This “Moody” Dining Room Makeover Has the Coolest Wallpaper Hack

ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER

HOME TYPE: House

PROJECT TYPE: Dining Room

STYLE: Colorful, Eclectic, Modern

SKILL LEVEL: DIY

RENTAL FRIENDLY: Yes

There are endless possibilities when you decide you want to change up a room in your home. From smaller DIY projects to full-on makeovers, there’s so much to consider. Yvonne Langen and her partner, Michael Rizk, experienced just that when they moved into their 1940s home. It was basically a blank slate, and the Taste & Tipple founder knew she could fully imbue her personality into the redesign.

When it came to revamp the dining room, Yvonne looked inward for inspiration, and she calls the outcome “the best reflection of [her] personality.”

She completely transformed the space, painting over the two-toned walls and turning this run-of-the-mill dining room into a moody paradise.

Moody wall paint sets the tone.

Yvonne picked a rich paint color to anchor the room in an elegant warmth. She chose Brinjal by Farrow and Ball, a deep plum tone that plays into the coziness of the room. (It also happens to be her favorite wall paint color of all time!) Yvonne says the dining room channels her “bold, self-assured, and a bit moody” qualities.

The room’s existing white crown molding and baseboard provide a bright contrast against the dark wall color, instantly making the space feel more upscale. Also contrasting (and complementing) the dark colors are the patina brass chandelier, Atelier Loree vintage light wood dining table, and brushed brass tiebacks from Anthropologie.

A wallpaper mural brightens up the space.

The dining room doesn’t get much natural light from the single window on the far wall, so Yvonne used a wallpaper mural to add brightness and a bit of whimsy.

“I purchased a Pierre Frey wallpaper mural called Mille Fleurs and inset it within wainscoting we installed in the dining room,” she says. Yvonne calls the mural “a riot of color in a floral design.”

You can also spot some darker colors in the wallpaper that doubles as an art piece, which helps tie in the burgundy hue on the wall. “I always like to find palette inspiration from a wall covering or a rug and use the colors therein to dictate how I design the rest of the room,” Yvonne says.

Open shelving adds design interest and functionality.

Yvonne and Michael moved into their new home, in part, because they’d run out of room to store Yvonne’s “ever-expanding” collection of spirits and vintage barware in their 600-square-foot condo. Their new home’s dining room layout made creating storage tricky, as there isn’t much space for traditional credenzas or buffets.

So, Yvonne thought outside the box and installed a set of mid-century modern tension rod shelves instead. This gave her ample room to spread out her wares without having bulky furniture jutting out from the wall and taking up valuable floor space.

“The ’60s-era tension rod shelving units were sourced from a local mid-century furniture restoration shop,” she says. “I love being able to display some of my barware/glassware treasures and host intimate dinner parties in this atmospheric space.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.

Further Reading

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We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need