That's going to be a lot of dark wood with the floor drapes and wood walls, I suggest painting the walls BM white dove as well as trim and doors, the ceiling BM decorators white, then remove heavy drapery a to let some light in, then place the table and chairs center on the room, also you will need a new light over the table as the fan no longer works in a dining room setting

Also I would paint out the brass fireplace screen with something either black or hammered metal dark brown

Use curtain panels on either side of windows that do not tie back, just let them hang down

Also I recommend art over the fireplace

I can do an arrangement for you. Can you give me dimensions of room and idea of doors and windows. I see the FP wall and the wall rt of it, and mirrored wall, what is on the 4th wall opposite FP?

It's hard to suggest where to put things since we haven't seen the wall opposite the fireplace. Put your table and chairs in the center of the room, the buffet looks like it could go under the picture to the left of the pass thru to the kitchen. Then take photos of all four walls and post them here for help with arrangement.

Yes, you do have a lot of wood in the room, but IMO don't paint it. That's a big job and once it's done, well you get the idea. Change out the drapes on the patio slider and take down all the family photos. They are fine in a family room, not so much in dining area. Replace ceiling fixture with a big chandelier over the table. add a light colored rug to break up the dark wood.

Hang some appropriate art for the room on wall opposite FP. Put a lamp on the buffet.

Mock plan

OMG I thank u all and all of u are so right about everything. I worked on this all day yesterday. I'm not good at this. I did not post any pic's cause 1. It is too much wood 2. It's dark 3. I need to replace ceiling fan w/ something new. I have thought about painting the paneling and yes that would be a big job. I will check on the peel and stick wallpaper I did not know about that thank you. This room has always been dark. That is one reason we painted the FP white many years ago. I have six chairs and 3 leafs plus each end raise up. Which in my 1st post for advice if I should paint the Duncan Phyfe or buy new. The advice was not to paint maybe have it restored, the chairs recovered and buy 2 new parson chairs for each end. Put a table runner and floral arrangement on it and be done. We have a total of 7 @ the table most of the time about 8-10 days in each month. Holidays we have about 12 - 16 people. The room is 17x19. The white couch is going away and that is the wall opposite of the FP. I'm going shopping this week-end. I thank every one of u for your time and advice. I will work on this project some and post as I go. Again, thank you all so much. By the way any of y'all live close to Red Oak, Tx? I would be more than happy to pay for your help and services. I really have a hard time in getting the kind of results I'm looking for. But I know that there are others that just know how to put it all in place.

Your pieces are lovely. And yes paint the panels and the fireplace too first. I like the colors that were suggested above for brightness and softness and neutrality for any future purchases. I know it is exciting to go buy something 'pretty' but you need your base first so you can see the whole room and think what it can be all shiny bright and cheerful.

You are going to need a rug bigger than your table and I suggest having a low level wall to wall carpet cut and bound with a pretty taped edge. This will give you a neutral base for the design of the room. Size it one foot smaller all the way around the room so only 12 inches of wood is showing all the way around. Then set up your dining table with all the leaves and chairs and see how you like it.

Then you can place your furniture, buy art work, buy a chandelier, buy a new fireplace screen, place your pretty china in your china hutch, and select new upholstery for your side chairs and Parsons chairs.

But first get the room and rug painted and bound and placed. As there is so much wood you might get a bid from a professional painter. It saves a lot of headaches if you have the funds in your budget.

One thing that is killing your room is that mirrored wall. It doubles the darkness. Drywall and paint it a light warm color. It won't make the room seem larger, but instead will calm it down.

Painting is still an option you will have to decide about. There is a lot of wood, but with a lighter rug, recovering the seats and getting a couple of parsons chairs for the table end is a great idea. I would do your décor before you decide on painting the walls or not. Bringing in some lighter colors can change the entire room dynamics. Check to see the cost of soosun's suggestion of the bound carpet, here are a few rugs that will look good in room and are about $1000. for a 12x15'

The 3rd rug comes in other colors also. All 3 would look great with the wood walls.

Re-upholstering chairs is not a difficult job, you and hubby could do it yourselves. (I have done many) Look for some lighter blue for seats and then hostess chairs for the ends.

This is a good color with all the rugs, especially 1 & 2. I t is a medium heavy chenille with blue, beige, gray and gold. $17.00 yd could probably get 2 seats out of a yard

2 end chairs

@grover, I was also wondering about the mirrored wall. since the other walls are darker I thought maybe with a lamp on the buffet and a large chandelier, it might serve to reflect the light around the room and give the entire room more light, but I bow to you or others that might want to get rid of it to make the area lighter without painting the entire room.

@Brenda, you do not have to go with blue, if you want a more neutral, like beige or gray, that would work also. I just picked the blue.

To start, clear out the room entirely, except for the three main pieces and chairs you will be using. Keep the mirror, whitewash the walls and hang a chandelier. The current lighting is making everything appear rough. Your antique buffet is gorgeous, by the way.

I think you should paint the entire room. Every thing you do to cover the darkness with 'things' will still be less than all the dark in the room. At least get a bid for paint and consider so you can make some decisons. It will be money well spent I think.

