Before & After: Watch How One Creator Transformed Her Builder-Grade Dining Space with IKEA

Let’s be honest: there is nothing inherently wrong with a builder-grade, open-concept dining room. It’s functional, it’s clean and it’s a blank canvas. But for many of us, “blank canvas” eventually starts to feel a little bit like “lacking soul.” If you’ve been staring at your beige walls wondering how to inject some personality without embarking on a six-month renovation, well, we have some inspiration for you. Enter: one of our favorite home creators, Kayla Simone, who recently took her dining space from “sad and boring” (her words) to cozy and elevated (ours) , using the magic of IKEA.

It’s a scene many of us recognize: neutral walls and a layout that feels a bit disconnected from the rest of the home. It’s a perfectly fine room, but it lacks that “wow” factor that makes you want to linger over a long Sunday brunch. The creator’s goal? To design a space that feels custom, high-end and—most importantly—intentional.

As you can see in the videos, the transformation didn’t require knocking down walls. Instead, it relied on smart styling and multifunctional IKEA staples that look way more expensive than their price tags suggest. Here’s how she did it.

One of the fastest ways to make a budget-friendly space feel custom is to mix and match furniture. Kayla grounds her room with the oval STOCKHOLM 2025 dining table (it’s rounded edges are great for families with young children), then elevates the look by swapping out her folding chairs for ones with more curves and texture, like the KRYLBO chairs. This collected look tricks the eye into seeing a designer showroom rather than a flat setup.

Kayla already designed her living room area within the open-concept floor plan, but adding a few shelving units behind the sofa creates a visual (and useful) transition. The shelves are the HOLMERUD side tables from IKEA. Kayla purchased a few and used them to wrap around the sofa, resembling a custom built-in look for a fraction of the price. She also installed three LACK shelving units above the window that she styled with decorative objects. This shelf draws the eye up and adds personality to the space. 

The beauty of shopping at IKEA is that you can easily mix and match their range of products to make a unique table setting for small or large gatherings—without breaking the bank. For example, start with the VÅRARV placements like Kayla and don’t sleep on the STOCKHOLM 2025 cloth napkins (they’re gorgeous).

The result is inspiring. What was once a pass-through space is now a sophisticated destination. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need a contractor when you have a vision and a trip to IKEA. The best part? Because Kayla used versatile pieces, the room is able to evolve with the seasons and her family’s needs. Exhibit A: Her family’s new mealtime command center utilizing the SVENSÅS memo board, MALMBÄCK display shelves and SUNNERSTA hooks and containers. So, whether she’s hosting a holiday dinner or keeping up after a pickier eater, the dining room works as hard as it looks. Ready to tackle your own blank space? Head to IKEA to find your transformation pieces.