My Dining Room Makeover was a little up cycling mission during Lockdown. My plan was to transform the room, bringing it up to date whilst making the best of what we had.
A Mission that I might just be able to tackle, despite nerves. I don’t know about you, but I’m always the same with a DIY project!) Being being stuck at home during Lockdown, was the perfect excuse not to put it off any longer.
In my last blog, I shared with you the little things that bought the little things, “the finishing touches” if you like, to a Mission that I was working on during Lockdown. I’m sharing how I tackled the somewhat daunting Mission of revamping our dining room furniture..
You asked for details on the products used and how I went about it – so here it is!!
The Dining Room at the beginning of Lockdown.
The Dining Room is mostly used for entertaining our family and friends (those were the days!) not to mention homework and family meals in the Autumn / Winter months. The room needed to be light, practical and on a budget. We had purchased dining furniture years before and it was still in really good condition, so couldn’t justify replacing it. However the solid oak wood had an effect on the brightness of the room, it felt out of date..
You’re never too old to start learning, and you’re never too young to aim high and achieve great things.
Asa Hutchinson
First things first.
The reason this project was so daunting was that the task seemed so big, that and that we had invested in the furniture years before – what if I ruined it..?? Replacing it simply, wasn’t an option…
The only way of knowing was to get to work!
I sought the advice of The Cotswold Company having bought one of their sideboards at around the time we bought the table and chairs. I have to say, their customer service is second to none – nothing is too much trouble. We have several items from the Cotswold Company and they have really stood the test of time..
Did you know they helpfully offer a colour match suggestion of their pieces on their website, together with other helpful information. Unfortunately, the piece in question was no longer available, although I have linked a similar sideboard in the caption below.
Sideboard The Cotswold Company, Selection of Corinium Earthenware Trio from £9, faux white gypsophila and stems from £12 all from Neptune, Chiafron plant pot £3 Ikea.
Colour matching
I took one of the drawers from the sideboard to the Valspar paint service at B and Q where they coloured matched the paint perfectly.. Admittedly, the staff did look at me a little strangely, holding a drawer and wearing a mask, but they were fabulous and the paint matches to perfection.
Back home and the Dining Room Makeover Mission commenced..
Preparing the table and chairs
All 8 chairs were washed and prepped.. using the Valspar paint meant that I didn’t require any primer, hurrah! However, each chair did need three coats of paint, thankfully the weather was amazing and they dried quickly!
The table was another story.. After much debate, I decided to sand the tabletop, then treat it with lime wax and a neutral varnish to co-ordinate with the sideboard which I had completed earlier that month.. It was a mammoth task and despite knowing that it would look so much better, it was certainly a Mission in itself!
I used an electricsander which was fantastic and made light work of the sanding, not only did it work hard, but collected the dust too, a sure win!
Sanding the table top was more time consuming than I imagined but worth it!
Lime Wax
Once the sanding had been completed (admittedly it took a few days as I was fitting this project around the family, home schooling, Lockdown life – you get the idea!) I let the dust settle for a few days, literally and lime waxed the table top. I used Liberon Lime Wax, although there are many on the market, a very little goes a long way and it has made all the difference. Two coats were applied, using a soft cotton cloth as per the instructions. I then “sealed” the table and chairs with a coat of varnish which is specially designed for wood and painted surfaces and protects them with a highly durable, water and heat resistant film. A must on a heavy duty area such as a dining room furniture don’t you think!
Corinium candlesticks from Neptune, Boxwoord Urns from Charles Ted
The final part of my up-cycle Mission was to paint the legs and the sides of the table to match the chairs and sideboard. I had thought maybe the whole table would be painted the same colour but having decided to go ahead with the lime wax look, I’m really delighted with the end result.
If you read my blog last week, you’ll know what I used to complete the look of the room, bringing it all together with the help of home stylist Natalie from Neptune Weybridge.
Mission almost complete!
Almost there! Just the radiator cover, the glass pendant lighting and a larger rug to source and my Mission will be complete.. Truly thankful to my friend Helen for her daily check-ins, she was an absolute star..
I’m thrilled with how this Dining Room Makeover Mission has turned out, the whole feel of the room has changed. It feels lighter, brighter and more spacious. Now we just need to wait until we can have our favourite people over for a Dinner Party! Little did I know just how long we’d have to wait..
Please do let me know any questions you may have and any thoughts you’d like to share in the comments. Of course, feel free to share with any friends who would love this Mission.
In this blog I’m going to share with you the little details from my Dining Room Makeover and how I pulled it all together.