Two dining rooms one with paint and with stain for you to compare. I know they are uber fancy wiht the chandeliers but still the paint compared to the stain gives you a visual of what the room can be when everything is in the room. FYI?

Painted panels

Stained panels

Two very different looks and feels of brightness and drama compared with darkness and drama. And both very pretty!

I want to say thank you to all. After reading all y'all's comments and advice to my husband he was so impressed he has hired me a professional painter to remove the outdated popcorn ceiling and to paint the paneling however I choose. He also is hiring an electrician to take care of any lighting I may need. He is a contractor himself and it has taken me 30 years to get him to let me paint this paneling. Thank y'all so much. But his last words to me was if it looks good I have myself to thank, but if it turns out bad I have myself to thank also. With that being said I need some more advice. 1. Goveraxle how did u take my mirrored wall and paint it. Is there a way I can take pics of my 3 panel walls and FP and insert the paint colors I might use? 2. Act One Design thank u so much for your advice. I'm removing everything except the main 3 pieces and dining chairs. So I can get my basic layout. And thank u for the pic of the mirrored wall cause I really like it and was not wanting to get rid of yet. And I think after seeing that pic it helped my husband to see the white crown molding around it and how big a difference it makes. 3. Soosun2 thank u for u pics of the stained and white panels this room has been so dark for so many years it let my husband and see the difference in the 2. And yes they are both pretty but it's time for a change.

That's great news, Brenda! Be sure to keep us posted on your progress.

Brenda, I Photoshopped the mirror out of your room, and I actually thought about keeping the mirror and painting the paneling, but it would be a HUGE amount of work.

In any case, there is no substitute for bringing samples of your paint into the actual room to see how it works in your space and your light. So before you hire the painter, narrow down your paint chips, then buy some tester pots and paint big 2' x 2' poster boards, and set them in the room. Look at them in all different types of light, at different times of day, and move them around to see how they look on different walls.

Remember also that if you end up disappointed in the color, you can always repaint.

Most of the paint stores have programs that let you upload a picture and then play around with painting the walls. Groveraxel uses Photoshop Elements to play around with room designs (a much more complicated program).

I agree with removing the mirrors, and painting the walls (except in cases of really nice, original wood paneling). I do NOT think you should paint the table. New seat covers will be nice, but once the room itself is lighter, you will love the look of all the old family wood. They just don't make furniture like that any more (at least that most of us can afford!)

An interesting tutorial is Laurel Bern Interiors.com. She has a whole post on selecting colors for rooms and some interesting selections on choosing 'whites'. Take your time but keep your choices narrowed so you do not get overwhelmed.

It sounds like Hubs is on your side. The room is going to be beautiful! You have great stuff and there are literally thousands of pictures on Houzz to keep you focused on what you want your dining room to look like.

I agree with all the great ideas posted. I think Sherwin Williams paint.com has a wall color paint selector online, but you really have to bring in the samples as Groveraxle said! Great advice.

PS if you are doing whites I love Cloud White by Benjamin Moore and I understand that Dove White and Revere Pewter look fantastic together. I just see these names over and over on the posts so they must look wonderful. haha

Also Susans rug suggestions are sooooo beautiful! You are going to have fun along the way!

I think you're on the right track painting the paneling, removing popcorn ceilings and hanging a beautiful chandelier. Don't know style of rest of house or colours but like the creamy neutral in Act One's photo. Think once walls are painted the mirror will look very glamourous. Not a fan of carpets in dining room as I think they are dirt magnets but once walls are done you will have better idea. I would simplify the drapery over patio door, at least remove the valance. Now, since hubby's in a generous mood would he consider drywalling the fireplace?

Instead of entirely covering the mirrored wall, what if you have the carpenter frame our portions of it to mimic the framed paneling in the rest of the room? If painted out to match your new light color it would be very elegant for dining, and tie that wall into the rest of the room. Just a thought.

OMG this is just getting better and better. I might really have a good chance in making this work. 1. catsw u are reading my mind. I was wandering what or how the FP could be updated. Would u mind going into more detail about the drywall or post a pic. 2. rocketjcat I love that frame work on the mirror I will most definitely show that to my contractor. Thanks again. 3. Carol Singletary your right about the apps my contractor uses SW paints and we are using color snap this afternoon to what we come up with on the paint color. Again thank you all so much. Will update again soon.

Brenda, haven't forgotten you regarding fireplace but think you need to clear room and paint walls first. Have a couple of ideas but It really depends on budget and your decorating style. So please give us more pics when you have finished the first part of transformation.

Ok thank you all I really appreciate your time and advice. I have found a furniture refinsher to restore my Duncan Phyfe I will be taking it to him tomorrow so it will be gone tomorrow I have got my room almost empty. The contractor didn't show Monday he is scheduled to show tomorrow. The white couch will be gone tomorrow All the family photos are gone. Then maybe I can get down to the paint color. I will post my possible choices for advice.

Good luck, Brenda, make the choices that are best for the functionality and fit for the family. You have gotten a lot of good advice and pick the best that will work for you.