Before & After: This storage space is now a mint green dining room after a chic transformation
This arty hangout combines IKEA bookcases with cool green hues to create a stylish hosting space

D.C-based designer Jennifer has transformed her previously dated dining room into a mint-toned dining room that epitomizes the most aesthetic interior design trends of the year.
After moving into a new home in the US capital, Jennifer admits that she was 'so unused to having a dining room [she] didn't know what to do with the space.' Therefore, the area quickly became a storage room. However, in October, the interiors-enthusiast decided to reclaim the space and began an unrecognizable transformation.
In the process, the designer has reset the standard for modern dining room ideas on both sides of the Atlantic. In her blog, Jennifer (@jennosias) walks us through the makeover process.
The dining room before renovation:
Jennifer shared that the primary aim of the room was to maintain its function as a storage space (to hold excess items from her kitchen) whilst serving as a place to host dinner parties.
'Despite adding open shelving to my kitchen, I still do not have enough space for my items,' Jennifer explains. In moving the less frequently-used items into the dining room, she would create more space to cook. However, the challenge was to design storage that didn't hinder the room's chic scheme.
She also wanted to ensure that the room looked bright, as it is the only space in her home that lacks a window – and therefore doesn't benefit from natural light.
So what did the design process involve? 'I love fun colors, patterns, and textures. I also love mixing vintage pieces with new buys and finds from my travels,' Jennifer says.
However, as the dining room is part of a wider open-plan space (and flows into the living room and kitchen), it was especially important that the rooms flowed into one another seamlessly.
'To help with that, I [carried] over the black, white, and brass color palette. To help differentiate the space, I [brought] in a pastel green,' she adds.
The dining room after renovation
When compared to the original setting, the finished dining room is unrecognizable. To achieve this space, Jennifer underwent a month-long project that involved painting, hanging the wallpaper, building (and organizing the storage), adding the curtains, and finding the right art for the walls.
The designer found her storage solution in the trusted IKEA BILLY. She also invested in a Bell Canyon Solid Wood Dining Table – that stands as a statement in the room – and a chic Primrose Mirror from Anthropologie.
Jennifer also used green paint by Clare and using Whipped on the ceiling and Money Moves for the accent wall.
Is this the modern decorating idea of the moment? We certainly think so. Do we want an invite to Jennifer’s next dinner party? Absolutely.
Megan is a News Writer across Future Plc’s homes titles, including Livingetc and Homes & Gardens. As a News Writer, she often focuses on micro-trends, wellbeing, celebrity-focused pieces, and everything IKEA.
Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and expansive collection of houseplants.
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