Have you checked the Houzz dining room photos with Softer Tan?

I would take a different approach than what you have in mind. I'd want to combat the boxed-in effect by bringing in light. Ideally, I'd put a window on the far wall. Maybe there's no view, as is the case in my DR, so we have a high 2' x 5' window. Barring that, I'd want to create the impression of a "light at the end of the tunnel" by using a large, light colored art print on that wall. Or a mirror, though I'm an appreciator of art and color. But then I'd need an open-structured light fixture to really appreciate it as a focal point.

I would ditch the blinds. They contribute to the box effect. Drapes are better than a rug to give the room color, texture, and pattern. A rug would have to go to the baseboard so the chair legs didn't catch, so there's really no room for one. I'd take the coppery/iron wall hangings out as you have enough brown/dark tones with the wood in the DR and kitchen. Also new chair pads with color.

Windows are always the best source of Iight, but not always feasible since it can become costly. A good idea might be to use a 'triptych' of mirrors(3)on the back wall, creating the illusion of a window. Vertical mirrors are the shape which would probably look best.

A rug would certainly add some color, but you need to, decide what colors will work for you, and can live with. Do you light brights, muted, neutral, pastel? Anything will go with the Softer Tan you're planning to use. Good luck!

One thing that I wondered if you'd ever tried was to offset the chairs so they are not each up against a wall or window? Move each of them 45 degrees? They look very confined. It's hard to suggest rugs, colors, art without any context of the rest of your home or your preferences. Maybe post more photos of your kitchen and adjoining living spaces. Oh- are you changing out the table and chairs, too? How big is the space?

I don't know what your style is, but how about something like this?

I also like the idea of rearranging the chairs with one in each corner and one across for each of those so the chairs form a kind of X instead of a box. I would think about removing the blinds and perhaps mounting some shelves there and put some lovely green plants in colorful pots, or even in identical terra cotta pots. You could grow herbs there to use in the kitchen. A bright bouquet on the table, maybe some floral or plant related place mats would be nice too.

When you have a small space like that, there really is little to decorate except the walls, so I'd look into an accent wall color...maybe pulled from a graphic rug under the table, or I'd look into wallpaper. Definitely add some color. Are those vertical blinds? Not my favorite...I think some fabric can do you some good there too. Hard to tell, but from the pic, it looks like a small rectangular table would fit better than the round.

No rug, and perhaps a large three across by four vertical pane old window with mirrors instead of glass, or a new mullioned mirror.

Your post gives no clue as to your taste In art or anything else, so a picture of another room in your house that is finished and pleases you would be helpful. Failing that, an inspiration picture?

Is there room for a very shallow console table against the far wall? This would look nice with a mirror or artwork over it, and a few decorative objects on it, perhaps topiaries on either side of the picture frame.

Consider a large painting of an beautiful outdoor scene that has lots of depth to it, that way your eye is attracted to it and beyond. I'd place it on the back wall.

I appreciate all the suggestions and comments! Alot of great ideas. What do you think of this rug?

Could you take a photo with the blinds open? Closed up it makes the room seem a little claustrophobic. Personally I don't like vertical blinds at all, so I'd suggest some other window treatment, something soft and light.

As follow up to linelles blinds comment, I sewed together sets of drapes (easy straight vertical seams) for a neighbor friend that she used in front of a sliding glass door - what a difference. Soon as I saw them up, went and got ones for sliding doors in dining room of our own current townhouse. Since it requires not having a bracket support in middle of curtain rod (so drapes can be pulled to one side), we connect two rods (crimping one end to squeeze into the other) and ran a wooden bar thru middle of pole to keep connecting rods from bowing in the middle.

Fabric certainly warms a room especially without a rug which I agree I wouldnt use since it will make smaller room appear smaller. Solid floor or carpeting brings the eye all the way to the wall edges.

A mirror is great idea for back wall but a large framed print can also open up a room if its made up picture has a lot of white or light colors. This worked for our small, dark red bathroom. I like black accents like yours but for such a small area, think I would play up the white to brighten the room

Jaynes123 - may I ask what type/weight of fabric you used for the curtains?

mary44: I have that same metalwork piece you have hanging to the right! One of my favorite spontaneous buys.

