Ginkgo painting for an elegant dining room: the complete guide
9 min read · by Walensky
GINKGO PAINTING
There's that moment, just before the guests arrive, when the table is set, the glasses catch the light under the pendant lamp, and the wall behind stays... bare. Or worse: occupied by a holiday photo frame that no longer belongs there. The dining room is a space for entertaining as much as for sharing, and it deserves a painting that holds its own next to the china brought out from the Sunday cupboard.
Ginkgo biloba, with its fan-shaped leaves and its symbolism of longevity, ticks every box for a wall decoration that won't go out of style after two seasons.
- The gold + navy blue (or black) duo remains the safest choice for a chic dining room, as it resonates with silverware and stemmed glasses.
- A wide format (W 120x70 cm or more) is essential above a sideboard; a square format works better facing a round table.
- Acrylic glass accentuates the "shimmering gold" effect under the pendant lamp, while Dibond aluminium suits a very bright room better during the day.
Why ginkgo stands out in elegant dining rooms
Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest trees on the planet, capable of enduring the centuries without really changing its form. This idea of quiet permanence fits a dining room perfectly, a room we return to every day, where we celebrate birthdays, where we host the in-laws once a year without quite knowing what to hang on the wall in the meantime.
Visually, the ginkgo leaf has that fan-shaped silhouette, both geometric and organic, which pairs just as well with a Japandi ginkgo painting for a zen entrance as with a more classic dining room, linen tablecloth and bleached-wood chairs. It's rare to find a motif that crosses styles without betraying itself.
A golden ginkgo painting is never garish: it's gold that breathes, not gold that shouts.
Unlike a busy floral pattern or an urban scene, ginkgo leaves room to breathe. Thin stems, spaced-out leaves, the often plain or gradient background: all of this composes an artwork that doesn't steal the spotlight from the laid table, it accompanies it.
Criteria for choosing your ginkgo painting according to the room's atmosphere
The right ginkgo painting for a dining room is chosen first by colour, then by size, never the reverse. A poorly considered palette shows at every meal; a format that's too small shows even more.
Colour palette: gold, navy blue, turquoise or black
Gold remains the safe choice for an elegant dining room: it catches the light of the pendant lamp in the evening and sends back a warm glow that flatters the china and cutlery. Paired with navy blue, it creates a muted, nocturnal atmosphere, perfect for dinners lit by candles.
- Gold + navy blue : timeless elegance, pairs well with silverware and smoked glassware.
- Gold + turquoise : fresher, brighter, ideal if the room lacks natural light.
- Gold + black : very graphic, perfect for a contemporary dining room with clean lines.
- Gold + beige : the softest option, suits dining rooms opening onto a bright living room.
The navy blue ginkgo leaves painting on a beige background illustrates this last option well: a neutral base that never competes with a patterned tablecloth or colourful porcelain service.
Format and proportions according to the size of the table and the wall
The usual proportion rule is that a wall artwork should occupy between 60 and 75% of the width of the piece of furniture or wall it hangs above. Above a 160 cm sideboard, aim for a painting between 96 and 120 cm wide: the L format (120x70 cm) falls exactly within this range.
Facing a round table, a square format (such as the 100x100 cm up to 200x200 cm) creates a more harmonious geometric echo than a classic rectangular format.
For a narrower or elongated dining room wall, panoramic formats (120x40 cm up to 255x85 cm) allow you to cover a strip of wall without encroaching on a neighbouring door or window.
Favorite
Gold and Turquoise Translucent Ginkgo Leaves Painting - Natural Light - Ginkgo Edition
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Discover this paintingWhere to position the painting in relation to the table and sideboard
The ideal position depends on the layout of the room, but two placements almost always come up: above the sideboard, or facing the table, on the wall you look at while eating.
Above a sideboard, allow roughly 15 to 20 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. Facing the table, the painting becomes the focal point you look at between courses: it's better then to avoid an overly busy motif, which would tire the eye over a long meal.
