Have you considered using a white tablecloth or a runner? your dining table and chairs look nice as is.

IMO you will ruin the ding set if you paint it . To lighten a room get better lighting and a much lighter wall color There are beautiful blues in the rug why not choose one of those for the walls that would be a nice choice with the wood . Cahnga all the bulbs toLED 4000K that willd take away the anbrighteterpiece n up the space a lot and also take away the yellow hue .Do not set the table unless you are planning to eat now. Use a nice centerpiece instead,lose the stuff on the buffet lower the art maybe add a nice oval glass bowl under the art . Reflective things are also helpful in making the lighting work to lighten up the space

I opted to paint these chairs, but decided to leave the armchairs as they are. Dining table is being replaced.

Is the goal to lighten the room, as in brightness? Or lighten the room, as in an overall lighter (less heavy) effect?

If the former, I'd consider painting the walls first and replacing the rug. If the latter, I'd also paint the walls a lighter color, and replace the visually heavy chandelier, sconces, and decor.

Though the furniture is traditional and dark, it is lovely. I would not paint it as I think a better result can be obtained through less drastic means.

Just my opinion but I hope it helps :)

I would not paint these beautiful and original treasures. I’d work around them. If you can’t, I’d look for other furniture.

Stained wood pieces are coming back in a big way. Others will be jealous of your gorgeous set. :)

I wouldn’t paint set, but to achieve a light and airy room and a more coordinated feel, paint walls a light shade that works with the rug. Suggest changing the art to better suit and I think a horizontal piece hung a bit lower would look more balanced and even experiment with buffet’s accessories.

I am a huge proponent of upcycling, but to me that is taking something that is ruined or no longer useable and creating something that is useful rather than let it go to a landfill. This current epidemic of painting beautiful wood furniture is disheartening.

In my mine paint is what we use to cover up poor quality materials and poor quality workmanship.

When you have antique solid wood furniture or classic solid wood furniture or manufactured with real wood veneer that was made during a time when we took pride in design, quality, craftsmanship and materials, embrace the beauty of the designer's vision or sell the furniture to someone else who will love and treasure the pieces as they are, but please don't paint it.

Echoing what others have said: it would be a shame to ruin that beautiful wood table or chairs with paint. And quite honestly, white paint on one or the other is going to look disjointed rather than a cohesive design. I love @BeverlyFLADeziner renderings with the lighter colored rug and especially the last rendering with white paint on the wall. Alternatively you could try a light wall paint color if the room feels dark to you.

To me it's easy peasy, a tablecloth. I have a dark table, that's what I do. Instant and easy and relatively inexpensive lightness. Plus you can change up the look once and a while for fun. Chair covers would be another option but not as inexpensive, nice one hard to come by.

No to the tablecloth on that lovely table unless you are serving a meal

I love everything in your room except the rug. You've gotten some nice advice on a better rug here. Don't paint that gorgeous furniture. No tablecloth or placemats except when you really need them. Maybe just a cool long narrow bowl on the table.

I second the idea of painting the room to go with the rug and chair seating. The rug is lovely and so are the chairs and table. So new paint and a new painting. No to the painting the chairs.

I agree with the above to not paint them. And "brown" furniture is trending again. :) I like your seat covers. I think it feels heavy to you because every piece in the room is formal. Maybe mix in a more contemporary chandelier, a mirror or abstract art instead of the large painting over your buffet, and a different rug. You can find real turkish rugs on etsy for a very reasonable price. Or a seagrass would look nice too. (Seagrass can be cleaned with water/liquid products, stay away from jute and sisal in the dining groom.) Simplify the sconces and centerpiece, and have nothing on the table or else a simple something in the center--no dishes or tablecloth.

This room is similar to yours. Real rug with contrasting orangey colors, living flowers, mirror.

This one has antique but simplified lighting, one simple centerpiece, mirror.

In defense of tablecloths, I totally get the visual impression a fine finished wood table gives, however that's not how most people use tables in their homes anymore. Kids, families, projects, a lot of eating and little formal entertaining. If that's you, go cloth and never look back. Some day a fussier person will buy your pristine wood table and wax poetic and literal over it. Just my .02.

No to painting any of the furniture. It's too nice to paint. You will ruin it.

Yes to painting the dining room. The green is making it seem fuddy duddy.

Consider a warm white such as SW Alabaster on the walls to coordinate with the new chair cushions. You may want to spray paint the sconces and chandelier, but wait until you paint the walls to make the decision. The current rug is too small for the room.

I think that painting the room will make a huge, cost effective difference.

I am in agreement with..... Don't paint the dining room furniture.

I really feel if you changed your wall paint, you will feel the heaviness leave.

Just saw what @BeverlyFLADeziner posted.

Wow! what a big difference just changing out the area rug.

I have a similar dining set but the top is mottled with discolorations, white marks and overall looks terrible up close so I am considering painting because I have no other

Before painting I would see if you can refinish the top. It is amazing how a few hours labor can bring a piece of furniture back to beautiful.

I have used Fornby's refinisher with great success.

MLBtiger Curious what you decided to do…

I wound up chalk painting my dining table and buffet farmhouse white and it looks amazing. I added blue ceramic knobs on the buffet that have a beautiful design. I decided to purchase king Louis chairs from Houzz (on a super one day sale) that have a beautiful gray fabric and light wood frame. I loved the chairs so much, I later purchased the matching bench. Love the finished look, and it blends perfectly with the area rug I purchased last year