Can six chairs fit around your table? If so, take away the bench and center your table under the chndelier.. Get a big colorful piece of artwork and hang where the clock is....the clock is just too little. If you want to leave the clock there, get some smaller colorful artwork to hang around it. Your chandelier is way too high and too fancy....I would like to see you get one with a round shade, hung lower. Then find a round rug for under the table (unless you have small children....too hard to keep clean.). Since your walls are white, I would get some colorful curtains or put some bright trim around the edges of the one your have.. During the day, put a chair in each cover of the room.

Yes, a banquet would be perfect! However, it's not necessarily in my budget right now. Same with a rug; I would LOVE to have a rug under my table, but I have little ones at home.
And that bench is broken, I have two chairs I'm going to replace it with for now. If I center my table under the chandy, we will have to walk all the way around the table... small spaces are such a challenge!

About my small clock just hanging in space, I planned to add a small shelf or picture ledge there or a big piece of art. I guess I have ideas on HOW to combat this space, but I needed some fresh eyes!

I have always loved the Maskros light from IKEA, what do you think? Would it add some drama or would it not work well with my home?
Thanks for the input!

budget always an issue... understand that. I actually like your light fixture. Consider painting it black and painting the wall under the chair rail Kelly green. Change the drapery panels out for a green and white geometric print that go from the ceiling to the floor. The artwork doesn't need to be expensive for example poster size black and white prints of 3 favorite family photos in identical black frames from Hobby Lobby or the like when they are on sale half off...

Two benches tucked into the corner could be a makeshift banquet until you renovate. You could add color by putting seat cushions.

I also like the all white - curtain, paint, light fixture. Can you paint the bench, table, and chairs a lighter, more fun color?

Paint the wall below the chair rail a color darker than the wall above it. Lose the bench, use chairs only, and swap the clock with something larger that will be in proportion to the size of the wall.

I think you need to have some bench seating. If you don't have DIY skills or know someone who does, scour for something second hand you can repurpose. Simple upholstery isn't hard either, just need a staple gun and research on you tube.
And I found this photo and reminded me of your chairs and similar light to what you want.

For walls go brighter to add some life, and you won't notice the floors so much.

I agree, bench/banquette seating would definitely add more function. I'm sure I can come up with something... I've always toyed with that idea, but never felt I could pull it off.

I love these spaces too. Thanks for all the ideas!

If you're on a budget: some colourful pillows will do and paint only the chair rail and/or the skirting board...I like your chandelier.

Love the black and white banquet. I could see your table painted white...agree that brighter colors on the walls will take your attention from the floor you do not like. Black, white and Kelly green is cheerful and fun.

I like the b/w and green pic. I had a corner nook when my kids were little and loved it.

Okay, so I hung some patterned curtains in my two favorite colors, hung my shelf (which looks a little wonky, but I refuse to start over), shopped my house for stuff, and replaced my broken bench with two other chairs. It's not a banquette, but this is a doable setup for now and total spent is $0.

I am in love with the idea of painting a fun color below the chair rail and these are color cards I already had. Now that I have accessories in here, which color do you think looks good? I do love the idea of a kelly green!

I have considered painting my table white. I also wanted to consider staining it darker (my husband's suggestion) or lime waxing it? WDYT?
Thanks again, everyone : )

Christina, I really love your curtains and I vote for one of the terra cotta colours for below the chair rail. Bring in green as accents. Shelf is a good start, but too many little things on it all about same height. Do you have any taller treasures around?

I love the terra cotta colors too! I think it'll really warm up the space. You're right, I do need varying heights, I don't have much around the house, but I will keep my eyes open when I'm out shopping! I plan to add in some photos or small art too, that might help with the small clusters I have going on.
Thanks Marlene!

Christina, I thought of terra cotta last night when I posted and was going to send you this link, but thought I would wait and see what you thought about adding a bolder bright colour. The purple is a nice accent too, I never would have thought of that.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/affinity-quot-modern-classics-quot-kitchen-paint-color-scheme

It's hard to tell colors on a monitor, but we also have tile with quite a bit of orange. We have Shaker Beige in much of our house. It's a color our decorator said she uses very often, and we have been very happy with it. It looks a little different depending on which way the rooms face, and the time of day, so it seems to have some life to it. In our kitchen it looks very good with some copper colors.

