Dark Green Moody Dining Room Makeover and Ideas

This post is sponsored by Wayfair and contains affiliate links.

Today I’m sharing our moody dining room makeover, plus lots of tips for creating your own moody space! I used dark colors, natural elements, and brass light fixtures to pull off the designer look, on a budget.

At the bottom of this post, I will be rounding up the perfect moody decor finds from Wayfair! If you are looking for dining room design ideas, I hope you find today’s post inspiring.

Moody Dining Room Makeover and Ideas

This section is all about our dark green dining room makeover, plus tips for designing a moody dining room!

1. Dark Walls or Wallpaper

Our dining room has been through several makeovers. Four years ago, I overhauled this space for the One Room Challenge. While I loved the light and airy design, I wanted to try dark walls for a cozy dining experience! Our house gets a lot of natural light and most of the downstairs walls are white. So, I began searching for the perfect wall color for a moody room.

Paint is an easy way to create a moody space, on a budget. After considering several paint colors, including deep burgundy or black walls, I knew in my heart that the dining room had to be dark green. I’ve used several greens throughout our home, but went with something different this time. This is Pinecone Hill, and it is just perfection!

Another easy way to make a big impact is with moody wallpaper. If we didn’t already have the board and batten accent wall, I probably would have gone that route! At the bottom of this post, I will round up lots of dark wallpaper options for a moody space. But I did want to mention that I just used this peel and stick wallpaper from Wayfair in our bathroom that would be a great fit!

2. Moody Sideboard Styling

Secondly, here are some ideas for a moody sideboard. I chose a black accent cabinet from Wayfair to store dishes and table linens. I love how the natural rattan inlay on the doors warms up this corner of the dining room!

Here it is styled with a black and brass table lamp, white pitcher, and wooden mushrooms. I will show another look later in this post.

On the other side of our dining space, we have a white oak sideboard that we use to store board games and art supplies. This exact piece is no longer available, but this sideboard from Wayfair is very similar!

I styled the white oak sideboard with a marble tray, horse figurine, and black iron candlesticks (similar) for a moody, dark academia look. What do you think?

3. Natural Elements and Accents

Thirdly, I warmed up our moody dining room with natural materials such as wooden decor accents. This mango wood serving bowl has a beautiful warm wood tone that balances the darker colors in the space. And, these wooden mushrooms add a touch of whimsy to the centerpiece.

Rattan and woven seagrass are other natural materials to use in a moody dining room. I incorporated both into this space with a rattan cabinet and a large seagrass basket (see the top picture in this post).

Finally, one of my favorite statement pieces for a natural look is a vase full of branches or faux leaves. I have my eye on these oak leaf stems for autumn, or these pine branches for winter. Both from Wayfair!

4. Dining Table and Chairs

Want to create a moody dining room, but not sure how to incorporate your existing furniture? I’ll share how I made our white dining table work, and then go over some moody furniture options in case you are shopping for a new table or chairs.

We’ve had this white extendable dining table from Wayfair for years, and love it. It is sturdy solid wood and easy to clean, which has been great for our family with young kids. However, a white dining room table didn’t mesh very well with the moody vibe.

The best way to switch up your dining room look on a budget is with a tablecloth or runner. I chose this green block print floral tablecloth for a vintage look. While I may purchase a new table down the road (eyeing this one), a tablecloth is the perfect solution for now.

As for chairs, we already had black dining chairs (see this similar style from Wayfair). Another great option for a moody room is velvet dining chairs! But really, you can make anything work with the help of a tablecloth and decor accents. So, don’t let furniture hold you back from creating a dramatic dining room.

5. Moody Dining Room Rug

To balance the moody green walls, I chose a checkered wool rug. The diamond pattern works for a traditional or modern dining room and makes a big impact. In addition, wool rugs are durable and stain resistant.

If you prefer a vintage patterned rug, I will be rounding up more options below!

6. Dining Room Light Fixtures

Since our moody dining room will double as a game room for our family, I included two light sources for plenty of lighting when we need it.

First, a large chandelier (this one is similar) makes the room feel elegant and warm in the evenings. The brass tone balances the darker colors in the space. In addition, chandeliers make great focal points. If you are going to splurge on one item in your dining room, I recommend a chandelier. Shop more finds in the next section!

Secondly, I included a large table lamp in the corner of the room for extra light and coziness. Another option would be a wall lamp or sconce. I stuck with a white shade for maximum brightness in the evenings, but a black shade would contribute to the moody look!

7. Moody Wall Art Pieces

Finally, an easy way to create a moody dining room look is with vintage inspired art.

This piece of artwork came in a set of two framed bird sketches. I simply leaned it against the wall on top of the accent cabinet, but you could also hang both on the wall for a stacked look. If you prefer to add some modern elements with your artwork, try an abstract piece such as this one.

On the opposite side of the dining room, I created a family photo gallery wall over the oak sideboard. Black frames with ivory mats provide a nice contrast to the dark walls! I will be sharing more about our gallery wall soon. On the other hand, you can create a similar gallery with antique botanical art.

Shop Moody Dining Room Decor Finds

Use this section to browse moody dining room decor ideas if you are shopping for your own space!

Dining Room Decor Accents

Warm wood tones, natural woven baskets, and dark academia inspired sculptures are perfect for a moody dining room.

Vases and Stems

Secondly, here are some vases and vessels to use as centerpieces, as well as faux stems and florals.

Serveware and Table Linens

Thirdly, I found so many pretty tablecloths, platters, plate chargers, and pitchers from Wayfair!

Dining Room Rugs

In addition to table decor, don’t forget a dining room rug! Here are some of my favorites for a moody dining room including modern and vintage patterns.

Chandeliers

Ceiling light fixtures are often the focal point of a dining room, so I recommend choosing a chandelier large enough to fit the scale of your dining space. For reference, our chandelier is 34 inches in diameter.

Dining Room Lamps

In addition, include a table or floor lamp for extra light in a dining room with dark walls.

Dining Chairs

If you are looking for new dining chairs, here are some of my favorites for a dramatic dining room.

Dining Room Tables

Additionally, here are my favorite dining room tables from Wayfair!

Moody Wallpaper

Finally, dark wallpaper is a great choice for a moody dining room! Tap on a product below, and then use Wayfair’s wallpaper calculator to figure out how much you will need.

Moody Dining Room Source List

To finish up this post, here are the pieces from Wayfair that I used to complete this space!

• Wool rug
• Dining table
• Accent cabinet
• Floral tablecloth
• Large basket
• Stoneware pitcher
• Wooden bowl
• Table lamp
• Horse figurine
• Wood mushrooms
• Bird artwork
• Chairs (similar)
• Chandelier (similar)
• Candlesticks (similar)

Painting the walls dark green and updating our decor took this dining room to a whole new level! We’re loving the moody look and can’t wait to host intimate dinner parties and game nights in this enchanting space.

This dining room project was also a good reminder to me that home takes time. This space has been through several iterations, and after each one I felt that I got a little closer to my dream dining room! Small updates such as wall paint and decor have made a big difference in the look and feel of the space.

While I’m hesitant to call any room in our home “complete”–I am me after all!–I think our dining room is as close as it can get. I would love to create a dining room library someday with floor to ceiling bookshelves, but this moody space has a similar look and I love the dark academia vibe.

Would you try a dark wall color in your dining room? Let me know in the comments below, and feel free to ask any questions you may have!