18 Dining Room Wallpaper Ideas to Elevate Your Space
The dining room often serves as the heart of the home. It is where we share meals, host celebrations, and create lasting memories with family and friends. While furniture plays a big role, I believe the walls truly set the tone for the entire gathering.
Paint is a safe choice, but wallpaper offers a unique opportunity to inject personality and style that flat color just cannot achieve. From bold prints to subtle textures, the right wall covering can completely change the energy of a room. I have compiled 18 stunning wallpaper ideas to help you find the perfect backdrop for your next dinner party.
1. Textured wallpaper
I love using textured wallpaper to solve the problem of a room feeling “flat” or cold. This style brings immediate warmth and intimacy to a dining space, which encourages guests to relax and linger longer at the table.
You can find options ranging from natural grasscloth to embossed papers that mimic fabric.
Beyond just aesthetics, I find that textured wallpaper is incredibly practical. The physical depth of the material hides minor imperfections in your drywall, such as small dents or uneven plaster.
If you want a cozy atmosphere without committing to a loud pattern, this is my top recommendation. It adds sophistication through touch and sight, making the room feel finished and high-end.
2. Floral wallpaper
Bringing nature indoors is always a good idea, and floral wallpaper achieves this effortlessly. I often suggest this style for dining rooms because it softens the hard lines of tables, chairs, and sideboards.
You don’t have to stick to old-fashioned, small prints unless you want a vintage vibe. Modern floral wallpapers feature massive, oversized blooms and vibrant colors that act like art.
This choice creates a soothing, organic environment that feels fresh and lively.
If you worry about it looking too busy, I recommend papering just one feature wall or the top half of the wall above wainscoting. It brings a garden-fresh feel to your breakfast or dinner routine, no matter the season outside.
3. Geometric wallpaper
If you prefer a modern and orderly aesthetic, geometric wallpaper is the way to go. I love how the repetitive shapes and sharp lines create a sense of rhythm and energy in the room.
This style works exceptionally well in contemporary homes or mid-century modern spaces.
You can use bold, high-contrast black and white patterns for a dramatic look that demands attention. Alternatively, you can choose subtle, tone-on-tone geometric shapes for a more understated backdrop.
I find that vertical geometric patterns can also trick the eye, making your dining room ceiling appear higher than it actually is. It is a smart way to add structure and visual interest simultaneously.
4. Damask wallpaper
For those who want to enhance timeless elegance, damask is the gold standard. I view this as the perfect choice for formal dining rooms where you want to host sophisticated dinner parties.
The intricate, scrolling patterns draw inspiration from historical textiles and bring a sense of luxury and vintage charm to the walls.
Damask works beautifully in rich, deep colors like navy, burgundy, or emerald green. These darker hues create a moody, dramatic atmosphere that looks incredible by candlelight.
However, you can also find damask in light, neutral tones for a breezy, traditional look. It instantly elevates the perceived value of the room and pairs wonderfully with crystal chandeliers and antique wood furniture.
5. Scenic wallpaper
I believe a dining room is the perfect place for storytelling, and scenic wallpaper does exactly that. These wall coverings often feature murals of landscapes, forests, or historical scenes that transport you to another place.
It creates a breathtaking view where a window might not exist.
This style acts as a massive piece of art and creates a definite sense of escape for you and your guests. It sparks conversation and imagination during meals.
I suggest keeping your furniture relatively simple when you choose a scenic mural. You want the walls to be the star of the show. It turns a standard square room into a window into a different world.
6. Metallic wallpaper
If your dining room lacks natural light, I highly recommend looking into metallic wallpaper. The light-reflecting properties of gold, silver, or copper accents bounce light around the room, making it feel brighter and larger.
This style infuses glamour and sophistication without necessarily needing a loud print.
You can find wallpapers that are fully metallic or ones that just feature subtle metallic threads or patterns.
By candlelight or dimmer switch, these walls glow beautifully, creating a magical ambiance for evening meals. It adds a layer of opulence that flat matte paint simply cannot replicate. It is a fantastic way to make the space feel expensive and curated.
7. Striped wallpaper
Striped wallpaper is a classic tool in an interior designer’s toolkit, and I use it often to manipulate the dimensions of a room. Vertical stripes draw the eye upward, which makes low ceilings feel much higher and the room more airy.
Horizontal stripes do the opposite; they widen the room and make a small space feel expansive.
Beyond the visual tricks, stripes add a crisp, preppy, and tailored look to a dining room.
You can choose wide, bold stripes for a modern, graphic impact, or thin, ticking stripes for a farmhouse or cottage feel. It creates a structured backdrop that brings order to the space, allowing your furniture to shine.
8. Abstract wallpaper
For the homeowners who view their house as a canvas, I suggest abstract wallpaper. This style showcases artistic flair and adds a unique focal point that you likely won’t see in your neighbor’s house.
Abstract designs can range from painterly brushstrokes to random splatters or fluid shapes.
This is a great way to introduce a specific color palette into the room without being tied to a recognizable motif like flowers or animals.
It stimulates creativity and adds a dynamic energy to the dining area. I recommend pairing abstract wallpaper with modern furniture and sleek lighting fixtures to maintain a gallery-like aesthetic in your eating space.
9. Tropical wallpaper
I love the idea of making every meal feel like a vacation. Tropical wallpaper brings a taste of paradise right into your home with lush palm leaves, exotic birds, and vibrant greens.
This style creates a refreshing ambiance that feels happy and relaxed.
