10 Dining Room Design Styles That Are Easy To Thrift For

Shopping for a new dining room style can easily get expensive if you buy all the furniture and decor new. But choosing the perfect design style for your space doesn't have to break the bank. Many trending dining room design styles are easy to thrift for — the simplicity may even surprise you. A dining room is made of certain key elements such as the table and chairs, cabinets, dishes, rugs, lighting, art, and accents. Most of these items can easily be found at thrift stores for a fraction of the price they sell for new at big box retailers or designer stores.

The key pieces needed to fill a dining room generally stay the same for each style, such as tables, lighting, and storage systems. However, some styles require unique furniture or decor. Below, we explore 10 dining room design styles that are easy to thrift for. And we tell you exactly which items to be on the lookout for to fit each style.

A modern dining room style is defined by minimalist design. Generally, less is more, which makes it a great option for thrifting. You don't need a lot of cabinet space, design accents, or wall art. All you really need is a few key pieces with clean lines and a neutral color palette. Look for a sleek wooden table at thrift stores or vintage retailers. Dress the room up with contemporary statement lighting, which you can easily find at ReStores or furniture resellers.

Choosing an eclectic style for your dining room allows you to incorporate classic home decor trends that stand the test of time with your personal style. Because this aesthetic is generally focused on mix-and-match in your preferred fashion, it is one of the easiest styles to thrift for. Using mismatched chairs is one of the best ways to add personality to a dining area. Thrift stores are teeming with one-of-a-kind seating and vibrant decor accents, such as rugs, that are treasures for creating an eclectic dining room.

A traditional dining room style typically features formal tables and chairs with rich colors and ornate detailing. Thrift for wooden tables that stand the test of time. Look for sturdy older pieces that will take whatever your busy family can throw at them. Likewise, you can pick up highly decorative china cabinets for a decent price while thrifting. Hunt, too, for rugs in rich colors that are perfect for bringing your traditional dining room look together.

Rustic dining rooms are usually filled with natural materials and earthy tones, such as wooden tables and handcrafted items. This is yet another style you can thrift a wooden table for; look for tables featuring a raw, natural wood grain. Keep your eyes peeled for art with rural themes, handwoven baskets and rugs, and handmade pottery pieces. Add faux or real houseplants in thrifted planters for a spot of greenery.

Industrial is arguably one of the most popular interior decorating styles. It combines human-made and raw, natural materials, such as wood, brick, and exposed piping, in one space. Wooden tables with metal legs work well in industrial dining rooms and are easy and affordable to thrift for. Find all-metal chairs or chairs with wooden seats and metal legs to complete your style. A key aspect of industrial style is exposed piping. Need dining room storage? Head to your local recycling center to DIY industrial shelving out of PVC pipes for a budget-friendly project.

Thrifting for a shabby chic dining room is easy because much of what makes the style unique is time-worn furniture, decor with signs of wear and tear, and quirky patterns. Thrift stores are a great place to find affordable china cabinets with the character befitting your shabby chic dining room. You can also find scuffed wooden tables that will fit the aesthetic well, along with accent items like small bowls, tablecloths, curtains, and linens in a pastel palette.

Scandinavian design is sort of a combination of modern and rustic interiors, but with its own flair. The key elements are simplicity, functionality, and nature. Solid wood tables and chairs are some of the easiest furniture pieces to source from thrift stores, as are frayed vintage rugs. Keep an eye out for decor items made of natural materials to fit the Scandi vibe and bring your dining room together. Placement matters most in Scandinavian lighting design, so make sure you thrift something minimalist and easily moveable.

A farmhouse dining room blends rustic and modern elements, but in a way that differs from Scandi design. Generally, the goal of farmhouse design is to create a comfortable, cozy space that feels timeless yet contemporary. Common elements include raw wood tables and accents paired with soft upholstered chairs and rusted metal finishes. As with many of the other styles in this list, you can easily thrift your wooden table. While at the thrift store, look for table lamps over other lighting fixtures and fit them with Edison bulbs to complete the farmhouse vibe.

Victorian-style dining rooms are characterized by ornate and fantastical patterns, luxurious fabrics, and rich colors. It's an easy style to thrift for because stores are full of ceramic tableware, art, and decor from (or looks like it's from) the era. As with other styles in this list, you frequently find affordable Victorian-look china cabinets in thrift stores, as well as the dishes that go inside them. Look, too, for embellishments like gilded candlesticks, baroque bowls, oil paintings (real or prints), chandeliers, and old leather-bound books to complete the look.

Mediterranean interiors feature natural materials and an iconic color palette: warm colors like beige, olive, and terracotta. Some items you can easily thrift for your Mediterranean-inspired dining room include wooden tables, lighting, and accent pieces. Look for chunky, natural timber tables rather than those with ornate finishes or metal accents. Embrace natural lighting during the day; above the table, hang a wrought-iron chandelier for nighttime statement lighting. Thrift an assortment of unglazed pottery pieces and natural fiber baskets to finish off the design.