Dining room paint ideas – 13 beautiful paint colors to inspire

Create a welcoming and memorable space with our top dining room paint ideas

Dining room paint ideas. Three dining rooms all using dining room paint ideas. First dining room painted a dark, earthy brown-yellow shade, second dining room has painted built-in furniture in blue and green shades. Third dining room has painted walls and ceiling in a striking teal shade
(Image credit: Simon Bevan, Paul Raeside, Crown Paint)

A sociable space in the home that welcomes friends and family to eat, drink and be entertained, your dining room paint ideas should create a welcoming and impressionable environment where people will not want to leave.

When considering dining room ideas, using paint is a simple way to add color and character to the space, and as this room is not used as much as the others in the home, it provides the perfect opportunity to be bold and adventurous with paint ideas.

Whether your dining room is only used for special occasions and dinner parties, or used everyday with family, embracing dining room paint ideas can create an inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Dining room paint ideas – 13 colors to inspire your next update

From bold painted murals to calming neutral shades, explore our top dining room color ideas with paint for some timeless inspiration.

1. Be bold with paint ideas

Striking teal painted dining room, walls and ceiling painted all one color, matching table cloth and upholstery, dark wooden flooring, black side table with flowers and decorative ornaments, candles and glass vases on dining table

(Image credit: Crown Paint)

As the dining room is mainly used as a sociable, entertaining space, why not go all-out with your dining room paint ideas to create an unforgettable atmosphere. 

In this beautiful blue dining room, painted in Teal & Midnight Navy by Crown Paints the stand-out monochromatic color scheme creates a rich and vibrant space that is bursting with colorful charm. Even though the use of paint in this room is daring, the chosen blue shades create a sophisticated atmosphere of elegance and calm.

Painting the walls and ceiling the same color and enhancing with coordinating furniture and accessories will ensure for a bold and distinguished design.

2. Use paint to complement your wallpaper

Light and bright dining room with floral wallpaper on the walls, wooden wall paneling painted a light blue shade, dark wood rectangular dining table with upholstered chairs, dark wooden flooring, metallic chandelier hanging over table

(Image credit: Elizabeth Cooper Design, photography by Tom Grimes)

A great way to further enhance your dining room wallpaper ideas, using paint to complement your chosen design can elegantly frame the wallpaper as well as create a striking accent color in the space, great for accent color ideas.

In this dining room, designed by Elizabeth Cooper Interior Design, she states of the process, 'we wanted the wallpaper in this room to be distinctive and unique, and not too matchy-matchy, while also working well with the living room color palette because the two rooms are immediately adjacent to each other. The paneling is painted in a beautiful blue-gray by Portola Paints.'

The soft blue-gray shade perfectly coordinates with the colorful wallpaper, and adds a contemporary twist to the traditional coving and paneling features.

3. Paint the dining room ceiling

Dining room with red painted ceiling and blue and cream painted walls, stone flooring with steps, abstract, colorful artwork on the walls beside dining table, sleek, dark red dining table with two dining chairs with painted frames and woven seats, flowers and decorative ornaments on table

(Image credit: Crown Paint)

If you want to create a stand out statement with your dining room paint ideas, why not paint the ceiling.

Tash Bradley, Lick's Director in Interior Design states, 'painting a ceiling can create both a grand and cozy atmosphere simultaneously, and picking a statement color like red or teal can create a real talking point.'

This dining room space beautifully embraces colorful paint ideas, the painted red ceiling makes a soft statement, further enhanced by the red accessories and furniture pieces. The overall muted color palette used throughout this dining space is both adventurous and subtle at the same time, creating an inviting area that is rich with personality, a beautiful example of red dining room ideas.

4. Use an earthy palette

Painted dining room in a dark ochre shade, natural textures and colors used throughout, dark wooden storage cabinet with rattan doors, dark wooden rectangular dining table, striped upholstered dining chair, dining bench, marble fireplace with table lamp, black painted wooden flooring

(Image credit: Simon Bevan)

An earthy palette often refers to paint colors that are shades of brown or colors that take inspiration from nature. If you want your dining room space to be snug and cozy, using a soothing, earthy palette is a simple way to achieve this.

In this dining room, the rich, brown painted walls creating a warm and welcoming space. Complemented by natural materials such as the dark wood dining table and rustic storage cabinet, the overall deign is a celebration of the colors and materials found in the natural world.

