Pictures of what you have already would be helpful. A picture of the rug would be especially helpful.

A red persian rug in a dining room is almost a neutral. It will go with anything.

Beautiful flowers. If you want the dining room to look "modern traditional", clear out everything except the table, chairs, rug, and buffet table (under the pass-through). Add two large framed artworks with considerable color and presence. Do not use meek or faint colored art.

If the dining room has to contain an office space temporarily, clear off the desktop every afternoon when you finish. If you have guests, remove the office chair.

If you would like advice on decluttering and finding places for everyday necessities, please start a new post. Many houzz readers are happy to advise with "real life" solutions.

Contemporary Dining Room · More Info

Dining Room · More Info

Edit, simplify, paint white to complement chairs, new light, something on walls.

Thank you for taking the time out to reply, much appreciated.

I should of explained that the clutter is only there because other rooms are in the process of getting painted, usually it is just the dining table, chairs and side board in the room.

The trouble I'm having is decided what colours would complement the rug, The room face's south east, so gets a fair amount of light during the day.

I'm not brave enough to paint it a dark colour and the existing walls (dulux Natural Hessian) just look bland.

I'm thinking white might also make it dull.

We've just painted the living room in Farrow and balls Elephant breath, its a mid tone colour and i love the depth that it has created.

So looking for something that will give the same effect in the dining room.

Thanks once again for all the input.

Try the blue and mid-tan in the rug colors. If you like the Farrow and Ball intense coloration, stick with the brand.

Wonderful rug! Since you mentioned Farrow & Ball — if you haven’t already, check out their Instagram feed. Lots of gorgeous rooms posted there, something might inspire you.

Your dining room is begging for drama and sophistication! I did read the thread where you mentioned being afraid of dark paint. Don't be shy. The floors are light and the ceiling and trim are white, balancing the dark walls.

In order to focus on that beautiful rug, consider painting the table and chair legs a dark brown wenge - it's dark brown with a grey tone.

Elephant Breath paint color would probably look well with a celery green, maroon red or a much darker version of the Elephant Breath.

Here's some inspiration pics:

Thanks for the recommendations.

I love the drama in the pics.

As the rest of the house is pretty neutral paint colours, I'm thinking a dark dining room may not go with the flow of the house???

I've had a Persian carpet in my dining room for many years. The walls have been painted a soft green, a tan and now BM Balboa Mist...the rug always looks good. It is a classic!

Really hard to tell from the photos (can you post photos from farther back, showing more of the area at once?) But it looks like both the rug and the table are too small for the space. They look a little lost, even with all the other stuff.

What is the size of your rug and what is the size of your table?

Is your rug 9'8" x 13'6"?

If you want to seat 6 the table should be 6 feet, or 72 inches long, two feet per person on the sides and a person at each end. The table width is best at 42-45 inches to accommodate serving pieces, but sometimes they are narrower.

If you want to seat 8 the table should be 8 feet, or 96 inches long.

The rug should have three feet around the table's width and length at a minimum.

You can swing a table that seats 6 easily and get a leaf to accommodate 2 extra people, or get a table for 8 if you want that on an ongoing basis.

Are you committed to Elephant's Breath paint?

Your rug's colors and your floor can work with your chosen paint color, but your table absolutely does not.

Are you willing to get a different table?

If so, I think you need a darker wood.

It would be nice to have some sort of buffet in a wood tone that works with the table.

You can hang a mirror over that buffet, and a starburst or round mirror works wonderfully, either in wood or a metal, there are so many choices.

There is nothing wrong with your calligraphic art, and if you like it, get more, in fact you can get a very large one that speaks to you, maybe even a triptych that will cover a wall.

Interesting geometric designs are nice too.

There is blue in your rug, so it will work with your room.

Thank you for all the suggestions, the table is extendable and seats 8 comfortably.

I was thinking of painting it or maybe a varnish.

Love the mirrors they look fabulous.

Rug is 2m x 3m.

This is the best pic i was able to take trying to fit the room in.

Excuse the clutter its all going.

Bow that the hubbybis working from home, will probably need to keep a desk in the room.

In reference to a dark dining room with neutral rooms, it will be a dramatic statement and be a welcoming cozy area for gatherings