It works particularly well if you have simple wooden furniture or rattan accents, as it completes the island vibe.
Don’t be afraid of the bold colors; dining rooms are often separate from the rest of the open living space, so you can afford to take a risk here. It creates a lively, energetic backdrop that makes breakfast feel brighter and dinner parties more festive.
10. Solid color wallpaper
Sometimes you want the depth of wallpaper without the distraction of a pattern. Solid color wallpaper serves as a versatile backdrop that complements your decor rather than competing with it.
Unlike paint, solid wallpapers often have a linen or silk texture that adds richness to the walls.
I find this to be an excellent choice if you have elaborate art pieces you want to hang. The wallpaper provides a high-quality canvas that elevates the art.
It allows you to saturate the room with color—like a deep charcoal or a vibrant teal—while adding a layer of coziness that paint lacks. It creates a unified, enveloped feel in the room.
11. Animal print wallpaper
If you want to make a bold statement, animal print is the way to do it. I am not just talking about realistic leopard spots; modern animal prints often feature stylized zebras, leopards, or birds in chic, unexpected colors.
This displays a bold and exotic pattern that shows you aren’t afraid of design risks.
It adds a sense of movement and wild sophistication to the dining room.
I suggest balancing this loud choice with solid-colored upholstery on your dining chairs. This ensures the room feels curated rather than chaotic. It is a fantastic conversation starter and brings a playful, high-fashion edge to your home.
12. Chinoiserie wallpaper
Chinoiserie is one of my absolute favorite styles for a formal dining room. This aesthetic showcases classic elegance and delicate artistry, featuring motifs of climbing vines, pagodas, and exotic birds.
It draws inspiration from Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions and has been a symbol of luxury for centuries.
I find that Chinoiserie panels often come in beautiful, soft colors like pale blue, celadon green, or blush pink.
It creates a whimsical, garden-like atmosphere that feels incredibly high-end. If you want a dining room that feels like a jewelry box, this is the wallpaper to choose. It pairs perfectly with mahogany furniture and brass accents.
13. Ombre wallpaper
Ombre wallpaper displays a soft and gradual color transition, usually fading from a dark hue at the bottom to a light hue at the top (or vice versa). I love this for dining rooms because it mimics the colors of a sunrise or sunset.
It creates a dreamy, ethereal quality that makes the room feel calm and open.
Because the color creates a vertical gradient, it can also help visually heighten the walls.
I recommend this for modern or minimalist spaces where you want color but don’t want a hard pattern. It provides a peaceful backdrop that allows the focus to remain on the food and the company.
14. Brick wallpaper
I meet many people who dream of an industrial loft with exposed brick walls but live in a standard suburban home. Brick wallpaper allows you to display industrial-chic texture without the commitment or the construction dust.
Modern printing technology makes these wallpapers look incredibly realistic, complete with shadows and grout lines.
It adds a rugged, masculine edge to the dining room that pairs well with metal chairs and reclaimed wood tables.
I suggest using this on a single accent wall to anchor the room. It brings a sense of history and architectural interest to a plain drywall box, instantly giving the room character and grit.
15. Herringbone wallpaper
Herringbone is a variation of the chevron pattern, but I find it to be much more timeless. This wallpaper showcases a sophisticated pattern that mimics the look of high-end woven fabrics or parquet flooring.
It provides structure and order to the walls without being as stark as a simple stripe.
You can find herringbone patterns in subtle, tone-on-tone neutral colors for a texture-like effect.
I believe this is a great “bridge” pattern; it works well in both traditional and contemporary homes. It adds a tailored, menswear-inspired look to the dining room that feels smart and put-together.
16. Polka Dot wallpaper
Who says dining rooms have to be serious? I love using polka dot wallpaper to display retro style and playful personality. This doesn’t have to look like a nursery; think of irregular, hand-drawn dots or metallic gold circles on a dark background.
It brings a sense of whimsy and fun to the space.
This pattern breaks up the rigidity of rectangular tables and square rooms.
I find that it creates a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where guests feel they can let their hair down. It pairs wonderfully with mid-century modern furniture and adds a graphic pop that keeps the eye moving around the room.
17. Watercolor wallpaper
Watercolor wallpaper captures the beauty of paint on canvas. This style displays artistic fluidity and delicate hues, often featuring oversized abstract washes of color or bleeding floral shapes.
I love how forgiving this pattern is; the soft edges make the room feel gentle and romantic.
It adds a splash of color without the harsh lines of a geometric print.
I suggest this for creating a serene, spa-like atmosphere in your dining area. It looks beautiful when the light hits it, creating different depths of color. It is perfect for a creative, bohemian-inspired home.
18. Panel wallpaper
If your home lacks architectural details, panel wallpaper is a brilliant cheat. This style mimics the look of traditional wood paneling, wainscoting, or molding.
It displays a traditional look and adds an architectural element that makes the room feel stately and historic.
You can get the look of a library or a grand estate without hiring a carpenter.
I recommend using this to add gravity and formality to a plain room. It provides a structured framework for the space. You can even paint over some textured panel wallpapers to match your exact color scheme, giving you total customization.
Start your dining room transformation
I hope these ideas have inspired you to look at your dining room walls differently. Whether you crave the drama of a dark damask or the serenity of a watercolor wash, there is a pattern out there that fits your life.
Do not settle for boring walls when you can create a masterpiece. Order a few samples, tape them up, and see how they change the light and mood of your space. It is time to give your dining room the attention it deserves.
