Hello Melissa, I don't think your room is too small for a hanging light fixture, something airy as a crystal type. But I do think your room is too small for 6 upholstered chairs. Maybe 2 at each head of the table would work. I think the chairs you have are charming. Drapes or side panels on each side of the window would also look lovely, make sure they are wide enough to not cover the window. Love your art. You are off to a good start!

Thank you! I do like the idea of a crystal fixture as well. I agree that 6 upholstered chairs would be too much for the space.

Hey melissa! Think if you went a light scaled lighting fixture, you'd be in the clear. I rather like the examples I'm attaching as they have clear/transparent shades and wouldn't overwhelm your space. You'd maybe have to rethink your floor lamp and mirror as things would start to look visually cluttered. I think I'd be tempted to keep the chairs you have (they are a nice scale for your room), and do a more contemporary sideboard (but keep that piece as it's beautiful!) I'm sure you'll get more great suggestions from the other Houzzers. Keep us posted, and good luck!

I like the chairs, if you do a dark color on the walls, a dark slate or chocolate or plum, The drum light is a great idea, it can be dark, matching the walls, so that it doesn't overwhelm the space. Definitely a large mirror on the wall, could even be a leaning floor mirror there. maybe sconces on each side, white linen curtain and upholstery and a beautiful contemporary rug with both colors the dark and the light.

Hi Melissa! Color is going to make this space feel a lot bigger/wider! If you like to mix contemporary with traditional, I think looking at the painting you have above your display case (shown with plates in it against the wall) is a great place to start! ... Taking cues from that painting or an abstract one like it could be great in this room. If you like contemporary, I think adding the chair covers in white linen is a great start. Your dining room table and some of your other pieces are black/dark. I would go "black, white, and bright" as a theme for this room... Some black pieces, white when it comes to fabrics, bright abstract print when it comes to accents. If you are going to place large mirrors in this room, I would place them on the long side (the side the couch is currently on). It will help to open up/widen the narrow space further. As for lighting fixtures, I agree... recess will work just fine, but hanging will be fine as well as long as it crystal/glass... mostly translucent! Also, if you are going to cover the chairs.. perhaps cover four and leave them at the dining room table, leaving 2 of them uncovered... the design in the chair back is pretty cool in its own right - will mirror abstract art nicely! - Just some thoughts! :)

If you love your painting and are planning on keeping it, I would use some of the color in it for accents in your room. I think you could use a drum shade in one of the colors of the painting. If you like upholstered chairs, Carrington Direct (from North Carolina ) make good and comfortable ones. You can purchase upholstered ones or leather. I have their leather. Please know I have no connection with them; but bought chairs from them and loved the quality. If you need some quality glassware, for accent in a color, look at the Blenko glass website. They are one of the last places in the US to do handblown glass so it could be an heirloom as well as a great looking decorator item. Have fun

A few inspiration pictures for your color plan..

Just a few more spaces with black, white, and accent colors...

The first picture illustrates some chic accessories you can add to your room... the second reminds me a bit of your painting... which would look gorgeous accenting a black/white neutral room! Relatively inexpensive things I believe you can add to make your living/dining connected space even more posh are a tufted ottoman and some trim to add texture to the long wall in the living space. ... I bet you might have some fun checking out West Elm (no affiliation) for finishing touches! - hope this helps. :)

I love the idea of painting a warm color - I was thinking just the lower half beneath the chair rail. That would create a natural divide from the living room to the dining room since it doesn't look like there is molding on the living room walls. Since the room is narrow think of ways to make the ceiling feel higher like hanging your curtains higher than the window casing. Crown molding would really make the room look rich and if you tint the ceiling paint just slightly to the wall color it will make the white crown molding pop and draw attention upward. You could just do the top color throughout the entire room. When you look for paint check out B Moore's Affinity collection. All the colors are engineered to match/compliment one another so the whole house flows really well.

I think a simply but tasteful ceiling light would be nice - keep in mind if you don't have one there now someone will have to run electrical for you. In a ranch that most likely means someone crawling in your attic/crawl space. If that's not an option wall sconces next to that mirror may be nice and more feasible. I love the upholstered king chair idea as well. For the tablescape I would stick to a runner of somesort with a hurricane glass with just three pillar candles inside or a tallish glass of some sort with fillers like balls, cinnamin sticks or pine cones or something to make it feel less cluttered.

Of course you can use a hanging light over your table. (I have one in my bathroom!). Just size it in proportion to your dining table. Agree with cypress that all upholstered chairs might be too much, but two on the end would be perfect. Another suggestion is to move the mirror over the side board and hang both pieces of art side by side in its place.

I find it weird that you wouldn't hang a light over the table. I would highly suggest one, and I like your thinking on a drum shade. Casual. I think your space really needs a rug to help define the seating area. This will also bring in more color and texture which will make your space more inviting and warm.

Love your dinning room. Yes, I would place a light over the table. I don't think the room is too small. You could paint the walls above the chair rail in another color that you like for contrast. Drapery on the window will be nice. You could remove the cloth from the table and add a table runner with some color in it. Then place either a grouping of three candles, a small plant or a vase of flowers on top. Adding a nice area rug under the table will make the room more inviting also. I'd remove the mirror and replace it with another big picture or two. You could place a small plant on the buffet or a few white pretty plates or bowls and a plant in the corner of the room.

I drum shade would look great over your table....I especially like the Anteriors one suggested by Jamieson, but in black. I suggest you move the sideboard to the wall behind the dining table and, if necessary move the table forward. Get rid of the floor lamp and place a tall table lamp or a sconce at each end. I does not need to be centered on the window. I suggest painting the entire room and living room floor to ceiling and including ceiling in a reflective high gloss or enamel color like chartreuse or any other fun color you like (your walls will need to be very smooth before applying). and hang a large fun mirror such as Louis XV or XVI over the sideboard. As for draperies, I suggest making them very full and extending them beyond the windows. Consider painting your furniture high gloss or having it lacquered in white, black, or grey.....and using fun fabric in color coordinated prints to reupholster your living room furniture and for dining cushions, placemats, napkins and rugs. I suggest painting the doors a high gloss black. Have fun with it....most of what you are doing is paint which is inexpensive and easily changed if you make a mistake....but live with it for at least a week so you do not simply react from shock since the change will be very dramatic at first.. Hope this helps! :)

Hello and thank you all so much for your suggestions! This helps me lots. The floor lamp in corner of dining room is absolutely going out the minute I get proper lighting in : )
The first thing I am going to do now is get light over table....and full ceiling to floor drapes. I may well come back with pictures of lights to see what you guys think. Thank you again!!!

I wanted to post pictures of my living room after I decorated with the help of fellow houzzers.

Well done Melissa! Your rooms are beautiful! Congratulations, and Happy New Year!

Wonderful results! My only suggestion would be to move the coffee table within 18" of the sofa so it is useful to those seated there. The other chairs have their own table for coffee cups, etc. Hope you posted on Before & After threads too.