Lockdown for me has been perfect for getting so many Missions done that, in all honesty, I only dreamt of doing and yet it wasn’t quite so perfect for writing as I’d hoped! You might remember me relaunching my blog back in early April, I’ve been hopeless at writing since May, I guess my creativity has been more practical than working away on the laptop! (I blame the fabulous weather we had over the last 6 months and enjoying my children for that! Life is too short not to embrace it, don’t you think?)
Previous Mini Makeover Missions
The Linen Cupboard Makeover, which I completed in February, gave me the confidence and bravery to tackle bigger projects.. That might sound just a little bit silly but having only painted walls and fences in the past, this was big news to me!
I know what styles we love and those we don’t love so much.. Thanks to more time at home and apps like Instagram and Pinterest, I’ve found a real love for creating spaces in our home that as Marie Kondo would say “bring joy.” In a previous life, I simply wouldn’t have had the time to look up, let alone spend a few days sanding a dining table or a little faff rearranging furniture during a Power Hour!
Then this quote came to me and the rest as they say, is history.
“What if I fail? Oh my darling and what if you fly..?”
My little table was one of the first items to be up-cycled during Lockdown.. I felt sick with nerves and had put it off for possibly about 3 years! It was a gift from my Granny when my husband and I moved into our first home together. It is so very special so the thought of ruining it put me into gridlock!
Before and After of the little table. Details: Marlowe Apple and Pear set Charles Ted Lewes Jug Neptune Aban Rustic T-light (medium, rustic gold) Nukuku
The Dining Room is mostly used for entertaining our family and friends not to mention homework and family meals in the Autumn / Winter months. The room needed to be light, practical and on a budget. We had purchased dining furniture years before and it was still in really good condition, so couldn’t justify replacing it. However the solid oak wood had an effect on the brightness of the room, it was out of date..
Once I knew how I was going to tackle the up-cycling side of the project, I set to clearing the room of the furniture. It gave me a real sense of what I was working with with regards to light and space. The Russian blinds and wall lights will stay for now. Having moved the table, we will need to have an electrician to help with rewiring the ceiling lights. We plan to change to 2 glass pendants creating more light, when the budget allows..
Cox and Cox Neptune Garden Trading
It really hadn’t occurred to me to add a rug under the table, until any lovely insta friend Helen from @my.victorian.house suggested it to me. Helen directed me to Ikea and yes, she was absolutely right! Adding neutral rug that was hardwearing yet comfortable to walk on, changed to whole feel of the room.
Natural Tall Seagrass Basket The Basket Company Weeping Fig Potted Plant and Hellested flat woven natural Rug Ikea
So with the soft furnishings, flooring, plants and windows catered for. It was onto the finishing touches. the fun bit! Obviously all of it is fun, but there were times the I wondered if I’d ever finish this room!
Danish Pyramid Candles each Triple slate coasters with 3 pyramid candles from Salcombe Trading Company. Marlowe Apple and Pear set from Charles Ted
When it came to adding the little touches of styling for the console table both in our entrance hall and dining room, I sought the help of Natalie, from Neptune Weybridge. I first met her at an event in February this year, where I had a wonderful time creating a Mood Board for our much thought about plans for our home. Covid has put that little gem of a project out of reach for now but if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll find lots of inspiration in my Highlights.
The Mood Board I created at the Neptune Weybridge event in February.
So where does Natalie fit in..? Natalie is Neptune Weybridge Home Designer and she’s an absolute star! Her role is to help bring interior design into your home.
Having booked a video call, due to Covid restrictions, we talked about my ideas and using the Mood Board colours and textures from the event, Natalie helped me figure out layouts and lighting, fabric and furniture ideas makes you happiest. This we edited down and gave me the inspiration to create a style that’s our very own version of a Neptune space.
Bronte Signature Candle Corinium Earthenware Trio and White Gypsophila Twig, white All from Neptune Weybridge. Aban Rustic T-light (medium, rustic gold) Nukuku Light; The White Company Sideboard: The Cotswold Company
Neptune’s Home Design Service
The Home Design Service is available in store and virtually, through video call – simply get in touch to book your free initial consultation and they will find a date and time that suits you best. Call 01932 901234.
The Home Design is an easier, less overwhelming way to bring interior design into your home. Natalie helped me style the gorgeous pieces I already had and shared with me ideas that would create the very space and feel we were looking for. She’s a real talent and an eye for detail; creating the perfect finishing touches. I’m very thankful, Neptune have a customer for life!
“I want my home to be that kind of place–a place of sustenance, a place of invitation, a place of welcome.” – Mary DeMuth
Natalie has given me the confidence to look at a room with a different eye, get creative and more than that, we have what feels like a new dining room, created on a budget and with what we have. All we needed was many hours of sanding and painting plus purchasing the paint, the rug and eventually the lighting. I really feel it’s made all the difference.
Sideboard from The Cotswold Company
I have to admit, it’s really rewarding having an idea, then day by day, when time allows, slowly transforming tables, a cupboard, then a whole room .. for me it’s about the baby steps!
If, like me, you’re a lover of Neptune and interiors, I’m hosting a giveaway this week with Neptune Weybridge. Simply head to my Instagram account to enter and on Monday morning you’ll be finding out if you are the lucky winner of the Bronte Signature Candle and the simply elegant Castleford Tall Bottle. They are gorgeous – you really won’t want to miss out!
I’d love to know what Interior Missions you’re working on right now. Any questions you may have, do let me know in the comments. Feel free to share with any friends who would love this Mission.
Gardening really is good for the soul and it’s been proven to support mental wellbeing too.
Time spent outdoors, hands in the soil, surrounded by nature, helps us slow down, breathe, and reconnect.
Recently, my friend and talented garden designer Alice Blount joined me to answer some of your top gardening questions from Instagram. Together, we’ve gathered practical advice, easy ideas, and inspiration to help you create a garden that feels calm and rewarding.
Why Gardening Boots Your Mind and Mood
Gardening helps reduce stress, encourages mindfulness, and even improves happiness. Whether it’s planting seeds, arranging flowers or simply enjoying a cup of tea outside, gardens bring a sense of calm and purpose to everyday life. Read more here
“Plants and gardens have the power to uplift us. It’s more important than ever that we savour the beauty of flowers and trees because gardens are a natural tonic.
If you don’t have a garden or any indoor plants, remember to pause and appreciate the natural world around you when you take your daily exercise. Take a moment to enjoy plants next week and I know you will feel better for it.
It’s proven that plants and gardening have a positive effect on our mental health and happiness. They uplift us, they heal us, they bring us closer to nature. They attract life and offer hope and we could all do with more of that right now.”
Alan Titchmarsh
My White Garden Inspiration
Over the past 18 months, I’ve discovered a real love for gardening, especially creating a White Garden. Working with my friend and talented garden designer, Alice Blount, we’ve transformed ideas into reality, including turning our treehouse into raised beds!
Alice’s expertise has been invaluable, she combines a keen eye for design with practical planting know-how, wealth of horticultural knowledge, while I bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Together, we’ve explored planting, structure and seasonal blooms to make gardening enjoyable and therapeutic.
Watching our garden evolve has reminded me how rewarding even small changes can be and how much happiness comes from connecting with nature in your own space.
You can see some of our ideas on Instagram and Pinterest, and I hope they inspire you to try your own garden refresh, whatever size your outdoor space.
I adore my baskets from The Basket Company
Meet Alice Blount
Alice started her design consultancy in 2004, in Oxfordshire. Now based in South Devon, she works throughout the UK and Europe and is a highly qualified, experienced RHS Award winning garden design professional.
While historical garden restoration is her specialist area, she has a passion for working on urban-chic town gardens all the way through to very large country estates. She employs classic, yet contemporary, design skills where structure is of the utmost importance, softened by gorgeous planting.
Alice is a knowledgeable plants woman and this, combined with a thorough knowledge of modern landscape construction requirements, means she can take your project through from initial concept to the finished garden. When Alice designs a garden, she is led by your needs and dreams for your garden. She is informed by the feel of the site itself, as well as the surrounding landscape and architecture. It will be a design that is totally tailored to you.
You may simply need a border redesigning; or your whole garden overhauled, requiring a complete design and set of planting plans. Alice hand-draws and colours her plans, which makes them totally unique. Her vision really brings the garden alive for you and makes gardening easy to understand. Trust me, she is amazing!
Your Gardening Questions Answered
I’m new to growing vegetables. Where should I start?
Start small and grow what you actually eat. Carrots, beans, peas, or salad leaves are perfect first crops.
Alice recommends the No Dig Method: simply lay cardboard over your soil, cover it with compost or well-rotted manure, and let nature do the rest. It improves soil structure, reduces weeds, and is much kinder on the back!
“Begin with two or three varieties, learn how they behave, then expand next year.” – Alice Blount
Invest in a good “How To”: gardening manual. Charles Dowding’s “No Dig” books are some of the best and of course there are hundreds of videos online also.
“No Dig is an attractive way of growing. It provides a rich soil to grow in, and it’s an excellent way to clear a weed-infested growing area. In principle, by avoiding digging you will not be disrupting the soil life. This is the important micro-organisms, fungi and worms, that help feed plant roots. You will need a large quantity of organic matter. You can use home-made compost, leafmould, well-rotted manure, green waste compost or even bagged peat-free compost.” Garden Organic
If the soil is heavy and clayey, then it does need improving. Add well rotted plant matter to balance it out and help to break it up. The best way now you’ve turned it over is to add a 2” deep top dressing of well rotted horse manure. (it shouldn’t smell at all if it’s rotted down enough!) You don’t need to dig or fork it in. Leave it on top and the worms that are in the manure and soil, will pull it down into the earth. The rotted straw will improve the soils texture. Repeat this process every year and the soil will become more friable and beautifully nutritious, with no digging required!
Desdemona – David Austin Roses Visiting the White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle was magical and bought real inspiration.
How Do I Manage Weeds Naturally?
Weeds are part of every garden, but you can keep them under control:
Top the earth with a weed suppressing mulch such as well rotted manure, well rotted bark or “Strulch” (mineralised straw)
Hoe the area regularly, throughout the growing season, to take the tops off annual weeds in order to keep the weeds at bay.
Lay sheets of cardboard, old carpet or plastic sheeting like DPC membrane also keeps out light which allows the roots to grow. Leave this on for several weeks and ideally overwinter and this will kill off the roots in time. Mulches will also improve the condition of the soil.
Grow medium to large shrubs that will cover the area and keep out light below and therefore help prevent weed growth.
Smaller gardens obviously take less work and time, so try and make sure you can cope with the size of garden you have or bring in a gardener to help!! You may wish to ask a garden designer to redesign your space effectively so that you have the minimum amount of weeding to do. Firstly, always try digging them out first.
Alice prefers using organic methods and not using weedkiller but suggests you may like to use it sparingly in key areas on hard to remove weeds like docks, dandelions and brambles.
Weeds like couch grass and bind weed are a problem. Once you’ve got them, its very hard to get rid of them altogether as a plant can grow from the tiniest section of root!
What’s The Best Way To Move Roses Or Established Shrubs?
Roses are notoriously difficult to move from one place to another, as they have a single, very long tap root. The remaining roots are very short and sparse and very often the main root gets severed when trying to move it. If the rose holds sentimental value, a wedding gift or a memorial for example, then try to take cuttings ahead of time, so you can grow new plants.
Water the plant well a day before moving.
Dig a wide circle around the roots, lifting as much soil as possible.
Replant straight away into a hole enriched with compost.
Mulch well and water regularly until it settles.
Sometimes replacing an older rose is more successful than relocating it—but it’s always worth trying if the plant is special to you.
Alice feels that roses – as with other plants when relocated- have one chance, they will either do well or die! They are also relatively inexpensive to replace (around £12.99 now) so often it is easier to simply buy a new one. (Alice acknowledges her advice maybe a little harsh!)
What Small Updates Make The Biggest Difference
A little fresh paint or oil on fences, decking, or garden furniture instantly brightens your space. Many modern outdoor paints include built-in preservatives to extend the life of timber.
Add pots of herbs near the kitchen door, solar lighting along pathways, and a few cushions or throws for a relaxed, lived-in feel. Find more inspiration here
Favourite Garden Resources
A few books Alice and I reach for again and again:
You’ll find endless ideas and seasonal advice on rhs.org.uk and at annual garden shows, which are wonderful for discovering new varieties and meeting like-minded gardeners.
A Final Thought
Gardening doesn’t have to be grand or time-consuming. Whether you’re planting a single pot of herbs, refreshing your garden furniture or redesigning your borders, every small act of care adds calm and beauty to your day.
In the meantime, if you fancy a little more inspiration then head over to Alices’s Pinterest page
You can find me on Instagram and Pinterest – take a look at the Dartmoor Village Garden board, that Alice and I created for my White Garden inspiration.
Gardening is good for the soul—because it reminds us to slow down, nurture, and notice the little things.
I’d love to hear about your garden!
Share your latest project or favourite plant in the comments or Alice and I on Instagram so we can see what you’re growing.
If you’d like more home, wellbeing and seasonal inspiration, subscribe to the blog to receive the next post straight to your inbox.
A little Mission, my linen cupboard makeover and organisation, sharing the 5 things I did in order to create an organised space for the laundry in our family home. So where to start..? With some good music and focus, my Power Hours came in handy! #powerofanhour
This time of year when the sun starts shining and the days are a little longer, it makes me want to throw open the windows and have a really good declutter – are you the same?
