The reason restaurants and food companies so often incorporate red into their color schemes is because the color red actually stimulates hunger. If you're looking for a color combination that is sure to make people appreciate your cooking, red and orange are your best bets. If that combination is too loud for you, pair either color with a neutral shade like cream, beige or dove gray.
The adage "opposites attract" is at the heart of putting two complementary colors together. Complementary colors are found by looking for two colors that are directly across from each other on an artist's color wheel, like mint green and pink or orange and blue. Complementary shades demand attention and work well in a contemporary dining room.
Analogous colors are dramatic as well, but work together because they are found next to each other on the color wheel and have something in common. Green and yellow are analogous as are green and blue. The fact that they are harmonious colors makes sense when you consider that green is a mixture of yellow and blue. Choose either of these combinations for a bold color palette.
If you're looking for a timeless, serene color scheme, choose a color combination that consists of two colors from the same basic family. Brown and beige, orange and salmon, powder blue and midnight blue, and red and pink are all monochromatic color combinations.
Another option is to choose a primary color that appeals to you and to accent it with a neutral shade. For instance, a dark red decor punctuated with black accessories is a good foundation for a sophisticated dining room. Light blue with creamy white accents lends itself to a beach cottage or French country look. Orange and pewter can be the basis for an art deco design while burnt orange and Mediterranean blue lend themselves to a Tuscan decor.