Your dining room serves as the central hub for dinner parties, family gatherings, and unforgettable holiday feasts, creating a welcoming and joyous atmosphere. When designed with coziness and a wow-factor, this space becomes truly memorable for guests. However, there are times when the aesthetic of your dining room may feel outdated and lackluster. How can you identify which outdated wall colors are detracting from your space?
As an interior designer, I have some good news: Only a few tones will genuinely age your dining room. You might expect me to point out “outdated” colors like brown or red, but when used correctly, even these hues can look stunning in a modern dining room. In fact, both shades are making a comeback, with a rich, soft medium brown, Mocha Mousse, named as Pantone’s 2025 color of the year.
The real culprits that detract from your dining room’s aesthetic are colors with less personality than brown. In 2025, color trends focus on unique character, bold choices, and unapologetic visual interest. That’s why these two tones made the list: Cool-toned grays and stark white, both of which are so sterile and lack charm that they actually detract from the overall aesthetic. Let’s explore why these once-popular neutrals are now outdated and what alternatives you can use to create an inviting, memorable, and beautiful dining room.
Cool, light gray tones … make a dining room look like it’s stuck in 2013
About 10 or 15 years ago, light cool gray became the paint color of choice, as “Millennial gray” took over in reaction to the warm tones favored by the parents of Millennials. However, like many overdone design trends, the cool gray paint craze has lost popularity, giving way to more vibrant and intriguing shades. A soft cool gray dining room lacks the warmth needed to be inviting and the personality to be memorable. Its deep associations with the 2010s can make guests think you’ve neglected to update the space for over a decade. Not exactly the impression you want to give, right?
What should you consider instead? If you favor a light neutral, go for grays with warmer undertones such as taupe and greige dining room paint colors. These tones, while still satisfying your gray preference, are significantly more inviting, cozy, and intriguing. If you’re open to venturing beyond your light gray comfort zone, consider a warm mid-tone taupe, deep truffle taupe, or even a warm undertone charcoal shade for a moodier, elegant aesthetic. These darker tones offer a sophisticated and cozy feel, delivering a design impact that is both serene and dramatic.
And when in doubt, consider color-drenching the space with these moodier hues for added impact. This will leave your guests in awe of their luxurious and striking surroundings without abandoning gray entirely.
Stark, uninspiring white dining room walls are a recipe for a lackluster dinner party
The second hue that dates your dining room is a stark, soulless white. Bright white with neutral or cool undertones was trendy in the 2010s as a reaction to previous warmer hues. However, more than the light cool gray trend, the sterile white trend can make a space (and your dinner party) feel dull and devoid of personality. While all-white may not have as strong era-specific associations as cool gray, people now prefer designs that feel exciting and inviting over those that feel cold and standoffish. Although I’m not opposed to white walls, I have a few tips to avoid a boring, washed-out vibe.
If you appreciate the clean, fresh aesthetic of a white wall, choose a creamy white with warm undertones to avoid the lifelessness of neutral or cool-toned whites. Additionally, adding texture or visual interest to the walls can provide character and depth without introducing color, such as with elegant picture molding or creamy white grasscloth wallpaper. Finally, incorporate natural earth tones and contrast with the furniture and decor to bring the neutral look to life.
In summary, to refresh your outdated dining room color palette, paint the walls with either a bold color or a neutral with warmer undertones. This will transform it into a more inviting and guest-friendly entertaining space.
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