5. Create a striking mural

Dining room with striking blue, botanical mural, light wood, oval dining table, four black leather chairs, light wooden flooring with large blue-gray rug, black cabinet with nine bird paintings mounted above, low hanging textured, cream pendant in center of dining table, decorative vases and bowls on table

(Image credit: Alyce Taylor Photograph, Jake Curtis)

When considering wall mural ideas for your home, the dining room provides the perfect place to be bold and beautiful with paint and artwork.

'The dining room is a space for socializing and entertainment, and what could be better than creating a stand our mural that ignites conversation and excitement when people enter the room,' says says Homes & Gardens' editorial director Sarah Spiteri.

In this dining room, the stunning painted wall mural wraps around the room, charmingly transporting you to the outside world. The intricate, natural landscape design is enhanced by a pretty palettes of blues, creating both a striking and relaxing design that is a feast for the eyes and an excellent choice for dining room wall ideas.

6. Paint the furniture in your dining room

Dining room with mid-century, dark wooden dining table and chairs, upholstered in green, cream and patterned fabric, large blue and cream patterned rug, four different color and shaped pendant light hanging low above the table, painted blue and green storage and display cabinets

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

If you want inject an element of color to your dining room space but do not want to paint the walls, learning how to paint wood furniture can breath a new lease of life into furniture designs both traditional and contemporary. 

In this open-plan kitchen-diner space, the floor to ceiling cabinets do not blend into the background, quite the opposite, the contrasting paint colors used create a stylish focal point and feature out of regular storage and display units. Complemented by the colorful hanging light shades and seat upholstery, the mix of materials, colors and patterns in this dining space create an eclectic, characterful look.

7. Embrace an all-white scheme

All white, bright dining room, black flooring, white painted fireplace with decorative ornaments on mantel, wooden dining table with cream painted column, matching wooden dining chairs with woven backs and upholstered seats, striped cream rug below table, wooden bench and seat with upholstered seats and cushions on edge of the room

(Image credit: Helen Cathcart)

For a serene and calming look for your dining room paint ideas, embracing and all-white scheme will always prove successful. 

'Decorating with white can make a space feel fresh and sophisticated, and allows for you to add color and character through your furniture pieces and accessories. A great color to use to make a room feel spacious, white paint may seem like a simple option, but used in the right way, it will create a dining room space that is elegant and timeless,' says Homes & Gardens' editor in chief Lucy Searle.

In this relaxed, Boho-style dining room, the white paint complements the abundance of natural light that floods in to the room, creating a bright, and uplifting space for family and friends to relax in and enjoy.

8. Create a colorful feature wall 

Dining room with bright yellow feature wall, other wall with wooden paneling painted white, red painted built-in wooden shelf, white knoll saarinen oval dining table, upholstered blue velvet dining chair, abstract blue, white and yellow artwork and decorative accessories

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Whether you want to create an element of contrast or elevate an accent color for your dining room paint ideas, painting a feature wall can make a colorful, eye-catching statement. 

In this dining room, painted in shades Soft Pink, Chilli Pepper and Yellow Finch by Benjamin Moore, within this beautiful mix of colors, the bright yellow creates an uplifting and playful feature wall, and establishes an elegant contrast with the blue upholstery and decorative accent pieces, great for yellow dining room ideas.

With the help and knowledge of the color wheel, you can create unique, painted color combinations for your dining room to make it a show stopping space.

9. Use a calming cream for a relaxed look

Relaxed dining room with cream painted walls, two large hanging pendants in natural, textured cream material, wooden rectangular dining table with dining chairs with metal frames, large webbed backing and cream upholstered seat and back cushions, rug below dining table, painting on wall, decorative vases and bowls on table

(Image credit: Lucie Ayres, 22 Interiors, photography by Noah Webb)

An enduring neutral shade that is soothing and relaxed, cream paint ideas for your dining room cam create a truly tranquil space.

In this dining room, designed by Lucie Ayres from 22 Interiors, she states that the goal 'was all about adding organic forms and warmth throughout', she then says of her clients reaction to her finished design, 'they are obsessed with the level of comfort in every area – especially the dining room as they do typically love to entertain.'

This dining room space creates an enhanced atmosphere of inviting comfort. The cream paint on the walls beautifully sets the scene, and is complemented by the natural textures and soft upholstery used throughout. As the dining room is a space you can spend long periods of time with friends and family, creating a soft and comforting space will make everyone feel at home and at ease.

