Dining Room Painting and Wallpaper in Easton PA -- Your Most Designed Room
The dining room is where homeowners push the design envelope -- bold colors, dramatic wallpaper, decorated ceilings. We have the skill and experience to execute the look you are envisioning.
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Why Dining Rooms Support Bolder Color Choices Than Any Other Room
Most homeowners play it safe with paint colors throughout the home. Soft neutrals in the bedroom, warm whites in the hallway, greige in the living room. But the dining room is different -- and the most design-forward homeowners know it.
Dining rooms function primarily in the evening, under artificial light. The natural light calibration that makes us reach for pale neutrals in daytime rooms matters far less here. In candlelight and warm overhead fixtures, deep, saturated colors look richer, more complex, and more dramatic than they ever do on a paint chip card. This is why professional designers consistently recommend bolder color choices for dining rooms than for any other space in the home.
Current trending dining room colors in the Lehigh Valley and nationally include:
- Deep navy and midnight blue -- timeless, sophisticated, works with any wood tone
- Forest green and hunter green -- warm but dramatic, pairs with brass and wood
- Oxblood and terracotta red -- appetite-stimulating, creates intimacy
- Warm charcoal and dark taupe -- modern take on a dark dining room
- Dusty mauve and deep plum -- unexpected, memorable, pairs with gold fixtures
If the idea of a dark dining room feels uncertain, consider this: a deep-colored dining room in good condition consistently photographs as the most striking room in any home, and real estate agents report that a well-executed dark dining room adds perceived value to a listing.
Light is also a factor to discuss with us at the estimate. A dining room with south-facing windows and abundant natural light can carry a darker color much more easily than a room with one small north-facing window. We will assess your specific room before making recommendations.
Wallpaper in the Dining Room -- Our Most-Requested Single Room Application
If we had to identify one room in the home where wallpaper belongs above all others, it is the dining room. The conditions are ideal: no moisture, no steam, defined walls, and a room where pattern and texture are celebrated rather than overwhelmed by function. We install more wallpaper in dining rooms than in any other room type.
The wallpaper options that work best in dining rooms span a wide range of styles:
- Maximalist botanical and floral patterns for a dramatic statement
- Classic stripes or damask for a traditional formal dining room
- Grasscloth or textured natural materials for a warm, organic feel
- Geometric and abstract patterns for a modern, contemporary dining room
- Scenic wallpapers and panoramic murals for a truly one-of-a-kind space
We offer two approaches to dining room wallpaper: full-room installation on all four walls, or a two-wall installation where wallpaper goes on the two primary walls and paint goes on the remaining walls. Both approaches work well depending on the pattern scale and room size.
Dining rooms with chair rail and wainscoting offer the most flexible combination option -- wallpaper above the chair rail and painted wainscoting below is a classic combination that never looks dated. We paint wainscoting panels in semi-gloss for durability against chair and table contact.
Chair Rail, Wainscoting, and Ceiling Treatments
Many older homes in Easton and the surrounding Lehigh Valley have chair rail already installed in dining rooms. If yours does not and you are considering it as part of a dining room refresh, the chair rail divides the wall into two design opportunities -- what goes above can be entirely different from what goes below, creating depth and interest without overwhelming the room.
Dining room ceilings also deserve more attention than most homeowners give them. A painted or decorated ceiling in a dining room -- particularly one with a light fixture medallion, tray, or coffering -- completes the room in a way that matters at the dinner table where guests naturally look up. We paint dining room ceilings in everything from classic white to a shade that complements the wall color.
See our full wallpaper installation service for details on the products and process we use. We serve dining rooms throughout Easton, Bethlehem, Palmer, Nazareth, and the entire Lehigh Valley.
Dining Room Painting -- Frequently Asked Questions
What colors work best in a dining room?
Dining rooms support more dramatic, saturated colors than most other rooms. Deep tones -- navy, forest green, oxblood red, warm charcoal, and deep plum -- create intimacy and drama in a space used primarily in evening light. The psychology of color in dining rooms also supports appetite -- warm reds and deep golds have long been associated with dining environments. Lighter neutrals work well in dining rooms with strong natural light used at all hours.
Is wallpaper a good idea in a dining room?
Dining rooms are the single most popular room for wallpaper in the home. They see no moisture, no steam, and no grease splatter. Used primarily in evening hours, pattern and texture in wallpaper catches and reflects candlelight and dining fixtures beautifully. Dining rooms also tend to have defined walls without too many windows and doors, which makes installation more straightforward and results more impactful.
What paint sheen for a dining room?
Eggshell is the most common and recommended sheen for dining room walls. It has just enough sheen to reflect candlelight and dining room lighting without looking plastic or commercial. Satin is a reasonable alternative. For chair rail, wainscoting, and trim, semi-gloss is standard for durability against contact.
Can you paint a dining room ceiling a different color?
Yes -- dining rooms are one of the best candidates for a colored ceiling in the home. A ceiling in a tint of the wall color, or a complementary accent tone, adds depth and warmth that flat white ceiling cannot. Coffered and tray ceilings especially benefit from a contrasting ceiling treatment. A deep-toned ceiling can make a dining room feel like a true destination.
How long does dining room painting take?
A dining room paint project typically takes one to two days depending on whether we are painting walls only, walls plus ceiling, trim and wainscoting, or installing wallpaper. Most dining room projects -- including thorough prep and two finish coats -- are complete within one business day. We always provide a specific timeline estimate before starting.