14 Beautiful Spaces That Prove Dining Room Wallpaper Can Look Fresh and Modern

Few things make a room stand out quite the way that wallpaper does—just that one element in a space can seriously transform it and give it that special designer touch. Thankfully, wallpaper has come a long way from the old-fashioned reputation it used to have. Designers and DIYers alike have flocked to this material because it can actually refresh and modernize a room, especially dining rooms, which have a tendency to feel a little too formal and stuffy.

Plus, dining rooms are sometimes given the cold shoulder when it comes to decor (since they often go unused, they usually don't get any special design treatment), so incorporating wallpaper can pack a huge design punch. It can be a little tricky to hang if you're planning to install it yourself, but however you choose to get it done, the end result will always be worth it. Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite examples of dining room wallpaper ideas to help you get started jazzing up your space.

Related: How to Choose Between Conventional vs. Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Highlight One Color

One of the biggest concerns with a patterned wallpaper is that it'll look busy, but if you stick to a graphic paper with a limited color palette, then accentuate just one of those colors, your dining room will pop without looking chaotic. Designer Liz Goldberg of CAROLYNLEONA did just that in this client's space. The John Derian wallpaper she selected has a tight color scheme that's mostly blue, and to really take the room to the next level, she pulled out one of those shades and painted the wainscoting, trim, and ceiling in a closely-matching blue (Stargazer by Sherwin-Williams).

Pick a Solid, Textured Paper

If pattern is not your thing, but you want to do something besides paint, try choosing a textured wallpaper like grasscloth, which can really make a room feel timeless but also fresh. Mollie Ranize and Kim Serani of Dmar Interiors designed this dining room and kept many of the 1939 home's Spanish Colonial features, like the millwork, but they opted for a rich grasscloth to make a statement while still honoring (and not detracting from) the structural details. Ranize says, "We are huge proponents for always respecting architecture. There is so much charm in the house, we knew we wanted to add a classic material but in a really bold and saturated way."

Mix the Wall Materials

Don't feel restricted to just wallpaper in your dining room. Pairing it with another material on the walls can really elevate it—we love how designer Heidi Caillier creatively incorporated marble backing and shelves above the custom hutch in this dining room. The broad veining of the stone offers a nice contrast against the small-scale repeat of the hand-blocked botanical wallpaper from Jean Monro.

Go with Classic Stripes

When in doubt, pick a stripe wallpaper! The classic pattern can work with so many styles, from traditional to contemporary. In this dining room, designer Julieta Alvarez installed a stripe pattern on the walls—the muted color scheme of the print keeps it from clashing too much with other details in the room. This, plus the abstract art, add a touch of modernity to complement the traditional furniture.

Look to the Ceiling

Papering the ceiling in a bold print is a great way to add more dimension to a room. We love how designer Julieta Alvarez used this strategy in this dining room—the geometric pattern gives the space a modern spin, especially when paired with the sleek ceiling fixture.

Stick to an Accent Wall

If you've in love with a very bold patterned wallpaper, but are hesitant about pasting it on all four walls, you have full permission to just apply it to one! Designer Isabella Patrick chose this floral Rifle Paper Co. wallpaper because her client loves color. However, the dining room opens up to the living room, so using it on just one wall is less overpowering, Patrick says, and it anchors the dining area. Plus, it ties in other hues in the adjacent living room.

Jazz Up a Nook

Suppose you don't have a big formal dining room, or you'd prefer to fancy up your breakfast nook, you should take advantage of whatever wall space you have available and pump it up with pattern. Designer Ann Sanders Young of Amy's Interiors let us know that the Quadrille wallpaper in this breakfast nook was actually the jumping off point for the room, and even had pillows custom-made to match it.

Incorporate Built-Ins

If you're nervous about wallpaper overwhelming a space in your dining room, breaking it up with built-ins can help. Plus, it'll provide plenty of storage for your entertaining essentials. We love how designer Jana Donohoe painted these built-ins in her dining area a soft blue (Steel Blue by Benjamin Moore, to be exact) that matches the graphics of the Milton & King wallpaper. This keeps the visuals streamlined.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Florals can sometimes skew a bit too traditional, but picking a dark botanical wallpaper can actually help it feel a little more modern. Plus, pairing it with more contemporary pieces, like the mid-century furniture Brittany Goodman of The Goodman House has in her own dining room, will really ensure it doesn't feel too old-fashioned. (The wallpaper she used is the Vinnie in Classic Blue from Sandberg Wallpaper.)

Pair Wallpaper with White Paneling

Stephen and David St. Russell, the married design duo behind Renovation Husbands, chose to paint the tall paneling in their dining room a crisp white (Pure White by Sherwin-Williams) which prevents the floral Cole & Son wallpaper from feeling heavy in the space. In addition to this, and to balance out some of the more traditional elements, they hung an ultra-modern chandelier.

Combine Traditional Patterns with Modern Accents

The easiest way to keep a traditional pattern feeling fresh in a dining room is to pick modern furniture. Chasing Paper's Mike Reese selected a batik printed wallpaper, which features lots of tiny little dots, for his dining room that's outfitted with simple, contemporary pieces. Reese also says, "It makes the dining room feel cozy and warm." Also, hot tip: All those aforementioned little dots add texture to a room, similar to a grasscloth, but it's way more affordable because it's a peel-and-stick.

Related: 10 Tips for Installing Peel-and Stick-Wallpaper, According to the Pros

Go for Bold All Over

If you've got a maximalist heart, then you should absolutely go to town with a colorful wallpaper and pair it with other bold design elements in your dining room. Designer Diane Rath of The Rath Project wanted to honor the architecture of her mid-century ranch home and felt it was important to stick to a palette of that era in her dining room—so reds, oranges, navy, and olive tones. Though these are bold hues, they work because they're inherent to a certain time period. The Spoonflower wallpaper is quite a bright color, but since the pattern is tiny and white, it's not visually distracting and doesn't clash with the blue ceiling, a custom-mixed Benjamin Moore paint that was matched to Cook's Blue by Farrow & Ball.

Match the Wallpaper to the Table

Your eyes are not deceiving you—the wallpaper in this dining room, designed by Tobi Schmidt, intentionally matches the ombré x-base table, which was custom-made by Aronson Woodworks. Schmidt explains, "The table was designed first. Creating a navy ombré base was a fun touch and meant to create a chic but fun pop." She adds that when she presented the daring Rebecca Atwood wallpaper to her client, she was delightfully surprised by how much they loved it. The cherry on top? The painted navy trim to tie everything together.

Color-Coordinate the Lighting

When we first saw this photo, we fell in love with how the beautiful, candy-colored pendant (a Louis Poulsen piece) matches the Morris wallpaper in the main dining area of this U.K. apartment designed by Pandora Taylor. Of her decision to include the wallcovering on an accent wall, she says, "This is an apartment and is the main dining area in the home. It is one end of the kitchen, so the wallpaper creates a separate zone for it with a different feel to the kitchen." (Taylor's design once again confirms that traditional, floral wallpaper can look contemporary with the right modern light fixture!)

Related: Here's How to Choose Between Paint and Wallpaper, According to a Designer

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