yellow (I am a fan of yellow) and they are in excellent condition, so instead of spending over $3500.00 for new counter tops, I am going to love them for a while and the rug in your dining room is my answer to bringing all the colors together. You have made my day! One more thing, I really like the simple idea for the chargers and for a girlie party it would be fun to add some lace to go around your chargers. Try it and I know you will love it!
Once again, Karianne, a home run! The Charger Idea was amazing! I love it and will try it for my home, too. I have so much delightful fabric in storage -- This is the project! Thank you so much!
The dining room is stunning!!! Do the peonies, if they open, last for a good length of time? I know that hydrangeas do and that’s why I love to buy them.
It's a beautiful room. Love the smart wall treatment trick. And those free chargers ;) Happy Summer! Shannon
Love the DIY chargers. You could make so many of those and they look so easy. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for the idea.
I love your dining room and all those wonderful decorating tips you're sharing! Gotta go to Trader Joe's to get me some peonies.
Thank you for the peony opening tip! And those chargers are so creative! Thank you for that awesome idea!!!
Okay so first, that rug makes the space!!! second, adding the buttons to the chair backs is clever. third, I am now going to make some chargers!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing:)
So fun! What a good mama!! Great idea for the chargers! I love free!
Your dining room is lovely and your chargers are brilliant KariAnne! What a great idea! And I'm sure the celebration was wonderful! :) Take care and thanks for the charger inspiration!
I love your ideas! I am always on the lookout for new ideas to make a change for not too much money. In this room I like your rug, the window panels, your wall color and texture and love the chairs with the buttons. And, oh, I love your chargers! I too have a stash of fabric and I will now see what I can come up with. Thank you so much for sharing! .
You take the most wonderful photographs - you are so talented and can do so many things well! I LOVE the DIY idea of making chargers like that- that's brilliant. Love your new plates too - go so perfectly with that entire colorful and beautiful tablescape!
Clever move on those chargers. You're dining room is gorgeous.
I need the fabric you used for the chargers. Where can I buy some yardage? Thank you for your help.ove your dining room🥰
Jerry, I wish I could help! It's actually an old shower curtain that I hade leftover pieces of! Happy day! karianne
So pretty and love, love the charger idea! I can see using this inspiration often! Fun to tour with you my friend!!
Gorgeous! I love all of your styling tips - the buttons and textured walls add such beautiful detail. Wishing you and your family a wonderful summer!
Wow, your dining room looks amazing and I would love to come here for a party! I loved this tour and all your decorating tips - I had been wondering about the flower arrangements, so thank you, the grid tip is genius!
Ok, just stop it! Those chargers are genius!! I love, love, LOVE them (and you, too)!! xoxo
Wow, I am loving that gorgeous room full of beautiful blues! Gorgeous styling ideas and photos! So fun touring with you. Have a great summer!
I love how fresh, bright and summery your dining room looks! The colors make me happy. And that DIY charger is a game changer!!!
Your summer dining room is beautiful! Love all the navy & white, the textured walls and the great (as always) decorating tips! Happy to summer home tour with you this year! :) Linda
I love how you have gone blue in your DR! Classic with the dark wood and stripes with fun buttons