Great start and all shopping at home!! Since you have orange and yellow curtains I would stick with any of the first 3 colors - go bright not muted... If you choose one of the lighter oranges consider painting the molding the darker color. One way to get just enough paint to do that is to purchase a sample from Home Depot or other type store that offers that. For about $2.00 you will get enough to paint that small amount especially if you prime it with Kilz first. Lime waxing would look good with the orange pallet as would walnut stain. Consider lime waxing the table in one treatment and staining the chairs in walnut. Cushions on the chairs in the deepest orange red color would be cute too. Love your little shelf...like that you brought some black into the items on it. Do not be afraid to let the shelf items interact with the clock. The 'stuff' gets smaller just under the clock but some of the things could overlap the edge of the clock just a bit. Consider leaving the shelf empty for a little blank space at both ends - not necessary to fill the entire space - less to dust too. For the picture opposite the window if you can swing it find a print with some bold color in it or even a piece of fabric in a colorful print that picks up the colors in the drapery panels and paint the frame black.

To add more presence to the small clock, head to a thrift or consignment or craft store and purchase a frame for around it.


I would also add a small trailing plant to your shelf to bring it down some and fill up the space to the chair rail.

Looking again, I would take all your little things off the shelf. Then add a plant or two, or a row of teapots. Maybe add some hooks on to the bottom of the shelf and hang some cups.



Clock really does just need to be larger. They are available for just a few dollars at TJ Maxx, Bed, Bath and Beyond.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE CLOCK!

Love the deepest red color from the chips.

Looking for chair rail and found this color. Another idea for the shelf: salt and pepper, other useful items:

Add a bowl of bright oranges to the middle of the table:

I agree with the banquet, L shape in front of window...

I love what you did! What a difference!

please do not paint the table - stain is fine. I like your shelf and curtains.

I will tell you why I have such a small clock... I truly wanted a huge 30 inch clock from Pier1, but I just couldn't pull the trigger on a $129 price tag. Sadly, I ended up with that small one for $25. At one point do you stop talking yourself out of scary purchases and just go with your gut? My dream clock would have owned my small wall! And now I have all this space to fill, hahaha! Oh, the irony.

http://www.pier1.com/Antiqued-Wall-Clock---Ivory/2548560,default,pd.html#q=clock&start=1

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and tonight I stopped by a few stores for some ideas. I would like to bring in some more art, plants, and definitely some fresh paint!

Only buy things you LOVE. Then there are no regrets and they will usually work together. Go with your gut. You wont be disappointed. :)

Spray paint your chandelier in a pumpkin/matching curtain colour and paint your clock surround at the same time. Cost $5 for a spray can.
Love the curtains and the idea of a colour under the chair rail! Go for it!

I wouldn't spend $129 for a clock either!! Not only can you find them cheaper elsewhere there are ways to make huge clocks inexpensively. You will need to purchase the clockworks which will include the hands but not the face. As in the example of the orange clock purchase house numbers. Here they are painted orange but they could stay black. Hang the numbers on the wall with the clock works in the middle. The other clock is just another idea...

You've already made a good improvement by bringing in colors that you love in your curtains. (I'm a big fan or orange/brick/coral/copper colors myself.) Here's what I'd do next:

1. Paint the room in a neutral that looks good with your floor. I suggested Shaker Beige earlier but maybe something else would work too. Do you have a tile that you can take with you to the paint store? That might help you narrow things down quicker.

2. I wouldn't paint below the chair rail, in fact I'd take off the chair rail. Unless you have a really formal or country look, I don't think they add to a room.

3. You need something large and colorful on the wall where you have the shelf now. Sorry, but what you have there doesn't give the impact you need. You need to repeat the orange-based colors. I'd look for a framed poster-size piece that repeats the orange-based colors you love. One inexpensive solution is to find a piece of fabric with a large graphic print and wrap it around a piece of foam insulation or a picture frame. (Take one of the curtains with you to be sure the colors look good together.) Staple the fabric to the back of the foam or frame. Lots of impact for little cost. http://howaboutorange.blogspot.ca/2007/10/how-to-make-fabric-panel-wall-art.html

Some orange placemats will finish it off, maybe a big orange bowl in the middle of hte table. I often buy decor items at thrift stores and spray paint them. You can get the color you want and it's fun to recycle things. Maybe your clock could go on the wall beside your bulletin board, or where you currently have a picture. Could the clock frame be removed and spray painted to relate to one of the bright curtain colors?

You've already made progress - have fun with your room! Your table looks very nice and I wouldn't paint it.

Just so you know how I end up with things I want. I would have got the clock, then given it to my husband to put into his den closet. I tell him, "Give me this for Mother's Day or Birthday, or anniversary or Xmas" Whichever is closer.

He is happy to at least know I will be happy with one of my presents!

You can make a pretty great art piece for that wall from recycled lumber, old pallet, etc: