Afro-Boho Dining Room Makeover on a Budget

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In pandemic 2020, I got the bright idea to paint the dining room and give it its identity with a Firecracker Red color, which worked fine until it didn't.

Jump to the pandemic 2021, and I got the bright idea to paint my kitchen using my original idea: light upper and dark lower cabinets.

So, I guess I could say painting these cabinets gave me a design challenge and opportunity.

I began by painting my kitchen cabinets in a beautiful, luscious, light gray uppers, then painted the walls the same light gray, and finally, the dark lower cabinets with this awesome Mocha Black from Sherwin-Williams.

Those choices really gave this kitchen an airy, boho, afro-boho kind of vibe, and I knew that I wasn't going to be satisfied with that dining room any longer.

Bringing two room designs together

So, my design solution was to go lighter. Take that awesome Warm Putty from Sherwin-Williams and use the same paint color on the walls in the adjoining dining room.

I loved making all the discoveries and surprises that resulted from changing that wall color from Firecracker Red to Warm Putty. I brought these two rooms together so they flowed instead of having two very distinct and somewhat jarring designs.

One of the best solutions was creating harmony between the adjoining kitchen and dining room.

Synchronizing those two spaces using the Warm Putty wall color was golden. Another solution was unexpected. That Warm Putty, that color allowed the granite in that nook to pop. Another design solution is the lighter wall color, which is going to be a yummy, almost gallery-like backdrop for my new decor and the new vibe in my magnificent dining room.

Adding Afro-Boho decor

The next step is adding the Afro-Boho decor. I've always admired the African juju hat. Originally a ceremonial headdress, but now an allowed contemporary wall hanging.

So that's precisely what I got.

This piece alone sets the tone for that layer of Afro-Bohemian decor and the energy I want in this space that honors my ancestral heritage. It is also just pretty funky and pretty cool. One of the principles of joyful design is that your space, your home, should honor who you are. Allow your design choices to reflect your deep respect for your heritage.

I decided to add some custom-designed artwork to add that next layer of Afro-Boho vibe.

This dining room has had quite a life in just four short years. But this project just goes to show that sometimes you have to paint a room a couple of times to land on the money shot. This original custom on-a-budget wall art really pops against that wall color.

I added another layer of that cool chic Afro-Boho vibe with these Kuba cloth pillows I hand-stitched. I believe in custom on a budget for beauty that doesn't break the bank.