Industrial Farmhouse Dining Room Transformation: From Medieval to Modern Charm
Witness the incredible transformation of a dark and dated dining room into a bright and inviting industrial farmhouse haven. Discover the DIY projects, design choices, and budget-friendly tips that made this remodel a success.
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This dining room underwent a dramatic makeover, transitioning from a heavy, medieval theme to a light, airy, and stylish industrial farmhouse design. The transformation involved new lighting fixtures, the addition of wainscoting, elegant wallpaper, and creative DIY projects. The result is a space that’s both functional and beautiful, perfect for family gatherings and entertaining guests.

Project submitted by The {Re}formed Ranch, a blog dedicated to sharing inspiring home renovation projects and DIY ideas.
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The Dining Room Transformation: Details and DIY Projects
The original dining room was in dire need of a makeover. The faux-finished walls and dark colors made the room feel dingy and uninviting. The homeowners envisioned a brighter, more elegant space with a touch of industrial farmhouse charm. They achieved this transformation through a combination of strategic design choices and creative DIY projects.
Wainscoting and Wallpaper: To add cottage charm and elegance, beadboard wainscoting was installed up to 60 inches, topped with wallpaper. This immediately brightened the room and added a sophisticated touch. The wallpaper was carefully selected to complement the overall color scheme and enhance the room’s aesthetic appeal. The homeowner credits their mother-in-law with providing invaluable guidance during the wallpaper installation process.
Industrial Farmhouse Lighting: Embracing the industrial farmhouse aesthetic, the homeowners installed two outdoor industrial light fixtures from Lowe’s on the wall. These fixtures added a unique and stylish touch to the space, perfectly complementing the overall design. They also undertook a DIY project to create a chandelier inspired by West Elm, using an old lampshade and a lamp kit from Lowe’s, costing only $10. This innovative project demonstrates how to achieve a high-end look on a budget.
Repurposed Buffet and DIY Shelves: A buffet purchased from an antique store was painted a coral shade of red to coordinate with the living room decor, adding a pop of color and personality to the dining room. The shelves were made by staining pieces of wood from Lowe’s and attaching them to the wall with brackets from Hobby Lobby, showcasing resourcefulness and creativity. The homeowners skillfully blended antique finds with DIY projects to create a unique and personalized space.
Budget-Friendly Accessories: The accessories throughout the dining room were sourced from a variety of discounted home stores, including TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Tuesday Morning, Target, and Walmart. They also found great deals at resale and antique shops. This demonstrates how to achieve a stylish and well-decorated space without breaking the bank.
Challenges and Goals
This room was undoubtedly the most challenging project in the house, requiring significant effort and creativity. The primary goal was to create a light, airy, welcoming, and inviting space. Given the low ceilings, the design aimed to visually heighten the room by maintaining a relatively neutral color palette. The beadboard and wallpaper combination contributed to this effect, creating an illusion of greater height and spaciousness.
The DIY Chandelier: A Budget-Friendly Masterpiece
The homeowners were particularly enthusiastic about their DIY chandelier project. Inspired by a West Elm design, they recreated the look for just $10 using an old lampshade and a lamp kit from Lowe’s. This project exemplifies their resourcefulness and commitment to budget-friendly home improvement. It’s a testament to the fact that stylish and unique lighting doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.
The Buffet Table Transformation: From Drab to Fab
The buffet table underwent a significant transformation. Originally, the plan was to paint it white. However, with the installation of white beadboard, the homeowners decided to add a pop of color. While browsing paint colors, they discovered a can in the “oops” section that perfectly matched their sofa’s coral color. This serendipitous find inspired them to paint the buffet in the vibrant coral hue, adding a playful and eye-catching element to the dining room.
DIY Shelves and Window Treatments
The wall shelves were another successful DIY project. Three pieces of pine wood were purchased from Lowe’s, stained, and attached to the wall with metal brackets from Hobby Lobby. The accessories on the shelves were items the homeowners already owned, demonstrating how to utilize existing decor to personalize a space. For the window treatments, they once again opted for painter’s drop cloths, a budget-friendly and versatile option. More details on using painter’s drop cloths for window treatments can be found here.
Before and After: A Visual Transformation
Before:

After:




Conclusion
This dining room transformation is a testament to the power of creativity, resourcefulness, and a vision for a more beautiful and functional space. The homeowners successfully transformed a dark and dated room into a light, airy, and stylish industrial farmhouse haven. Through a combination of strategic design choices, creative DIY projects, and budget-friendly shopping, they achieved a stunning result that’s both inviting and inspiring.
More Farmhouse Inspiration
If you enjoyed this farmhouse dining room transformation, you might also like these other farmhouse rooms and table ideas: