Editors' Picks: Top 19 Budget Reader Remodels

For J.K. Pfannmuller and her husband, the dining room in their 1985 Colonial Revival was a high-traffic area that needed a lot of work. With a kitchen short on eating space, they needed a dining spot for regular meals as well as entertaining, so they wanted to give it a "formal air but casual feel."

The laminate floor and baseboards were in good shape, so the couple turned to the walls, rolling a gray-blue above the chair rail before adding crown molding. Wall frames made of panel molding glued in place created a low-cost wainscoting. All of the trim and the lower portion of the walls were coated with a white semigloss to complement newly installed shutters, and wood furniture warmed up the room's cool tones. A new chandelier and a pair of lamps, tied together by their natural-fabric shades, add a soft glow to complete the transformation.

See more of this budget remodel in A Warm, Welcoming Dining Space For Less.