kjsmama, to me it has nothing to do with wall color or anything else for that mater. I say that for certain since right now one whole wall in the room where we eat is cover with brightly colors flannel and kint sheets that were out daughter's when she was a teen. I won't go into details, but for me a dining room is a place where family sits at the table to enjoy not only the food to nourish our bodies but their lifes which nourish their souls. If you have that then any color will do.

That said, I grew up in colorful eat in kitchens from the aqua youngstown kitchen of my youth to the yellows, greens, oranges and a deeper shade of aqua into my teen years. We started out with Formica top tables in red to shades of gray to wood tones with many styles of chairs. They were always surrounded by love. So pick the colors you and your family love. I prefer happy colors for kitchens and dining rooms. If you want warm colors than choose, reds yellows, and oranges. My favorite warm happy color is golden yellows. How can you not be happy surrounded by the color of the sun. Remember that when Forrest Gump came up with the smiley face he chose to make it yellow. ;D

KJ, I'm with the color issue...it's not a color issue at all (though there is an issue there) but more with a welcoming issue.

I have a very elegant dining room in Alaska, which I built around warm colors of venetian glass that I collect. But while we've had wonderful and elegant dinners there, to this day I still remember my favorite time in that room.

Last easter DS had two friends over, 4 and 6 he was 3. They decorated easter houses. THey got frosting not only on the plastic draped table, but I swear six feet up the elegant golden wall....

The room is filled with antiques, painted with an elegant finish, lovely chandelier, and I still cherish each spot of frosting I find from that day....

It's how you use it :) Not what color it's painted

But don't do blue LOL

KJ, I do think color plays a definite role in the warmness of a dining room. We've had our's several colors, the latest being BM Fernwood (warm green). Before that, we had a gray-green that always felt cold...we also live in an area where the winters are long and we don't get a lot of sunlight.
However, a rug, window treatments, mirror, hanging collection of plates, artwork, sconces, etc. play a huge part in adding to the "warmness".

We've always had dining rooms, and now in a loft, I'm trying to define that space. A rug, a tablecloth, and then, I like to have my silver and glasses and dishes close at hand, so if something's missing, no one needs to trek very far to get it. It's hard to enjoy a meal when someone's always popping up and down (my Mom--offender-in-chief). Always candles at night.

I have an old table in front of the window, with some bulbs I've forced, or plants in season, too. Very cheering at breakfast, and the paperwhites look nice against my red curtains at night.

A room with contrasts and textures -- along with several lighting options for varied light conditions .....as well as artworks, fabric and comfortable chairs.

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

I agree with teacats....contrast & textures. BUT formost for me is lots of sunshine...=windows! I love lots of wood, shapely chairs, large well framed art. A great center piece on the table that leaves lots of room to still enjoy the table. Here's an example....I LOVE this dinningroom set!

Here is a link that might be useful: CL Bernhardt dinningroom table & chairs...

Comfort is the most important aspect of a room that is warm and welcoming IMHO. It is hard to feel warm and welcome if your butt is numb and your back aches. Makes you want to just get up and leave as soon as possible. You want to linger, enjoy your family and friends. The style and colors are just a matter of personal taste- a warm room can be any color or style, as elegant or casual as you'd like. But comfort is key!

Thanks everyone, your thoughts are so helpful.

Teacats - you always bring in such specific and practical thoughts:) thank you.

Nicole - I'm with you on the light:) thanks for the dining room link -pretty

Meghane - you crack me up with the numb butt comment:)

Ideefix - love the idea of the forced bulbs

suzluvflowers and igloochic - thanks for the color ideas - we did do blue and it is cold :(

justgottobeme - you've got me rethinking yellow

I also think a key for me is to not have it be too formal. A lot of people seem to think dining rooms have to be very formal and shiny and oh, I don't know, "stiff" somehow.

Add some texture and softness so the room isn't just a wood table and chairs and china cabinet. Add some seat cushions if that's practical; a soft (easy to clean!) area rug that is not too small (make sure chair legs stay on the rug even when pulled out for sitting); cheerful and/or meaningful artwork or framed photos... and yes, I think color is important (for all rooms). Our DR has been sooo many colors. A few different greens, a very bright gold (Stuart Gold = too much for me, had to change it within a year), and now it's BM Aura Milk & Honey, which is sort of a light creamy terracotta color that I just love. We also have a bookcase filled with books in our room now, which really works for us, thought not necessarily for everyone.

And dimmers for the lights! ;)

Wonderful thoughts... :)

I should have said what color I love....ooops. I have a deep gold granite with black streaking in the kitchen, so carried over the deep gold with the grass cloth, the back ground of the BIG painting, the chair seats and the table runner(gold with black tassels). The color of sunshine!!!

Thanks so much everyone... I will post some pics for a vote in a different thread. See what you think:)