How to Choose Wall Art for a Coastal Dining Room: Prints That Make Every Meal Feel Like a Holiday
The dining room is one of those spaces that gets overlooked when it comes to wall art. People spend ages picking the right pendant light or the perfect table, then hang a random print and call it done. But if you've got a coastal home, or you just love the beach, the dining room is actually one of the best spots in the house to get a great print working for you.
I've had customers tell me the print they hung above their dining table has become the centrepiece of the whole room. Guests sit down, look up, and immediately start asking about it. That's the kind of art I want to make. Stuff that sparks a conversation, not just fills a wall.
Why the Dining Room Is a Great Place for Coastal Art
Think about how long you actually spend in your dining room. Meals, coffees, long Sunday breakfasts. It's time when people are relaxed and actually looking around. A great print on the wall does something a candle or a vase can't: it takes you somewhere. One of my favourite things customers say is that looking at their print makes every day feel a little bit like being on holiday. That's exactly what a dining room wall art choice should do.
Coastal prints work especially well here because the colours in a good beach photo, blues, greens, ochres, sandy tones, tend to work beautifully alongside natural timber tables, linen chairs, and the kinds of materials people use in relaxed coastal dining spaces.
What Size Print Works in a Dining Room?
This is where people get it wrong most often. They go too small. A dining room wall can handle a lot more than you think, especially if you're going above a sideboard or buffet, or on a long blank wall opposite the table.
For most dining rooms, I'd say an L (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) print is the sweet spot. It's big enough to hold the room without being overwhelming. If you've got a wide wall and you want to go statement, the EPIC size at 100x150cm is genuinely striking. That's 1.5 metres wide. People always underestimate how good a big print looks until they see it in person.
Not sure which size is right for your space? Check out the size guide for a proper breakdown.
Which Print Styles Work Best?
Aerial and wide coastal shots tend to work really well in dining rooms because they give you something to explore. A bird's-eye view of a reef, a sweeping beach from above, a stretch of coastline you recognise, these kinds of images reward the longer look that a dining table naturally gives you.
My Point Addis Art Print I is my top seller for good reason. I shot it from above with my drone on a clear day, and the detail in the reef and the colour of the water give you a lot to take in. It's the kind of print that works brilliantly above a dining sideboard or on a feature wall where people are sitting across from it.
If you're after something a bit more intimate, the Wye River Art Print I has a quality that stops people in their tracks. The colours are rich and the composition is just right for a single statement piece in a dining space.
Which Frame Should You Choose for a Dining Room?
For dining rooms, I usually recommend the shadow box frame. The glass sits 20mm off the print, which creates a subtle floating effect that looks a lot more considered than a flat frame. It's printed on 270gsm fine art paper with giclee archival inks, and it comes in black, white, or oak to suit your table and chairs. It's our most popular frame choice and it's easy to see why.
If your dining room gets a lot of natural light, the floating frame canvas is worth thinking about. There's no glass at all, so zero reflections, which can be a real issue in bright rooms. It uses museum quality 400gsm Hahnemuhle Daguerre canvas and the result is genuinely beautiful.
Not sure which format suits you best? The Framed vs Canvas guide covers exactly this.
Take the Coast Home
A dining room print isn't just decoration. It's the thing your guests remember. It's what makes a Sunday breakfast feel a bit more like that holiday you keep meaning to book. I shoot every print myself at real locations I know and love, and I print and ship everything from Victoria with free shipping Australia-wide.
If you want to start somewhere, the Point Addis Art Print I from $89 is hard to beat. Or browse the full range and see what calls to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size wall art should I choose for a dining room?
An L (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) print suits most dining rooms well. If you have a wide feature wall, the EPIC size at 100x150cm makes a bold, memorable statement. The key is not to go too small. A print that feels slightly larger than expected almost always looks better in the finished room than one that feels too modest for the space.
What type of frame works best for dining room wall art?
The shadow box frame is a great all-round choice for dining rooms. The glass sits 20mm off the print, creating a floating effect that looks considered and polished. If the room gets a lot of direct sunlight or natural light, a floating frame canvas is worth considering because it has no glass and no reflections at all.
Is coastal wall art a good fit for a dining room?
Coastal wall art works really well in a dining room because it gives people something to look at during a meal. The colours in quality beach and ocean photography, blues, greens, sandy tones, complement natural materials like timber tables and linen well. Location-specific prints are especially good because guests often recognise the beach and it becomes a talking point.
Where should I hang a print in a dining room?
Above a sideboard or buffet is one of the most popular spots, and it works well because the furniture gives the print a visual base. A long blank wall opposite the dining table is also excellent because it's what everyone looks at while eating. Aim to hang the centre of the print at roughly eye height when seated, which is usually around 140 to 150cm from the floor.
Any questions about sizing, frames or which print might work in your space, feel free to get in touch. I'm always happy to help.
