How to Choose Artwork for a Dining Room: A Perth Guide
A dining room is more than somewhere to eat. It is where people gather, conversations stretch out and everyday meals become occasions. The artwork should support that feeling—giving the room character without competing with the table, lighting or the people around it.
In many Perth homes, the dining area sits within an open-plan layout or beside large windows. That means scale, sightlines and changing daylight matter just as much as colour. Here is how to choose dining-room artwork that feels connected to the space and still reflects your personality.
Start with the view from the adjoining room
Before focusing on the wall directly in front of the table, step back into the kitchen, hallway or living room. The dining artwork is often visible from several parts of the home, so it should make sense within those wider sightlines.
A strong single piece can visually define the dining zone in an open-plan home. If the living area already contains statement art, the dining piece does not need to match it exactly. Repeating one colour, shape or mood is usually enough to create a natural connection. Our guide to choosing art for an open-plan living space explains how to link neighbouring areas without making them feel identical.
Choose a scale that relates to the table
The dining table is normally the room’s largest visual anchor. Artwork that is too small can feel disconnected, particularly above a long table or sideboard. As a practical starting point, look for a piece that spans roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the furniture width beneath it.
A generous landscape canvas works well above a sideboard or long dining table. A large portrait can be equally effective on a narrower end wall, especially when ceiling height allows the composition to breathe. For exact measuring advice, see our canvas size guide.
Hang it for seated and standing views
Dining rooms are experienced at two heights: standing as you enter and sitting at the table. If the artwork is hung too high, it can feel detached when everyone is seated. Aim for the centre of the artwork to sit close to eye level, then adjust slightly for the furniture and proportions of the wall.
When the piece is positioned above a sideboard, leave enough space for lamps or serving pieces while keeping the artwork visually connected to the furniture. Our room-by-room artwork hanging guide provides more detailed placement advice.
Use colour to create appetite and atmosphere
Dining spaces can comfortably carry more energy than bedrooms. Coral, ochre, cobalt, burgundy and leafy green can bring warmth and conversation to a neutral room. The key is to balance strong colour with a clear composition so the wall feels lively rather than busy.
- Warm timber pairs beautifully with deep blue, terracotta, coral and cream.
- Black or charcoal furniture can be softened with warmer shapes and organic colour.
- White dining rooms can support a confident artwork without losing their sense of space.
- Coastal interiors can use saturated colour instead of relying only on pale blue and beige.
You do not need to copy the exact colours of the chairs or tableware. Pick up one existing tone and let the artwork introduce something unexpected. Our guide to choosing artwork colours can help you build a palette that feels intentional.
Check the artwork in daytime and evening light
A Perth dining room may be bright during the day and softly lit at dinner. View the wall in both conditions. Natural light reveals texture and subtle colour, while warm pendants or wall lights can deepen reds, ochres and timber tones after sunset.
Avoid harsh glare directly across the canvas, and protect original artwork from long periods of strong direct sunlight. If a pendant light sits close to the wall, check that it does not cast distracting shadows across the piece.
Choose a subject that can hold attention
The dining room is a social space, so the artwork can be expressive. Abstract forms, bold portraits, landscapes and personal references can all work. Rather than following a short-lived trend, choose a subject and mood you will still enjoy seeing across the table for years.
Custom artwork is especially useful when the wall needs an unusual proportion or the room calls for a very specific balance of colour. Hunt the HUE creates original hand-painted canvas art around your wall, furniture and preferred palette, then professionally frames it here in Perth.
One statement piece or a collection?
A single large canvas creates a calm focal point and is often the simplest choice for a dining room. A collection can work when the wall is wide and the pieces share a clear visual thread, but allow enough space between frames so the arrangement does not feel crowded.
If the room already contains patterned upholstery, sculptural lighting or detailed joinery, one confident artwork will usually provide better balance than a busy gallery wall.
Make the dining room feel like yours
The best dining-room artwork does not merely coordinate with the table. It gives the room a point of view and helps the whole space feel finished.
If you have a blank dining wall, send Hunt the HUE a straight-on photograph, approximate measurements and a few colours or styles you love. We can create tailored concepts showing how a custom canvas could look in your actual room before painting begins.
