Dinning Room Art

The best art for a dining room is a piece that sparks conversation and sets the desired mood for your gatherings. Bold abstract art, vibrant colorful prints, or sophisticated black and white pieces are excellent choices as they create a strong focal point. A curated set of 2 or 3 prints can also work beautifully to create a balanced and harmonious look, especially on a long wall. The goal is to choose something you love that reflects your personal style.

The key is to choose art that is correctly scaled to your furniture. If you are hanging a piece above a sideboard or buffet table, the artwork should be about two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the furniture. If hanging on an empty feature wall, the piece should be large enough to feel intentional and anchor the space. A common mistake is choosing art that is too small, so when in doubt, it’s often better to go slightly larger.

Color can significantly influence the dining experience. Warm colors like terracotta, gold, and rich browns can create an inviting, cozy, and appetizing atmosphere, making them a very popular choice. Cooler colors like deep blues and greens can lend a more formal, calm, and sophisticated feel to the space. Consider the overall mood you want to create for your dinner parties and family meals.

The formality of your art should match how you use the space. If your dining room is a formal area used for elegant dinner parties, a sophisticated abstract piece or a dramatic large-scale print might be perfect. If it’s a casual space for nightly family meals, you might prefer something more relaxed, playful, or personal. The art is a key element in defining the room’s character.

The dining room is a social space, so it’s often best to choose art that is a pleasant and engaging topic of conversation. Abstract art is a fantastic choice as it allows for personal interpretation. Elegant botanical prints, serene landscapes, or interesting geometric compositions are also excellent options. The goal is to select something that is visually appealing and adds to the enjoyable atmosphere of sharing a meal.

Both are excellent choices that create different effects. A single, large statement piece creates a dramatic and confident focal point, instantly defining the room’s style. A set of 2 or 3 prints (a diptych or triptych) creates a sense of rhythm, balance, and harmony. A set is particularly effective for filling the space on a long wall behind a rectangular dining table.

Art in a dining room is often viewed from a seated position. Therefore, it should be hung slightly lower than in other rooms. A good guideline is to hang your art so the bottom edge is about 6-12 inches above the top of your sideboard or console table. If hanging on a blank wall, the center of the artwork should be at about eye level for a standing person, then adjusted slightly lower to accommodate the seated view.