No I found the art piece on this site. I just likes all the colors in it . If I remove the ugly panels , it looks so bare .

Your wall color is pretty neutral - so do any colors in art that suit your fancy.

Your chandelier looks like it is hung too high, if replaced, make it about 30-ish inches above the table.

I think your inspiration chandelier looks too small/slight for that sized room - I think the one you have now is undersized to. Go much bigger!

If your china cabinet isn't lighted, I would add strip lights to underside of shelves.

Lots of people don't like mirrors in dining rooms, but reflective surfaces always add pizazz.

Maybe look into doing window scarves in a metallic or bold-colored fabric.

the chandelier is 35 inches from the table. The one I have pictured, I can hang lower. knew I had to hang lower no matter which new one I got. . The gold one I have now is 24 wide , and the one I pictured was also 24. China cabinet is lighted inside :) Guess I need to shop BIGGER lol

Get rid of the scarf valances, dated. Either go with nothing or do panels: hang the rod wider than the window and have the panels touch the floor. I would get panels the same color as your trim. With 3 wall colors you don't need to add more on the walls. You didn't show a rug so here are some suggestions from Horchow.com. Blue is a good complement to brown. Recover the chairs seats with a blue from the rug.

I like chandelier you chose. Silver is fine with blue & brown.

Take everything off the table. Just a runner in the blue of the chair seats with a low bowl or vase. Centerpieces should be low so that people sitting across from each other can see each other

LOVE THAT RUG. I did think of white panels also , rod hung higher than the top of the frame. So we are on the same wave length . :) LOVE the ideas, and the bluish color ! I was thinking that color for drapes at one time .. SO what would you think of velvet white panels that go to the floor... to heavy looking ? PS. WE BARLEY USE THIS ROOM AT ALL ! lol. 3 times a year maybe .lol

Everything in your room is so pretty.....except the window treatments. Those white blinds immediately jumped out at me. Do you need them? If blinds/shades are needed I would get cream colored pleated shades that can be kept up most of the time ( pull down only when it is dark). Then try creamy colored panels.

Thank you ... The wooden blinds I can pull them up .. or take them down . I would not go cream shades, due to the moulding is all white. Think I am going to do white floor length panels with rods :)

Painting the case work below the chair rail all the trim color would really he brighten up the space too.

jk910- Do have the link for this rugs that you posted ? I cant seem to find them on the site you mentioned

I have been searching for something similar to that first rug. Haven't found it or something like it yet.lol ... great idea about the sheet :)

I would move bowls from the table.

How about wallpapering the center of the picture frame wainscotting? You will be replacing the darkest paint color with something light. Not as big a commitment as painting the whole room, and will not use much wallpaper.

But first choose wall art with colors that you like. If you like blue, you may want seascapes or landscapes with lots of sky. Next, a rug with some blue that looks good with that art. Then wallpaper, and curtains last.

the biggest culprit in here are the window treatments. lose the scarf things and the mini blinds.

next, paint the lower portion white, and pick another color for the top portion. (not this gray, i just want to show you how nice the wainscot is in all white. BM Simply wWhite)

Hubby will love it when he sees it come together.

new light fixture. I have a very similar light to what you've shown, except it's in the dark bronze finish

rug, depending upon what colors you decide upon.

lastly, declutter. It's very heavy w/the dark furniture, so lighten up elsewhere. for instance, find a bar car to hold the decanters. if you leave out the place settings, streamline the pieces that are used.

WOW . Thanks for the advice. Painting it all white on the bottom definitely brightens it up! Yeah .. those window treatment throw -ups have to go ! lol

lauremkh,,if you want to stay w/that mauve tone color, I'd go a bit deeper. someone just posted this rug on another dilemma and I though it would look nice w/your furniture and a deeper wall color (click on more info and you'll see more selections)

Enchanted Area Rug, 8'x11' · More Info

I even like Witching Hour (it's a purple based charcoal) above the bright white wainscot and this rug to lend some pattern and color. the dark bronze light fixture w/the crystals would look great. Or, switch to gold

Transitional BHS-0019343 Tufted Wool Burgundy Floral Area Rug | 8' x 11' · More Info

Such great ideas. My wheels are turning now ! thank you !!!!!!

Why don't you take a few of the simple suggestions already made (that cost nothing) and implement them first & then repost photos of the room so that you can then proceed step by step. That way you are not rushing your decisions & your head is not spinning with all the ideas coming your way. 1. Remove window scarves 2. Open and/or raise blinds to let the light in 3. Remove all items from DR table.

Good idea! I keep the blinds down most of the time because because A: We don't use that room and live in the woods, so I feel safer .. lol. B: There is snow on the ground and I don't like looking at it ! lmao lol. Thanks to all of you that have offered advice !!!!!!!!!!!!