I don’t know about you but when everything is in order, I feel my brain works little more effectively and the house runs more smoothly. (My family may disagree, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) I was the same when I was revising for my exams at school, I simply couldn’t take anything in if my room or desk was cluttered or untidy..
The Declutter
It’s essential to know what space you really have and it’s tricky to see with anything from towels to an assortment of pillows and toiletries in the way. Everything was removed and put into piles; what needs to stay, go or recycle. Where this may seem drastic, a clear space is much easier to visualise what you have to work with. I gathered everything I needed from cleaning products to paint so I had everything to hand. The cupboard was then dusted from the top down, including the light fitting and prepped for painting.
The walls were painted in School House White and the shelves in All White, both Farrow and Ball. This immediately brightened the space and made so much difference. Exciting!
With everything now out of the space and the paint drying, it was a time to get radical: old towels, bed linen that had seen better days and as Marie Kondo suggests didn’t “spark joy” were recycled. Toiletries and medicines that had expired were disposed of and everything that didn’t need to be in this cupboard had a new home to be found. It’s so easy to accumulate these items over the years. Somehow even our gift wrapping paper had found its way in here!
The Planning
With a clean slate so to speak, and a piece of paper, I planned what would work and where, what needed to be most accessible and what was required in order to make the best of the space. Everything should have its place. This way there should be more chance of the family being able to find and replace items with ease. The system should work!
Items that are used seasonally, such as beach towels and Christmas table linen, were placed on the higher shelves. Items such as towels, bed linen and body products that are used more frequently, were placed on lower, more accessible shelves.
I knew I wanted to have our washing baskets in the cupboard, a change from the bedrooms. This way, they would be hidden away and not taunting me to pop another load of washing on! This meant an additional shelf would be required, together with additional baskets and labels.
Measurements were recorded and off to the DIY store I went where they kindly cut the wood to size so that it matched the existing shelves. I’m quite pleased with the results, having learnt to make the shelf on the job!
Creating A System For Linen Cupboard Organisation.
Having decluttered and now having an idea of what was to go where, neatness and having a system makes a difference. Each bedlinen set is neatly folded together with the sheets into one pillow case. No more digging around looking for pillow cases and sheets. (We’ve all been there right, especially when the children are poorly in the middle of the night!) These are now housed in their own basket, perfectly large enough to hold all our bedlinen.
Hair, body, first aid, cleaning products and hand towels all have their own baskets as do our toilet rolls. I know that may sound a little over the top! However, if this area is to maintain a sense of calm and tidiness, everything needed had to have their own home and to be easily accessible. These have been placed in the middle shelves.
I adore jars, they not only are super for storage but they also add a different dimension and light. Here in the larger jar I’ve decanted my Magnesium (epson) Salts so we all know where they are after exercising!
Problems I encountered
Well thankfully only one and it’s a little one! The cupboard has a light at the top from the ceiling. It would have been really helpful to have sensory lights on each shelf so they activated as the door opened. I found some in Ikea, They were really reasonable and I bought one for each shelf.
Unfortunately, the door is too far away from the shelves due to the depth of the cupboard so they aren’t activated as soon as the door opens. However not all is lost, as soon as there is movement, the lights are activated. Not perfect, but not a huge problem either!
Everything in it’s place for optimal linen cupboard organisation.
Having decided what to go where, the gorgeous clay tags from Fabaclay were the perfect finishing touch for the baskets. Where it wasn’t possible to use the clay labels, these antique brass metal file holders add a unique touch.
The linen cupboard makeover and organisation has been complete almost 2 months now. I can happily share that it works! We can all readily find what we need and yes the washing does end up in the correct basket! Honestly, it’s a joy to now going to the linen cupboard rather than having a “heart sink” moment each time I open the door. It’s currently my favourite cupboard in our house!
I’d love to know what you think in the comments below. Best wishes
I was delighted to hear that I’d won a giveaway with Fabaclay and the Basket Company as I was planning this project. It really helped the organisation of this makeover. I’m thrilled to say that both companies collaborated with me, with an instagram giveaway with The Basket Company and 5 tags gifted by Fabaclay.
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Opinions, as ever, are wholly my own and 100% authentic.
I’m the creator of Woman on a Mission, a lifestyle space dedicated to helping women bring more calm, confidence and balance into everyday life. Born from my own journey to slow down and live with greater intention, it offers inspiration around wellbeing, organisation, home and mindset, one meaningful mission at a time
