$100 Challenge Reveal Week!

The Dining Room $100 Refresh is Complete!

For the last few weeks, I have been taking part in the $100 Room Challenge, a fun blogger experiment for the month of January. The $100 Room Challenge is hosted by the lovely Erin of lemonslavenderandlaundry.com 

What’s the $100 Room Challenge? The rules are simple: One Room. One Month. $100. Just the type of challenge that this budget loving-DIY-crafting-make-do kind of girl loves! Count me in!

Third Times a Charm!

This is the third time that I have participated in the $100 Challenge. This time around I chose my tiny Dining Room space to refresh. Check out these posts below to see anything you might have missed:

• $100 Room Challenge Room Three
• Week 2 – The $100 Room Challenge
• Week 3- $100 Room Challenge: small projects add up
• Week 4- $100 Dining Room Refresh

Be sure to check out how all of the other participants have done in the link up at the bottom of this post.

How did I do?

My plan was to change things up in my Dining space with just 4 projects:

• Project One: Make new curtains. 
• Project Two: Update DIY artwork with New Scrapbook paper
• Project Three: Update and redecorate the odd built-in
• Project Four: Takedown OR space out the black shelves better

Everything and More

During this challenge, I also gave myself the added element of a No Spend January. I wanted to see how much I could complete just using what I already had on hand. And I am happy to report that I completed all four of those original projects and a few extra projects too. Let’s take a look at how it all came together.

Drop Cloth Curtains- check!

The old curtains were too dark and too long. I was able to make new curtain panels with some extra drop cloth leftover from another project. The color and texture are just so amazing! I am super happy with the results.

Extra Project 1: DIY Tassels

For added texture I decided to make some tassels with some yarn, twine, and wood beads from my craft stash. I attached them to the top of the curtain panels with the drapery clips I was already using. They are an additional detail that cost me more time than money.

Curtain and Tassel cost: $0

Update DIY Paper Collage- check!

Using scrapbook paper that I had in my craft stash I updated my cork board. I love the Navy Blue, White, Gray, and Pink Papers. Such a fun and easy way to get a new look. I did buy that cute White paper banner across the top of the cork board. I found it at the Target Dollar Spot- for you guessed it $1.

Paper Collage Cost: $1

Take Down Shelves- check!

I had these Black shelves on the window wall next to the clock. They were just not working, so down they came. A little wall spackle and paint and the wall looks good as new.

Patch and Paint Wall Cost: $0

Extra Project 2: Clock update

This galvanized Clock is my favorite! I bought it for our cute little rental house, before we even moved in. The mechanism doesn’t work very well, and I don’t care- I just love the look. The numbers and dots around the edge are all raised, so it was easy to color them Black with a regular ol‘ Sharpie. It was a 30 minute update that I had been thinking about doing and this challenge gave me the incentive to do so!

Clock Update Cost: $0

Extra Project 3: Update Basket

I had this fun flower basket in my “I found it at the Thrift store for super cheap and maybe I can update it” pile. After making the tassels with the Black painted wood beads I wanted to add some more black to the decor mix in the Dining Room space. Looking at this basket I knew it would be another easy fix with some paint. This was another project that only cost me some time. I had the craft paint and tiny brushes to give this faded little guy a new face. Will you just look at how cool he is now? I just love how the basket turned out.

Extra Project 4: Update Crate

On the right hand side of this little vignette is a small Blonde wood crate. I did the most simple update to her- I wrapped her in Black twine! I love crates and boxes and baskets- but this little crate was leaning more farmhouse than I wanted. So I wrapped the open space between the slats with Black twine and glued in place. Now with the Black band of color she is just a little bit more interesting.

Basket & Crate Update Cost: $0

Extra Project 5: Update Metal Bins

I have three of these large rectangle metal bins that I had gotten on clearance about year ago. I have talked about my love for galvanized metal before, and these bins fit the bill! Except that they had a Christmas greens and berries garland painted around the top and the bottom of the bins. I taped off the garland and painted over it with Black craft paint. It took longer for me to tape than it did to paint!! Now I can use these bins all year long.

Metal Bin Update Cost: $0

Extra Project 6: Build Narrow Shelf

This is a project that was better in my head and on paper than in real life. Such is the life of a DIYer! Since our Dining Room is so tiny- I wanted to build a narrow shelf for serving and displaying decorative items. I drew out a plan and we bought some wood. Then in the middle of building, I changed my mind- I know, I know that seems to be a trend with me! Anyway- since I was not caring for how it was coming out, I have not finished it. This will have to be a project that I am going to sit on for a bit. Then maybe I can come up with a new plan. Stay tuned…

Shelf Cost: $26.97

Extra Project 7: Repaint Chair seats

I had shared in Week 2 that I had to repaint the chair seats of these cafe chairs. They just needed a couple of quick coats of paint- but I did need to buy a new can of that paint. It was a small cost to refresh the look and extend the life of my favorite chairs.

Chair Repaint Cost: $5.98

Update and Redecorate the Built-In- check!

In Week 4– I showed how I was going to use paper to back this odd little Built-In. In the end I ended up using Drop Cloth fabric and cardboard. It was an easy project that could be used for a bookcase, or the back of a cabinet. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

Built-In Update Cost: $0

Extra Project 8: Framed Embroidery

On the center shelf of the built-in, I have that Black and Bright colored Otomi embroidery. I bought the piece of fabric months ago from a shop on Etsy. This was a project that had been sitting and waiting to be completed. I had the shadow box frame and used a piece of Black velvet from my fabric stash to mount that beautiful piece of embroidery.

Extra Project 9: Striped Bead Garland

In the top left of the built-in is a striped and wood bead garland that I had been wanting to make for a while. I had all the supplies on hand. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen a couple of photos with this garland. It came out better than I had hoped. Another project that I just needed this challenge to get done I guess!

Frame and Garland Cost: $0

That is it! The 4 original projects and 9 extra projects all complete for the total cost: $33.95

Not bad for the added challenge of a No Spend January. I will be posting soon some more details of all of the extra projects that I did for this room. I do hope that you’ll come back!