Whether you have a formal dining room or simply a multipurpose space with a dining table in it, you may be looking for small ways to give it a little refresh. To make it as easy as possible, we’ve rounded up the best dining-room décor for your various eating, working, and entertaining needs — all of which looks a lot more expensive than it is. From candlestick holders to sculptural vases to enamel fruit bowls, any of the stuff below (some of which are Strategist favorites) will instantly brighten your dining area for not a lot of money. Many of the things on this list are available at Amazon, but we’ve found some of them elsewhere for those who like to shop around. If you’re in the market for more affordable home upgrades, we’ve got roundups of cheap (but expensive-looking) décor for the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room too.
If you’re looking for additional lighting for your dining table, consider this minimalist cordless lamp in jaunty lime green. It’s slender, rechargeable, and comes with three brightness levels. And because it’s portable, you can use it just about anywhere you please.
A sprig or two of pampas grass would look quite striking in this sculptural ceramic vase.
This compact enamel tray is Strategist writer Emma Wartzman’s pick for the best thing she bought in 2022 and a great way to organize napkins, salt and pepper shakers, and anything else you keep on your dining table.
For those who skip the salad course and go straight to sweets, a set of vintage-looking dessert bowls ideal for ice-cream sundaes (or yogurt parfaits).
These black marble coasters are way less ubiquitous than those made of white marble and have that cool, kind of sleazy ’80s vibe going for them. If you’re not shopping for yourself, we should add that they would make a great hostess gift too.
Whether you use it to serve salad or just to display fruit, this gorgeous acacia-wood bowl will make whatever you put in it that much more presentable.
And for those who like a matching set, some personal-size wood salad bowls.
Display your fruit (faux or genuine) or serve bread in this blue-rimmed enamel bowl that is known for keeping produce fresh.
With these artificial (yet lifelike) lemons, your bowl of cheery citrus will never have to be replaced.
The clean, understated form of this bud vase is sure to transcend design fads — and no wonder, given that Heath’s been making beautiful modern housewares since the ’40s.
Refresh your dinnerware with these matte teal dishes, salad plates, and bowls that could pass for a much more expensive set from East Fork Pottery.
And if you only need dinner plates, the color palette of these reminds us of something you might find at Heath but at a fraction of the price.
There’s something ever so cottagecore about the florals on these hand-painted bowls perfectly sized for your morning yogurt parfait.
One way to drink more water is to have a pitcher at the ready. This one is sleek and slender and won’t take up too much space.
Curbed contributor Ming Thompson uses these “useful, slim, and just durable enough” beakers for water and fancy drinks with floating fruit alike.
Guests will love pouring water from this textured pitcher that can double as a sculptural piece.
For a psychedelic-meets-French-country look, this enamelware coffeepot would perk up any Sunday breakfast spread.
This Winco flatware from Amazon is a dupe for a Christofle stainless-steel set — down to the beaded details.
When we did a deep dive into the flatware preferred by cool people, Technicolor styles like this set (with service for four) were some of the most unique-looking we heard about.
A tablecloth that looks like something Nancy Meyers might have prop-styled for the It’s Complicated dining room.
This preserved bouquet makes for just as stunning a centerpiece as fresh lavender, with a lush purple color (that won’t require watering).
These beeswax candles have a delicate, sweet scent that’s a bit more subtle than a fancy scented candle (and a bit less jarring while you eat).
These candlesticks drip colored wax as they burn, which will give guests something to ooh and aah over at your next dinner party.
Some ribbed, vintage-y candlestick holders (that look like they’re from Anthropologie) to keep those (or any other) candles in.
We love the amber-colored glass on these delicate-looking mugs.
Here’s a melamine cake stand in poppy pink for all your confectionery creations.
Replacing your paper napkins with cloth ones means you can add a bit of elegance to weeknight meals while living more sustainably. These linen napkins from Caldo come in seven colors, including white, mustard, and coral.
If you prefer even more elegance, try crisp white linen napkins with a delicate hemstitched border.
These salt and pepper shakers (not grinders) are design-y with a capital D: They were created by Swedish furniture, interior, and product designer Anton Björsing.
Instead of keeping a mismatched pair of oil and vinegar bottles on your dining-room table, opt for these dispensers that’ll eliminate any hodgepodge effect.
This minimalist pendant lamp would not only provide useful over-the-table lighting but also make any dining room look more like a Scandinavian café.
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