A gallery wall can add personality to an otherwise blank wall, make a small space feel brighter, and can even become the focal point of the room. But before you start putting holes in your wall, there are a few things to consider, especially when it comes to size, spacing and layout.

Whether your dining room is dark and moody, small and cozy, or full of traditional charm, here are four gallery wall ideas to inspire your space, to suit your style.

1. Start With the Gallery Wall Fundamentals

Before choosing frames or artwork, start with the wall itself. One of the biggest mistakes we see with gallery walls is choosing an arrangement that's too small for the space.

How big should a dining room gallery wall be?

A good rule of thumb is to make your gallery wall roughly two-thirds the width of the dining table or furniture piece below it.

This creates a visual relationship between the gallery and the furniture, so the wall doesn't feel disconnected from the rest of the room. A gallery that's too small can look like an afterthought, while one that's too large can overwhelm the dining area.

For example, if your dining table is 72 inches wide, aim for a gallery wall that's around 48 inches wide.

Grid or eclectic gallery wall?

Once you've determined the overall size, think about your layout.

A grid gallery wall uses artwork or frames of similar sizes arranged in neat rows and columns. It's a great option for a modern or minimalist dining room and is generally easier to plan and install.

An eclectic or salon-style gallery wall gives you more freedom to mix frame sizes, artwork and even other decorative objects. The result feels more collected and personal, making it a great choice for traditional, transitional or more relaxed dining rooms. Plus, this style of gallery wall can be a very budget-friendly option as thrift stores are filled with great frames at a bargain!

How much space should you leave between frames?

For most gallery walls, 2 to 3 inches between frames is a good starting point, but you don't have to stick to this rule. You can vary the distance in between, as long as the space as a whole feels balanced. 2 to 3 inches will give each piece enough breathing room without making the arrangement feel disconnected.

And don't forget about hanging height. As a general guideline, the center of a gallery wall should sit around 57 to 60 inches from the floor. In a dining room, you can bring the arrangement slightly lower since people will typically be viewing it while seated.

The goal is to make the artwork feel connected to the dining table rather than floating high above it.

SHOP THIS LOOK: Click the image above to shop our dining room gallery wall inspiration.

Pro tip: Overwhelmed with options or not sure where to start to put together a gallery wall like this? Start by picking a few colors and only pick artwork with those colors in them like we did to create a cohesive look. 

2. Create Restaurant Ambience With a Sconce Gallery Wall

If your dining room is dark, why not make the lighting part of the wall decor?

One of our favourite ways to create a moody, dramatic dining room is to line up four long sconces along one wall. Think of the warm, layered lighting you might see in a beautiful restaurant. It instantly makes the dining area feel more intentional and creates that cozy atmosphere you want when you're sitting down for dinner.

This is one of those design choices that solves two problems at once. You're adding visual interest to a blank wall while also bringing in additional lighting.

And don't underestimate the value of dimmable sconces. Keep the lights brighter for everyday meals, then turn them down for a softer glow when you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, having friends over or enjoying a more intimate evening.

You don't necessarily need artwork on every dining room wall. Sometimes the lighting is the wall decor. But, you can also take this to the next level with wallpaper, as we did below.

SHOP THIS LOOK: Click the image above to shop the sconces and decor we pulled together for this look.

3. Make a Small Dining Room Feel Bigger With a Mirror Gallery Wall

Gallery walls don't have to be made up of artwork. If you're working with a small dining room, consider creating a gallery wall using mirrors instead.

Mirrors are especially useful in smaller spaces because they reflect light and can make the room feel more open and spacious. Instead of having a solid wall covered in artwork, a collection of mirrors adds visual interest while helping bounce light around the room.

SHOP THIS LOOK: Click the image below to shop this look.

But - don't feel like every mirror needs to match. A combination of round, arched and rectangular mirrors can create an interesting and eclectic arrangement. Varying the shapes and sizes gives the wall a collected look, while using a consistent finish or colour family can help tie everything together.

The key is to treat it like an art gallery wall. Think about the overall shape of the arrangement, vary the sizes and keep the spacing intentional.

This is also a great option if you're decorating a rental or simply don't want to commit to a collection of artwork. Mirrors can bring plenty of personality to a dining room without making the space feel visually heavy.

4. Add Traditional Charm With a Plate Gallery Wall

For a dining room with a more traditional, collected or cottage-inspired feel, consider something a little different: a plate gallery wall.

Instead of framing artwork, display decorative plates directly on the wall. This can add texture, pattern and plenty of character, especially when you use pieces that have a story behind them.

And yes, you can absolutely hang plates on the wall without them constantly falling down.

How do you hang plates on a wall?

There are a few options.

Spring-wire plate hangers grip the rim of the plate and attach to the back, making them virtually invisible when the plate is displayed. We also love this gold plate wall mountable plate hanger.  Here is another sleek black option, or this ornate black option. These are all classic options that work well for most decorative plates, and come in different sizes to suit your needs.

For a renter-friendly or more temporary option, adhesive plate hangers can be used to display plates without putting a traditional hanger over the rim.

Your plates don't always have to come from the same collection, though we love a unified look like this: 

SHOP THIS LOOK: Click the image above to shop our plate gallery wall inspiration.

Thrifted, vintage or inherited plates can also make a plate gallery wall more interesting. Mixing patterns, colours and sizes creates that collected-over-time feeling that's difficult to recreate when everything is purchased as a matching set.

Try laying your plates out on the floor first and experimenting with the arrangement before transferring it to the wall. You can use the same 2-to-3-inch spacing guideline as you would for a traditional gallery wall, while allowing the different shapes and sizes to create a more organic arrangement.

Which Dining Room Gallery Wall Is Right for You?

There's no single formula for creating the perfect dining room gallery wall. The best option depends on the size and style of your space and, just as importantly, how you want the room to feel.

• For a modern dining room: Try a structured grid gallery wall.
• For a collected, eclectic space: Mix artwork or mirrors and sizes in a salon-style arrangement.
• For a dark dining room: Use a row of sconces to bring in warmth and ambience.
• For a small dining room: A collection of mirrors can help reflect light and make the space feel larger.
• For a traditional or charming dining room: Create a plate gallery wall using vintage, thrifted or inherited pieces.

And remember, your dining room walls don't have to be treated separately from the rest of the space. The right wall treatment can help connect your lighting, furniture, artwork and overall design style, turning a blank wall into one of the most memorable parts of the room.

Looking for more?

If you're not sure where to start, save these ideas, choose the look that best fits your space and use our shoppable guides above to recreate the look in your own dining room. For more design tips like this, follow us on YouTube and watch The Room Revamp LIVE, shop along with Wayfair professional, every other Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET. 

Don’t want to do it all yourself? Purchase a Room Revamp for just the cost of a dinner out, or a grocery haul and we’ll do it all for you.