10. Create an impact with dark paint 

Dining room with dark blue painted walls, rounded mirror with textured, woven frame, dark wood, round dining table with matching dining chairs, blue table throw, textured, natural rug with orange stripe and scalloped edging, black wooden flooring, decorative vases and glass ornaments on table

(Image credit: Polly Wreford)

Dark paint ideas are often associated with period properties and traditional dining room ideas, however, do not be afraid to use darker paint shades for modern dining room ideas as they can create an alluring, elegant atmosphere.

Tash Bradley from Lick states, 'if your dining room does not get much natural light, use and amplify this feature, be adventurous and embrace the darkness'.

The dark, blue-gray paint used in this dining room creates a cozy, cocooned feel, and adds a contemporary twist to the traditional paneled walls – one to remember for paneling paint ideas. The dark paint is balanced out by the warming wooden furniture pieces and textured natural materials, with the end result being a sophisticated mix of the old and new.

11. Elevate a traditional space

Traditional dining and kitchen space painted in a vibrant green, traditional stone tile flooring, dining table with white tablecloth with two dark wooden chairs, light wood stool in background, green metal pendant light, looking through an open doorway to another room with brown painted door and walls

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Paint ideas can effortlessly add a sense of vibrancy and contemporary charm to your traditional dining room. 

The green paint used in this country kitchen-diner for green dining room ideas adds an invigorating energy to the space, whilst still coordinating with the traditional materials and textures in the room. 

'Taking inspiration from nature for paint ideas for your traditional dining room is a great place to start as these colors will be able to effortlessly integrate into a classic scheme,' says Jennifer Ebert, Homes & Gardens' digital editor.

12. Be playful with pink

Painted pink dining room with internal white window looking through to kitchen, two long hanging opal glass oval pendants over dark wood dining table, two blue upholstered dining chairs, wooden dining bench and metallic chair for seating, dark wood flooring with hanging plants and floor plants in the background

(Image credit: Philip Lauterbach)

Pink room ideas can be playful and fun, but can they can also create a sophisticated space that embodies a graceful elegance. 

Tash Bradley from Lick states, 'my top shade for a dining room space is pink, a dusky, muted pink shade can look beautiful under candlelight and is instantly welcoming and relaxing'.

In this dining room, the pink painted walls work in harmony with the warm wooden flooring, creating an inviting space. Pink paint can integrate in both classic and contemporary interiors, so is a timeless choice for dining room paint ideas.

13. Coordinate with your furniture

Blue painted dining room, light wooden flooring, large rectangular dining table in dark wood with matching dining chairs, chairs with blue fabric seat upholstery, cream curtains, black and gold rounded floor lamp design, artwork on walls

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

For a cohesive look that can elevate the use of color in your dining room space, coordinate your paint ideas with chosen furniture pieces.

The traditional, dark wood dining chairs with comforting blue upholstery have been brought to life with the use of a similar shade of blue on the walls. This use of paint in this dining room space elevates a traditional furniture design and creates a stylish mix of texture and color.

What color is best for a dining room?

Using paint and color in your home should be personal and expressive, so there are no set rules for dining room color ideas.

However, you want your dining room to be an inviting, relaxed space that people can sit comfortably in for long periods of time, so ensure to remember this when planning your dining room paint ideas and create a space that is both welcoming and impressive.

For some color inspiration to get you started, Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown states, 'yellow easily adds warmth to any room, it can be particularly effective in a living or dining area. For a modern look, balance yellows with something cool like a pale grey or an off white. Try teaming this with natural woods and materials like wicker and bamboo as these will blend in well with the contrasting tones.'

Should I paint my dining room dark or light?

When deciding if you should paint you dining room dark or light, take into consideration factors such as the size of the space and how much natural light the room receives. 

Justyna Korczynska states, 'the lighter the color the more it will reflect available light, whereas the darker the color, the more light it will absorb and the darker a room will appear. Therefore, if you want to make a space feel bigger, you need tones that visually push walls away from you, and these are the pale and light ones, most light reflective colors will then open up a space.'

Using ideas such as painted feature walls can give you the best of both worlds if you want to experiment with light and dark shades or test a color before you paint the whole room.

Zara Stacey
Managing Editor

Zara is the Managing Editor at Homes & Gardens. She joined the brand in February 2022 as an Interiors Content Editor, specializing in writing content on interior color trends, decorating ideas and design inspiration. After studying English Literature at University, she worked as an Ecommerce Website Editor, Content Writer and Buying Intern at multiple independent businesses within the luxury retail and lifestyle sectors. She enjoys nothing more than discovering new trends, brands and products, whether that be in fashion, interior design or lifestyle.