Thank you. Maybe liven is a better word. Wall paint is a good idea and doable.

I agree with Vossner. Perhaps a gray for your walls would freshen it up and yet tie into the grays in your portraits. Also, look for a new rug. I'm not sure what style would work ,but look in stores for a more modern design with the right colors that you could bring home to try.

You have a lot of pretty pieces! It is rather monochromatic, tho. Seems like some pops of color (as they say) in accessories & maybe a more modern rug (& a sky blue accent wall?)would definitely make it less 'antique-y'...

Yes, to painting the wall. About about a glass coffee table? New furniture arrangement? Maybe a new floor lamp?

https://www.atgstores.com/coffee-table-sets/kb-furniture-t6197-c-coffee-table_g1601771.html?ProductSlot=80

Yes I want another rug and curtains. The windows are long and skinny in back of the sofa which is curved. What colors would look good? I was thinking shades for the windows.

Pretty rug tibrix thanks.

I love your room. I am thinking you are wanting fresh, current (no dated) fabrics in pillows, throws, rugs, etc. Not contemporary modern :). Correct me if I am wrong. Take a look at Allison's house......she has lots of antiques, one-of-a-kind accessories, very unique collected pieces, but she uses "fresh/current" fabrics. And she has white walls as a great background. Her home is featured on Atticmag - Allison hope you don't mind that I am sending OP to look and hope I haven't "analyzed" your style wrong - I know what I am trying to say - probably not saying it right - lol. I just know it looks awesome plus it takes a talent to pull a room together as well as you do.

Yes Tuesday you make perfect sense and I'm liking the suggestions. I will check out Allison

printzilla, I was actually suggesting the table! lol.

I know, I realized that afterwards : ) I like the idea of a glass table but don't care for that one.

I'm thinking the shelf needs to go

I love your antiques and think a blue gray on the walls would be pretty. Are you looking to update or actually bring some modern design to the room?

If you're looking to update for a more cohesive look, I would suggest swapping out the trunk for something a little more robust. The one you have is lovely but it's way too small. I would say the same about the rug. I'm not sure what kind of table would look nice, but I think something like these would be pretty for the floor. You could pull a color from the rug for the walls.

sorry, I started my response right after you posted but got distracted. I think a metal table with a glass top would be nice, but can't find what I have in mind!

something like one of these maybe??

I think paint and a new rug would definitely help. I would also eliminate the antimacassar-maybe frame it if it has a lot of sentimental value. Also, have you ever seen Victorian upholstered furnture redone in bright colors or fun patterns? That could go a long way to giving your room a lift. I think you have just ended up with absolutely everything from futniture to art being Victorian in a house that is not and so it doesn't quite work. I love the furniture and think you could create an absolutely smashing room with a few changes.

Now, if you are trying to recreate a Victorian room, then ignore all that! :-) Everything in there now fits if that is your goal.

I like those ideas and the tables. I was thinking of a larger rug in lighter colors.

Cyn427 - No I don't want it to look Victorian and so dark. But some of my antiques are family heirlooms and I can't let them go : ) That's why I wanted to brighten it with updated materials and/or accessories/ rugs curtains, etc.

Ha I had to look up antimacassar LOL. I call them furniture doilies ha. Yes I can get rid of them (move them to a bedroom or something) I also have one on the couch haha

Oooh, really like that second table Lukkiirish posted.

I love your rooms! How would you feel about different art? The photos fit in quite well, IMO. But I think that would be an opportunity to liven the room some since you are looking to do that.

Yes different art! What though?

I like your furniture. I would paint the walls a nice creamy color (something pulled from the rug) and then mostly rearrange a few of the pieces. If the rug was closer to the couch and the settee brought over to that area it would probably have a more comfortable feel.

This is better picture of the couch and wall. There is another window on the other side of the couch. Definitely need different wall art although photos are relatives and other pictures are painted by relatives. I want a new rug and curtains for sure

I have some familty pieces, too. I understand how you feel. I have been able to incorporate them into my rooms, but mixed in as part of the whole scheme rather than being the whole scheme, if you know what I mean. I love your marble top chest of drawers. I have a Victorian marble top table, but it is the only item of that vintage in the room, so it stands out. The four chairs and glass top round coffee table are contemporary. It all works together well. Would you consider getting a new sofa in a more up-to-date style while keeping some of the other pieces you have? As I and others have said, paint, rug, and a little tweaking and reupholstering and you will be good to go!

