This dining room–to–home office transformation turned an underused space into a bright, cheerful cottage-style workspace.
I love budget-friendly room makeovers, and converting this formal dining room into a practical home office is one of my favorites. The room lived in our seaside farmhouse and had great bones, but we wanted it to work harder for our daily life.
The room, built in 1927, had some quirks from older drywall and original stained trim. We emptied most of the furniture and protected the floors before starting.
Because of the age of the walls, we wiped them down with a damp cloth and applied primer to ensure an even finish. (If your drywall is already in great condition, priming may not be necessary.)
One of the most dramatic updates was painting the old stained trim. To protect the window panes we used green painter’s tape around the glass, which made cleanup simple. The trim was primed and then painted in semigloss for a crisp, lasting finish.
After priming, the room already looked brighter. I considered painting everything white, but we stuck with our plan and chose Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere for the walls. I handled the cut-in work while my husband rolled the walls for a smooth, professional look.
We tried the table—soon to serve as a desk—against one freshly painted wall to decide whether to paint the whole room. The soft blue-gray of Gray Cashmere complemented the rich wood tones, so we painted the entire room for a cozy, cohesive feel.
With paint complete, we brought back the furniture and began arranging the space to serve both as an office and a dining area when needed. The layout lets the room function daily as a workspace while still converting easily for meals and gatherings.
Below are a few of the before-and-after perspectives that show the change from a rarely used formal dining room into a bright, practical home office that still retains the option for dining when needed.
Before (as a dining room):
After (now an office with dining flexibility):
Before (note the repaired wall hole):
After (a welcoming workspace with cottage character):
We kept and highlighted original features—the exposed brick chimney and some stained wood furniture—to preserve the home’s history while the new color palette and practical storage make the room functional for everyday use.
I added cheerful accents of orange for personality and introduced storage that’s both attractive and useful—desktop organizers, a message center, and other accessories that keep office supplies tidy without sacrificing style.
Paint Colors for this Dining Room Home Office
- Wall color: Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere
- Ceiling: White Heron (flat, matte finish)
- Trim: White Heron (semigloss finish)
Other Painting Resources
- How to choose the right paint sheen for a project
- Tips for painting doors and exterior metal surfaces
- How to use painter’s tape for crisp, straight lines
- DIY chalk paint recipes using baking soda
Want to learn how to do your own room makeovers?
If you’re interested in practical, budget-friendly room makeovers, I put together a free guide with videos that walk you through the process. It covers planning, painting, and styling so you can transform underused rooms into spaces you’ll use and enjoy every day.
