How about the walls? I love dining room walls painted red.
http://www.interior-design-it-yourself.com/images/decorating_dining_room_red.jpg

Maybe you could post a pic of your dining room so suggestions could be specific?

I agree, a really traditional way to handle this would be a red wall color...easier than painting furniture, too:)

Red is used in dining rooms because it is supposed to stimulate appetite. Plus it also looks nice with dimmed lighting.

Have you looked at the dining room thread in the gallery?

We were wanting to paint the walls aqua with a bottom wainscoting of white to coordinate with the hall one room over. I was hoping to include splashes of red throughout the house to make it all tie....
I guess we could consider painting it red with aqua accents but I still am sort of stumped how to "decorate" a dining room? Our chairs are black. Where do the accents come in besides fabric? I will try to get pictures.

Oceanna, can you direct me to the thread?

Possible accents for color:

-Artworks with the accent color(s)
-Plates -- maybe toile ones? hung on the wall or around a pretty mirror painted white?
-Area rug
-Lampshades on buffet lamps?
-Perhaps a pretty glass or pottery bowl on the table? Fill with white pebbles (add a bottom thin layer of sand) and add white votive candles)
-For a pretty red accent -- simply fill a white pottery bowl or tureen with lots of red apples or pomergranates (sp????)
-pottery or wood candlesticks -- maybe five short wood ones -- painted in the accent color

Just some thoughts!

Jan

Yeah, Jan - that is along the lines I am needing. Here are the pics. Thanks so much for the thoughts.

The dining room is beyond. The brown wall is not brown anymore.
{{!gwi}}From VA house

Dining room beyond
{{!gwi}}From VA house

Here's a possible artwork -- and follow the link back to see more possibilities too ....

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: grandin road site -- red artwork