What to hang in a dining room

A dining room is the perfect place to hang art. There’s usually at least one long wall to hang a piece or a group of pieces to create the right dining ambience. Since it’s a place for your family and guests to gather to share a meal together, hang something interesting that will spark a conversation and that’s enjoyable to look at too. Here are some ideas for what to hang and what to avoid.

You can hang just about anything in a dining room: paintings, photos, clocks, mirrors, chalkboards, decorative plates, wall shelves, tapestries. With that said, avoid any controversial pieces, violent images or nudes that might offend or make your guests feel uncomfortable. Save those for rooms in the house that are less public.

This is my dining room at the cottage where I hung a large canvas of a Zebra. It’s fun and kids love it (we always have lots of kids around). The black and white stripes add energy to the space, and looks good with any color I add to the room. On the adjacent wall, I hung an oversized IKEA clock.  It’s stylish but casual, and it’s an affordable accessory to decorate a large wall space.

Here’s more fresh inspiration for ways to decorate your dining room:

This oversized piece creates a fabulous focal point in this small space. The nature theme fits right in with the reclaimed wood wall. 

Image via domainehome.com

 Image via French Country Cottage

Image via Home Bunch

Image via mylovelythings.blogspot.it

This space is très chic. The art leaning against the wall works well with the eclectic industrial modern look. It also provides flexibility to change or rearrange the artwork to keep the look fresh.

Image via MyDomaine

Open shelving is another great option, especially for small space living when kitchen storage space might be at a premium. In this case, it’s also a great way to show off the beautiful brick wall.

 Image via Crate and Barrel

For more ideas on what to hang in a dining room, check out our Pinterest board. We’ve pinned lots of inspiring photos to help you find a style for your own space.

Picture hanging tip:

Whatever you decide to hang, be sure it hangs low enough that you can enjoy it from where you and your guests are sitting. Visit our tips to help you find the  right hanging height.

What’s hanging on your dining room wall(s)?

Liette Tousignant
Co-Founder of Under The Roof Decorating