I also have art that I have collected over the years. Quite a lot of it is abstract and amazingly, it also works. Just find pieces that make your heart sing as a very wise person here said once long ago. I would lower some of your pictures also and maybe lose the one of G. Washington ( is that who it is?). Pick something for that spot that makes you smile everytime you see it!

By the way, I love your dining room chandelier! I think that adds a modern aesthetic that you want despite being quite traditional actually. Oh, and maybe some fresh flowers in a simple glass vase on the chest with the marble top! Oh, and this may be a tad bright (a tad???), but you get the idea. ;-)

eta: I suspect I am older than you, so maybe age has something to do with it, but I have begun to realize that I can let things from my family go or put them away if I don't really love them. Doesn't mean I don't treasure the memories. Just that I don't need to look at the stuff.

Maybe art along these lines?

This is a painting I own. To me it fits nicely with antiques but is a little more lively than old photographs.

I really like the antique pictures in that room & think they might look best arranged together, not spread around the room - a gallery wall, perhaps?

Gosh so many things to think about - I love everyone's ideas. Yes maybe a gallery wall - I like that. I can't get rid of the couch - I love it too much - it's so comfy and a very old English piece. The seats are pure down (original believe it or not) and poof up real high when fluffed.

cyn427 - I was thinking along your lines but reversed. You said you have a room where there is one antique and it stands out. I was thinking how about a room with antiques with one contemporary piece and a few accessories that stand out. And BTW I doubt you are older than me LOL

I love your couch! I think a bit of paint and furniture rotating will make a big difference. I think grouping the photos will help too.

I'll try some rearranging first and post pictures

I love your pieces, especially the sofa! The only thing I dislike is the size of your rug. It needs to be much larger to feel right. I think no rug would look and feel better than a too small one. Going with an at least 8by10, but an 10x12 would be better, will instantly refresh your space. I also love some depth in wall color so a deeper color would look great too.

I love your antique furniture and portraits. Your room is very nice, and your dining room looks gorgeous! I think a few very minor changes will accomplish what you want.

I have quite a few antique pieces, and what works best for me is mixing them with a few new pieces and keeping a more casual feeling.

For your room, I think I'd replace the rug with something less formal, that has a few more colors to work with. I'd also replace either the side chair or the settee with a comfortable upholstered chair & ottoman-- maybe leather. That would make the room more welcoming. I'd paint the walls in a soft color-- maybe beige, pale green or blue--and get a couple new throw pillows. You could hang all your portraits together, on the wall facing the sofa.

A few ideas for rugs-- finding a rug you like will lead to a wall color and what to do for pillows.

Ideas for your portraits--

I love the room b/c I can feel it has been lovingly cared for and seems like all Thats there has a very personal history, which is why I don't see much point beyond wall color and furniture rearrangement.

But Print, if you want more on target input, maybe we need to know more about you such as what MUST stay, fave colors, general age group. The upholstered Victorian sofa that ctn posted is the coolest and funnest look but it might look out of place for an empty nesters home and assuming most items fall in the must stay category. But if your goal is to add an unexpected something something, then a sofa like that one would be fabulous IMO

you posters have great taste with the rugs b/c they add much needed color variety though I love owners rug and don't see much reason to change it if in good condition and if a MUST STAY item.

More about me: I obviously love antiques. I have too many sentimental things that are either family things or things my husband and I have collected for 40 years (so you know my age now haha). My tastes are a mishmash of styles. I have one bedroom that is 40-50's western, our bedroom is sort of shabby French. My kitchen/breakfast room is a 30's ,40's 50's kind of mess. We live in a 70s ranch. Sometimes I want to get rid of everything and start over with a different, maybe minimalist style ( probably subconsciously wanting to start a new hunting expedition. ). Here is a quicky rearrangement.

Here are some chairs that I could move into that room to replace the sette or other chair. Do you think any would work?

JLC I love the first rug. Could paint the walls a similar lighter grey.

I love that first rug too. What about the ones in the last photo? I think the color is off due to the way the camera was seeing them. Try and set a white sheet of paper on it so some one can color correct for you.

Here is everything together. I think the brown chair maybe could work? hard to tell with the different lighting. I think I'd get a slipcover for the checked wing back chair and put it where the white cushion chair is now. Then I'd put that little chair near the doorway (where you had the settee in your most recent pic). I think a pale blue, pale gray, or cream wall color would look great.

You have amazing antiques, printzilla!

I think a gallery wall is a fabulous idea and would really bring a freshness to your space, plus add more visual interest since there would be more to look at all in one place. Sort of a "punch" of portraits, if you will!

This is great JLC712! I like the idea of slipcovering the checked chair. I really appreciate all the great ideas. Thank you!