The Best Paint Colors for Dining Rooms: Elevate Your Space With the Perfect Hue
On one hand, your dining room is a functional space, where the meals prepared in your kitchen are eaten. On the other hand, it’s a communal space meant for hosting and connecting over delicious food and long conversations. Paint color is key to creating an environment conducive to all that. Read on for tips and ideas for finding the right paint color for your dining room.
8 Crucial Considerations
When choosing a color for your dining room, make sure to take these essential steps.
1. Consider the Dining Room’s Purpose and Mood
Casual vs. Formal: Decide if you want a casual, cozy atmosphere or a more formal, elegant look. For a casual vibe, soft, warm colors like terracotta, warm grays, or creamy whites work well. For formal dining, deeper tones like navy, charcoal, or rich greens can add sophistication.
Warm vs. Cool Tones: Warm colors, such as reds, yellows, and warm neutrals, can stimulate appetite and conversation, making them great choices for dining spaces. Cool colors, like blues and greens, lend a calm, relaxed vibe, which may be better if you want a tranquil space.
2. Factor in Natural and Artificial Lighting
Natural Light: If your dining room gets a lot of natural light, you have more flexibility with darker colors, as sunlight can balance the depth. However, in dimly lit dining rooms, you might want to stick with lighter shades to avoid a gloomy feel.
Evening Lighting: Since dining rooms are often used in the evening, consider how the color will look under artificial light. Warm lighting can make colors appear cozier, while cool lighting may make cool colors look sharper and warm colors look muted.
3. Complement Existing Furniture and Decor
Look at your dining table, chairs, artwork, and any accent pieces. For example, if your furniture is dark wood, a lighter wall color can add contrast, whereas a bold color could add drama.
If your decor has metallic elements (like gold or brass), consider how the paint color will play off these accents. Dark colors can make metallic tones pop, while light colors can create a softer look.
4. Choose Colors that Match Your Home’s Overall Style
If your home has a modern style, neutral tones with bold accents can help create a cohesive look. Traditional homes often look great with warmer colors, earthy tones, and classic shades like cream or burgundy.
A minimalist or contemporary dining room might benefit from monochromatic or soft neutral shades, while an eclectic home can embrace bolder, contrasting colors.
5. Consider Accent Walls or Color Blocking
If you love bold colors but don’t want to overwhelm the room, consider painting one wall in an accent color. This creates a focal point without committing to a full room of bold color. Alternatively, you can use color blocking techniques to add personality in a structured way.
7. Consult Color Psychology
Think about how you want people to feel when they’re in the dining room. Warm colors like red and orange can create an energetic atmosphere, while cooler tones like blue can bring calmness.
8. Test Paint Colors
Of all these steps, the most important is testing painting colors, to see how they perform in your specific dining space. Read on for a mess-free and stress-free way to do just that.
Testing Paint Colors With Samplize
Our large-format peel-and-stick paint samples make testing paint easy. Here’s how it works.
Step One: Choose Your Samples
Enjoy browsing our huge selection of paint colors from leading brands, including Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Farrow & Ball. You can go with our bundles, or handpick a stack of samples in just a few minutes. Finish your order, and your samples will arrive on your doorstep the next day.
Step Two: Peel and Stick
Your samples will be painted (not printed) with two coats of real paint. Start by testing one sample in an inconspicuous spot that’s clean and free of debris. Once you’ve tried one sample, feel free to stick on various colors side by side.
Step Three: Dream, Debate, Decide
Walk around the dining room. Turn the lights on and off, draw the curtains, wait for sunset, light some candles—explore how each color presents in each condition. If you don’t fall in love with a color, just repeat steps one and two until you find the perfect color for your ideal dining room.
Color Ideas for Your Dining Room
Here are some colors to consider, depending on the kind of atmosphere you want to create.
Warm and Inviting Colors
Revere Pewter - A classic, soft greige that adds a welcoming warmth without overpowering other decor.
Lenox Tan - A rich, earthy tan that creates a grounded, elegant feel, perfect for more formal dining spaces.
Kingsport Gray - This warm gray-brown has depth and sophistication, ideal for a cozy, refined look.
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Soft Pumpkin - A muted orange that feels modern and inviting, adding a subtle pop of color without overwhelming the space.
Accessible Beige - A versatile beige with a touch of warmth, creating a neutral, inviting atmosphere.
Rustic Red - A warm, earthy red that’s bold yet cozy, great for creating an intimate, vibrant dining experience.
Chestnut - A soft brown with orange undertones, bringing a cozy warmth and elegance that complements a variety of dining room styles.
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Elegant and Sophisticated Shades
Hale Navy - A deep, classic navy blue that adds a sense of drama and luxury, especially striking in formal dining rooms.
Kendall Charcoal - A rich, moody charcoal gray that exudes sophistication and pairs beautifully with both light and dark furniture.
Stormy Monday - A soft, muted gray that’s subtle and elegant, creating a calming yet upscale ambiance.
Decorator’s White - A crisp, clean white with cool undertones, perfect for creating a fresh, sophisticated look that highlights artwork and furnishings.
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Urbane Bronze - A bold, luxurious brown-gray that adds depth and pairs beautifully with metallic accents for a chic dining space.
Iron Ore - A near-black with warm undertones that gives the room a modern, dramatic flair, perfect for a moody dining area.
Dovetail - A soft, earthy gray that feels upscale and pairs well with both warm and cool accents, making it versatile and sophisticated.
Alabaster - A warm, creamy white that’s both soft and elegant, offering a classic, timeless look suitable for any decor style.
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Bold and Dramatic Possibilities
Raccoon Fur - A deep, almost black charcoal with cool undertones, creating a powerful statement wall or an enveloping, moody dining space.
Caliente - A warm, vibrant red that energizes the room with a classic yet daring feel, perfect for adding richness and warmth.
Black Forest Green - A dark, forest green with a hint of blue, adding depth and sophistication to a dining space, especially dramatic when paired with brass accents.
Gentleman’s Gray - A rich navy blue with a slight gray undertone, bringing depth and a refined intensity to any dining room.
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Tricorn Black - A true, versatile black that brings a modern edge and makes a striking statement in any setting, especially with white or metallic contrast.
In the Navy - A bold, sophisticated navy that adds an elegant and moody atmosphere, perfect for pairing with gold accents or wood tones.
Morris Room Grey - A deep green-gray with earthy warmth, giving a dramatic yet historic feel that works well in traditional or modern dining rooms.
Darkroom - A rich plum that brings both drama and warmth, giving the space a cozy yet sophisticated ambiance with a touch of the unexpected.
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Ready to Find Your Color?
Whatever mood you want to set in your dining room, Samplize has the color to make it happen. Start your search here.