Remove all but the table, chairs and china cabinet. Paint below the chair rail white to match your existing trim. While you're painting, use painters tape to tape off a faux rug that is 36-42" bigger than your table top all around. If that works without running into baseboards or the china cabinet, that is the size rug you need. Slide the china to the left and center it on that wall. Since your one window is in a corner, I advise fabric roman shades to work with new chair upholstery and the new rug (if you have room for one.) Art you love between the windows and a new chandy will lighten and brighten and take out the drab.

lauremkh - you had me genuinely laughing out loud. I think I would rather see what's coming at me from the woods than have no idea whilst hiding behind the blinds. You live in the woods - I bet that you are hiding a fabulous view! People pay $1000s to visit Canada, Switzerland, Austria etc. to see the snow & woods & you have it in your back yard. 2019 - the year of confronting your fears. Open and/or pull the blinds up LOL & let the world in.

I like your dining room, however I would consider lightening up the space just a tad by painting the walls a lighter color. Also, I think you should find a light fixture that has some bronze accents to it to tie in your room. Hope this helps :)

allanaspree. lol ... True.. but peeping toms.. ya never know .. lol hahahaha ... Not much of a view out those windows but trees 250 feet away from the house on that side.. We do get deer visitors though . :) I will confront my fears and the peeping Toms. I type this and am laughing ,because the other side of the house ( where the daily eating area is ) we have a huge slider and 30 ft of windows with no drapes, just toppers ... lol .. and I worry about the other side? hahahaha ..

1st one: https://www.horchow.com/Grand-Volare-Rug-8-x-10-8x10/cprod103930036_cat13760736__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.jsp%253FitemId%253Dcat13760736%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D0%2526refinements%253D&grpId=cprod104450008&eItemId=cprod103930036&cmCat=product

2nd one: https://www.horchow.com/Safavieh-Tucasa-Rug-8-x-10-8x10/cprod102410033_cat13760736__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.jsp%253FitemId%253Dcat13760736%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D0%2526refinements%253D&grpId=cprod103590003&eItemId=cprod102410033&cmCat=product

@jck910 I like the first one rug

Even in the woods, you're going to want light and privacy control. Plantation shutters would really dress your windows up nicely, and you wouldn't need scarves or drapes at all. It's a fresh, clean, and elegant look.

Example:

Update,,, Decluttered.. I still have a way to go, I know .. Yes, it is still monotone right now.. I may just paint the bottom white ..I may not .... but looks SO much lighter-- I know I need a new chandelier,( bigger and lower ) maybe a colorful sideboard or narrow table under the picture ..... a bar cart in the corner( for hubby decanters) near the French door and window... another picture on bare wall . ... table dec items ... any ideas.. ? OK,so now that I posted these, feel discouraged. ... .. I guess I do need to paint the wall white at the chair rail down . The colors are looking funky. in these pics. The picture on the wall matches the wall colors PERFECTLY .. Ties in the white, black liquor cabinet and browns.. The carpet looks gray here , but it I actually more beige/tan. Yes there are two styles of drapes.Thinking valances as I look at the pictures.UGH . So for the big blank wall, I was thinking a BIG print,.. can I put a different type of flower print? A more modern print? what about white dishes scattered ? Mirror?

some ideas I have :

Abstract -To bring in color?

Any help would be appreciated.!!! Thank you so very much

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/products/celeste-32-glass-drop-crystal-chandelier-black-prvw-vr~16626234]

Oh my goodness, girl..just paint! You will LOVE it.

It's a great room with a wonderful view--take advantage of that and make it a room you absolutely adore! You can accomplish this in 2 weekends...

What's your favorite color?

I'm not such a fan of grommet top drapes in a formal setting...I think you can do better here. This room deserves it :)

@ penny design: I agree paint time! Green is my favorite. My living room is painted that .. then Burgundy- Our everyday eating area is painted that with a creamy -white half way from chair rail to ceiling. I am thinking maybe a blue or blue gray... I need to step back and REALLY plan this out before I redo what I have redone ......... I sort of jumped on it and false started this out of boredom .This dining room connects to a entryway of white walls with medium stained woodwork, and white/black floor tiles . Then the kitchen with tan/ beige wallpaper striped wallpaper and cream counters . I would like to eventually take down this wallpaper in the kitchen and paint the kitchen too. lol ... But after this dining room comes the formal living room . It is winter time in Central NY- I am bored. lmao ..

Changing out the window treatments has made a dramatic change. ( I personally have no issue with the blinds, especially when they are down but open and let in light). I think changing the light fixture will pretty much give you what you want, and then you can figure out if you want or need a change of wall color (top or bottom- both?).

So I think maybe you have less of a project than you are dreading.

looking good

I'm curious if you "like" the colours in your dining room, or are you keeping the dining room brown(ish) because you don't want to paint, which you said in your original post. There comes a point where it doesn't make too much sense to decorate around colours if you dislike them. The curtain on the left looks nice. Any reason why you put two different curtains up?

Okay, then let's return the drapes, go to Lowes and get some primer and start painting. When you have that coat of primer on, we can get a better feel for the room. If you want to include some photos of the rest of your house, we can help with some color direction, if you want.