Javiwa- I didnt make the curtains (although one of easiest thing to make). My friend had bought curtain panels, I did same and simply sewed sides of each panels to each other. Dont remember hers but mine are a lightweight black-out weave texture - went really cheap, curatins from Walmart, curtain rods from Big Lots. Guessing they make rods this long that dont need to be 'connected' but we didnt want to spend much.

NOTE: If sewing blackouts, be careful with rubbery lined ones. Got these for beach house to do same thing with large side window. When I had to remove/ redo a hem, the white backing was left with pinholes where stitching that looked like obvious line of black dots on it.

Anyway I purposely bought grommet top curtains so they could easily be open / closed with a pull, which they do. So it was simply sewing the vertical edge of the adjacent panels to each other. Being solid black, mine were very forgiving - didnt even take apart side seams, just slightly overlapped them and ran a seam along the overlap. For neighbor, removed side seams, sewed panels together along the fold of the hem and then sewed the hem back down.

I shouldve done a third panel on mine but never did get around to getting it - see how hem looks straight instead of waving back / forth but such solid black, dont see the folds even when theyre pulled back.

Got it - thanks, jaynes!

I would definitely hesitate on doing a round rug. Perhaps a square rug? I would add curtains and take down the horizontal blinds. I like the color you have in there now.

I would add some colorful art and mirror. I like the idea of the accent wall in a deeper muted hue on the back wall. The darker color would make the room look larger as it would recede visually. Here is a sad attempt at a mock up. I am not really pushing for any of these colors, just wanted to give you some ideas.

That's what I was envisioning for a chandelier and art! It looks so much more inviting. Good for Annie for thinking of an accent wall.

Here are some more views of the whole room.

Like aktillery9, posted you have space on sides of your sliding door unlike mine so could also do standard drapes that split in the middle. Also the large light colored art print was what I was trying to express, think one would look great back wall

This looks quite different, not like a very small room. I'd just get some nice, large artwork and keep the blinds pulled back. I personally like seagrass rugs under dining tables.

Stealing aktillerys picture, I would go lighter for accent wall (pasted SW Softer Tan you mentioned) to open up back wall, the darker part of the room away from direct sunlight when lights not on. With a print, would mat in white / ivory to further brighten the wall.

Can not imagine how rug could work for several reasons.Chairs are so enclosed by walls- to allow appropriate rug behind them, rug looks like it would have to be against wall like carpeting. Yet youve a floor vent that seems would end up covered between table / doors.

But if had rug was this big, would visually split the sliding doors in half as shown in your recent pic and seems would also interfere with having a mat in front of sliding doors.

nosoccermom mentioned to possibly change the chairs to modern or slipcovered. Need ideas on chair inspirations. Thanks!

Oh now I see...I didn't realize you had sliding doors there....goodbye to the plant shelves idea!

What do you think of this picture for main wall behind table?

That's a lovely piece. I'd do a mock up with paper on the wall first. I'm seeing a

Vertical piece of art there. However, you never know until you try.

There are lots of interesting, comfy chairs, bu tit's hard to advise without knowing what you like. Here are some random thoughts:

They look like IKEA chairs.

i also really like IKEA Henriksdal. They're quite big, however, some with a wide range of slip covers.

Henriksdal Chair - Blekinge White, Birch · More Info

Midcentury Modern Chair, Green and Wood · More Info

From strictlysimplestyle.blogspot.com

Here are a couple of ideas. Both at World Market and on sale. They have many varieties. You should check out their site.

Great that picture posted by Mary

I love your area with the fabric window treatments and blue accent colors. The art that you last posted looks nice, too! I would vote to get rid of all of the metal pieces on the walls.

Unfortunately the wine bottle canvas I posted only comes in one size 52x30. Way to large for my space. I found it on the Kirklands website. Has anyone seen it anywhere else in smaller sizes?