10 Designer-Approved Dining Room Wall Decorations to Add to Your Space

There's more to decorating your dining room than simply selecting a table and chairs—your walls are ripe with design potential. "Not only does wall décor add personality and dimension to [this] room, but it's an exciting opportunity to play with texture and color," explains Gabrielle Santiago, the founder and principal designer at Gabrielle Santiago Design. "Decorating the walls of your dining room is a great way to set a tone for a space—and potentially spark lots of dinner conversation."

However, knowing which items will work best in this area can be tricky. "It's important to pick wall décor that defines the style and functionality of the space," interior designer Michelle Zacks notes. "If the room is small, consider hanging floor-to-ceiling floating shelves or a large mirror to give the illusion of a bigger space. If you simply want to add visual interest to the room, try installing wallpaper or a gallery wall to give the room some depth."

Another important detail to consider when shopping for wall decorations in this space is the scale of the item. "If you have a large, empty wall, consider the projection of the piece you're coveting and how it interacts with your table and dining chairs," says interior designer Becky Shea. "You don't want a piece that projects so far off the wall that everyone is afraid to walk by it." Curious what wall décor items interior designers recommend for a dining room? From vintage-inspired art to removable wall murals and more, we asked a handful of designers to share their favorites.

If you aren't working with a ton of storage space in your dining room, Zacks says to consider a wall-mounted bar cabinet. "Along with providing space for stashing serveware, [this piece] creates a designated bar area inside of a dining room," she explains—one that doesn't take up any square footage.

Shop Now: Anthropologie "Samuel" Bar Cabinet, $448, anthropologie.com.

To recreate the luxe look of a paneled dining room without breaking the bank, Emma Beryl Kemper of Emma Beryl Interior Design recommends removable wallpaper. "I think that a dining room is a great place to put something that's a little more precious, like chinoiserie, since this room will probably get less wear and tear than some of the other spaces in a home," she explains. "Removable chinoiserie wall coverings are much more cost-effective than wallpaper, and you can take them with you if you move."

Shop Now: Megan Steer "The Chinoisorie Panel" Wall Paper, $399.99, society6.com.

A little natural greenery goes a long way in a dining area. "It's important to incorporate décor that promotes conversation during a dinner party and tranquility during a quiet morning," Molly Torres Potnof of Date Interiors says. "Ceramic wall-mounted planters are a great way to bring nature indoors."

Shop Now: West Elm Ceramic Indoor/Outdoor Wallscape Planters, $23, westelm.com.

To create a warm and ambient atmosphere in this space, Amelia Strat of Kroesser+Strat Design suggests installing one or two sconces above your server or console table. "The sconces themselves can be your artwork!" she says.

Shop Now: Anthropologie "Geraldine" Sconce, $198, anthropologie.com.

To create the illusion of more space in a small dining room, Erriette Lenas of Erriette Lenas Design suggests hanging an oversized mirror above a mantel or server. "Mirrors open up the visual space by reflecting the light from chandeliers, candles, and windows, as well as reflecting the expressions of the guests at your table," she explains.

Shop Now: CB2 "Abel" Round Mirror, $499, cb2.com.

For an economical piece of art that will work in almost every style of dining room, designer Tiffany Leigh of Tiffany Leigh Design recommends a vintage-inspired landscape print. "Landscape art creates the feeling of having a 'view' in the room," she explains. "This digital download print is very affordable and you can have them printed and framed locally."

Shop Now: BFF Print Shop "Three Trees" Print, $15, bffprintshop.com.

Show off your favorite serveware in style by installing wall-mounted shelves in your dining room. "Floating shelves are a great way to utilize wall space, and are a wonderful place to showcase silverware, place settings, vases, and dishware in your dining room," Lenas explains. "I love the Castelli wood shelf for its natural, organic look, and it comes in various sizes so you can create a customized look on your wall."

Shop Now: Ballard Designs Castelli Wood Shelf, $169, ballardddesigns.com.

To bring depth and dimension to the walls of your dining room, Strat suggests hanging a handwoven tray or two. "A simple woven tray stands out on its own, but also looks great when grouped with a mix of vintage baskets," she explains.

Shop Now: Twenty One Tonnes Woven Tray, $198, twentyonetonnes.com.

When you can't paint or wallpaper your dining room, Zacks says a removable wall mural is the next best thing. "Install a cool, richly colored wall mural to create an accent wall in a dining room—or clad the entire room for the full effect," she says.

Shop Now: Drop It Modern Design House "Rey" Mural in Pastel, $137, dropitmodern.com.

Infuse a dash of drama and personality to your dining area, says Kemper, who recommends hanging up some tongue-in-cheek artwork. "A piece of art with a sense of humor can spark dinner conversation," she explains. "I would use this in a playful and colorful dining room with other statement furniture."

Shop Now: Addie Chapin "Hoity Toity," $425, addiechapin.com.