Your ceiling and trim are already white, so you don't even need to touch that (unless the trim is in bad shape).

I'm looking forward to seeing this room evolve :)

Gargamel- The top part I can live with.. the bottom part of the wall , I hate. To busy for me . I was trying to "redo" the room as cheap as I could for a change.That means I really didn't want to paint. I put two different curtains up to decide which ones I liked better . Actually the left ones are really nice curtain. Especially for for 4.99 a panel at THE HOME STORE--- when I decided I liked those better, I went to get more and all area stores were all out! lol Figures It all started with the idea " I want a new chandelier".. and started getting bigger. lol .

Yep, I agree with penny design, paint, paint, paint! That alone will probably be more effective than anything else you do other than the decluttering. You have beautiful floors and and windows but all the brown definitely feels dreary.

UPdate ..... I painted the bottom. I am thinking of painting the top now, just because I want some color. Here is the update with the bottom painted. Need a new handy for a 42' wide table . I guess my style is all over the place. I want it elegant, but casual elegant I guess, with a touch of modern ? lol . Love my rug, but think it is stopping me from ideas due do the pattern in it. I plan on getting a bar cart and a small sofa table also. Probably changing curtains also. I appreciate all your time and suggestions while getting me this far. Also I have attached pic of the kitchen and the entryway that the dining room looks out to . I am also on somewhat of a budget. So handy I wouldn't go like to go more than 600.oo.

All I keep thinking is a deep blue and white. could I do that and. still keep the rug??

Ow wow, that looks really good. What a differemce. Maybe recovering your dining room chairs will zip it up even more. It looks nice now, though.

Thank you .. It is coming along.. I am amazed at what a 1/2 gallon of paint can do! I need to figure if I want to repaint the top BLUE .

Recover chairs.. get new valances

.... JUSt LOVE the BLUE. With all this white, it would be the only place in the house I could go that dark! Or maybe a lighter blue, with deep blue accents ?

I am also having a problem concerning my FAV chandy being 50 pounds. I am having my electrician look at the box we have now to see it it could hold that weight . Fingers crossed .

Could I leave the walls like they are and add BLUe drapes and add blue accents .. change the chair seats...?

I want LIGHT.. preferably a dimmable one at that . The weight is the only thing holding me back from the Chrystal candy of 53 lbs. :( I am looking for 27-30ish" light... Whats the saying, go big or go home ? lol. ROOM is 14x14 Thanks again for any advice

YES! You want to do the top blue...get on that asap. We'll all look around for ridiculously low priced chandeliers so that you have some funny money for extra goodies...

As usual, I adore chinoiserie, so I would do that kind of fabric for the seats...

Someone posted drapes that I thought were SO fabulous...I'll see if I can find them.

ETA: it was these..https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Exclusive-Fabrics-Mecca-Printed-Cotton-Single-Curtain-Panel/8285937/product.html?refccid=FGOEJLVFQFSINKKKWWFWGKXSAE&searchidx=29

However, they may be too full for the window closest to the door.

If you have an Ikea near you, they have very nice drapes (I would do white) that you can add a trim to? And they would be well within your budget...

pennydesign.. I didnt mean to lol you on your suggestions. the only thing that I saw was your " YES! You want to to do the top blue... get on that asap". That is why I LOL'd you. I NOW see the rest of your post and thank you . We dont have an IKEA anywhere around me :(

this one is 4000 dollars (whaaaattt??)

This one is 300 dollars (YES!!)

Honestly, I could talk about lights all day...It's an addiction for me, I think...My preference is vintage, though, but I love all sparkly things!

I know it is crazy how much some of these cost. In fact that 300.00 is one I have saved :)

pennydesign -- What do you think if I left the walls the way they were, and used dark blue for accents ? Solid Blue Panels? Redo the chairs with something dark blue /beige/white and do ..blue ,white, gray art. on the walls ? .. Would the dark blue go with the tan and white walls and that rug? I LOVE THAT PICTURE between the windows, because it just brings the black from the liquor cabinet and the white and beige. But I think that flower or the rug is bugging me . The art is easier to reuse somewhere else .. . I could do a mirror and small table /cabinet there on that wall sort of like this :

your inspiration picture, with the light blue walls, looks very pretty, and elegant. I'm not such a fan of mirrors in the dining room and always beeline for the chair that is not facing a mirror - lol. Your inspiration board is really nice as well

Absolutely you can do that...

Just having blue accents won't have the impact that the darker walls would have...and the chandelier you would like won't show up as much against the lighter walls. However, I don't see any reason why you can't TRY it the way you want it and still paint the darker blue if you're unhappy with it. So maybe do what you want but not get the drapes yet, because that color will change. Unless you match the paint to the darker drapes which would also be lovely...

In other words, nothing to lose if you don't paint yet. The picture will still work, changing the chair fabric will work with blue or the beige you have now...