If your dining room opens onto a corridor or entrance, also think about the visual coherence between the two spaces. our article on the vertical ginkgo painting for a narrow corridor explains how to extend this atmosphere beyond the main room.
— Our selection
Pairing the ginkgo painting with lighting and tableware
A dining room lives in two phases: daylight, frank and neutral, then the pendant lamp's light in the evening, warmer and more directed. The painting must hold up in both atmospheres, not just in the photo taken in full afternoon sun.
Acrylic glass slightly reflects the light and accentuates the shimmering effect of the gold leaves under subdued lighting: a real asset for candlelit dinners. Dibond aluminium, matte and reflection-free, suits better if your dining room faces a large window and receives plenty of natural light during the day.
On the table side, the harmony works both ways: silverware or brushed brass cutlery naturally echo the golden tones of the painting, while stoneware or deep blue porcelain will echo a ginkgo painting on a navy or indigo background. gold and blue ginkgo leaves painting on an indigo background offers precisely this variation on a deeper indigo background, for tables that play the midnight blue card.
For a slightly special dinner, place a few gold or copper candles on the table: they visually extend the leaves of the painting down to the tablecloth, without needing to overdo it.
If your dining room remains within a broader plant-based and mineral atmosphere, the Divers Zen collection offers other ideas to complete this peaceful mood, particularly in adjoining rooms.
— Also to discover
Our ginkgo painting inspirations to enhance your dining room
Each dining room style has its ginkgo version. For a chic and classic room, the black and gold ginkgo branches painting on a beige background plays the Japanese card, with a restraint that pairs well with cane chairs or antique parquet flooring.
For a more contemporary dining room, the grey and gold ginkgo leaves painting on a patinated textured background brings a mineral touch, less "warm" than pure gold, ideal if your walls are already light and you're looking for contrast without too much colour.
| Desired atmosphere | Recommended palette | Suggested format |
|---|---|---|
| Chic and classic | Black and gold on beige | L 120x70 cm |
| Contemporary, graphic | Gold and patinated grey | XL 120x120 cm (square) |
| Japandi, serene | Turquoise and gold | L 120x70 cm |
| Nocturnal, muted | Gold and navy blue | XXL 165x55 cm (panoramic) |
For fans of the Japandi style, who like to extend this atmosphere into the adjoining living room, our article on the ginkgo painting in a Japandi living room explores the material combinations that work with this motif.
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Ginkgo leaves multicoloured painting on a black background - Golden luxuriance - Ginkgo Edition
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Discover this painting →Frequently asked questions
Which painting colour should I choose for an elegant dining room?
Gold paired with navy blue, black or turquoise works best: these shades harmonise with the silverware, glasses and warm light of a pendant lamp, without ever appearing garish.
At what height should a painting be hung above a sideboard or table?
The centre of the artwork should sit around 1.50 m from the floor, at the eye level of a seated person. Above a sideboard, leave 15 to 20 cm between the furniture and the bottom of the painting.
Which style of painting suits a chic and modern dining room?
Ginkgo compositions on a plain background, in gold, black or navy blue tones, pair with the clean lines of a modern dining room without ever looking dated, unlike more figurative or busy motifs.
How do I match a ginkgo painting with the tableware and table decoration?
Pick up one of the painting's colours in a detail of the table: gold cutlery, copper candles, or midnight blue tableware if the painting plays on a navy or indigo background. The idea is to create an echo, not an exact replica.
An elegant dining room is often recognised by a detail you don't notice straight away, but which changes everything: a wall that tells a story while we share a meal. The ginkgo painting, with its symbolism of longevity and a palette that knows how to look precious without tipping into ostentation, answers exactly this expectation.
If this atmosphere appeals to you elsewhere in the house, our guide on the ginkgo biloba painting in a contemporary living room and our article on the gold ginkgo painting for an adult bedroom will help you extend the same visual coherence from one room to another. And to see all the compositions available, the ginkgo painting collection remains the most complete starting point.
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