Hi susietenzer,

I love the pieces you already have, but if you're bored with your dining room, take a look at this ideabook for some more creative solutions:
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-easiest-room-to-decorate-the-dining-room-stsetivw-vs~132342

Have you ever thought about adding a rug under the table? Or headchairs in a completely different style? And as for that blank wall, maybe some artwork or patterned wallpaper would look good there. Depending on your personal style and needs, I'm sure you can update the room and add interest easily.

I agree with the rug. You need to add some color in the room. I love your buffet and would not paint it. But the mirror almost looks a little too small for the wall. A large one would look good. I know they have a really big one at IKEA for $79. That would look good. Or a piece of art work. Something three dimensional.

thanks,eradicati & pearson 1219! I really appreciate you ideas!

I agree with eradicati, a beautiful patterned wallpaper would look terrific . Something like the Farrow and Ball Lotus pattern in Grey and white or black and white if you are feeling bold. http://us.farrow-ball.com/lotus/wallpaper/fcp-category/list?resetFilters=true
If your not a big wallpaper fan what about a nice dark greeny gray paint on the walls to complement the red in your furniture. Sherwin Williams - Anonymous or Intellectual Grey??

What is the ceiling height?

i'm sorry pearson1219..but when i read your post i had to laugh!!! "i agree with the rug" it's too funny!!! but of course i know what you meant..
I don't think i would enjoy dinner sitting across from a mirror. i don't want to watch myself eat. i wouldn't paint the buffet, i doni't think it's what the room needs. i agree that a couple more chairs would help and a rug of some kind maybe. it's really quite lovely as a simple room.

i agree too, a rug would be great. perhaps consider turning the table in the other direction. I cant see in the pic so well what the room layout is but it seems awkward the way it is. Also, i agree the mirror needs to be oversized, that alone could make this entire room! A HUGE mirror. as wide as the buffet and tall almost to the ceiling. and yes it's missing grand end chairs. like upholstered arm chairs, and maybe a new light fixture. definitely DONT paint the sideboard. IMHO!!!

hi susietenzer, i think you should paint the buffet black. it seems a bit out of scale for the room and black may give it some 'presense'. a rug is another great idea as well as the differing end chairs which will help to 'cosy' up the space. i also agree, the mirror is too small and this wall is almost begging for a terrific piece of artwork. consider creating your own on a large canvas or even framing in a great piece of fabric or wallpaper that is interesting and can tie some colours together. you could replace your light fixture and hang it about 36" from the top of the table. good luck with your room, the floors are really beautiful and you have great natural light with thos large windows!

I think you need to add colour and or pattern you can do that by paint or wall paper, a rug, art work and window treatment. None of which needs to be expensive but I think they would make a dramatic different.Find something that you love the colour combo it can be a piece of fabric a plate really anything;then use the colour palette as a jumping off point. Never underestimate the power of an accent colour. Good luck I am sure it will look great with just a few additions as you have some really great pieces to start off with.

You could also add interesting window coverings to get more color in the room. Upholstered end chairs would bring color and texture as would a less traditional light fixture. Artwork!

Oh I forgot to mention I would not paint the buffet at least yet, (it will be hard and expensive to remove the paint if you don't like it.) try rugs etc first.Are you renting your home? if not then paint the walls.

Don't paint the furniture - work with it! The red undertones in the furniture will look gorgeous with red walls.
Sherwin Williams Colormix 2012 showcases Red Bay SW6321.

I would open up the table, add more chairs then drape a gorgeous tablecloth across it. Bring the room to life with some fruit, a plant or fresh flowers, move the vase to the buffet put it next to one of the lamps. The room needs more of "you" in it, add something personal.

I have the same layout and furniture in my dining room, I have painted horizontal stripes on the wall and its a great focal point. Its all about personal style i know, hope you like it.

Not being able to see all your walls and where the doors are leading into the room, nor knowing the ceiling height (12' maybe?) or your budget, I'd do it in steps by first finding an area rug you really, really love as the focal point and anchor the room. After you have that in place, choose a complementary color from out of the rug and move that color onto the walls and/or wall. Paint is cheap and it may take 3 or 4 tries (get samples) before you're happy given how the light plays out in the room at different times of the day and which walls make sense to paint. Once you get the paint onto the walls then populate your walls with your favorite art, especially on the wall that has the buffet in order to balance it out so that it doesn't look so lonely. Add some simple drapes that have some of those same colors (perhaps this should be the wall you leave a neutral color) and then a large, leafy plant in one of the corners to warm things up (you have lovely light in that room) and a centerpiece onto the table. If your budget permits I'd also change out the chandelier to something that has black metal and cloth shades to match the ones on the buffet and that casts light downwards onto the table top to make it more intimate.

rug is so yuck under a table but something I have used in the past was to cut out the hardwood about 2ft larger than the table added a boarder and and tiled the inside area

I go back and forth on rugs under tables, I never like how the chairs feel under a thick rug and I don't like walking on thin rugs. I would change the upholstery on the seat cushions and change the lamp shades. I would also get a more elaborate centerpiece and/or change the chandelier. We changed ours from the one you have to this one http://www.ballarddesigns.com/9-arm-grande-claire-chandelier/10179. It made a huge difference.

I also agree with changing the mirror though I would put it on the wall opposite the window so guests don't have to stare at themselves while they eat, plus it will make the room larger if it's reflecting a view of outdoors. You never want to reflect another room of furniture (in my opinion).

i think this room needs some wrought iron art on the walls.

I have a beautiful area rug under my dining table (table seats 10) and it doesn't seem to cause any problems with large dinners. Rug should be at least 2 feet larger on all sides of the table to allow you to pull the seating out without a rough transition from the rug to the wood flooring which is the usual problem (think about how large your table is fully extended before you purchase the rug). Many reputable places will let you take the rug(s) home to try out because there is "the" rug out there just for you and finding it sometimes takes a little time. You might put some large, interesting mirrors (lots) on that wall opposite your window (it will reflect more light) and take the mirror off the buffet and replace it with one large piece of artwork. If your table extends and seats 8, you can flank either side of your buffet with the chairs you don't typically use. It looks like you have room to move the buffet towards the wall that's away from the window.

Thanks to every one of you! I really appreciate all of your comments. I'll try to post after I do some of these things. This is a great decorating site!

I love these fabrics for curtains and reupholstering chairs. The pendant light in a cluster of three is beautiful. And a rug. You could paint the buffet black. I like your wall color but you should add some art work- I don't give suggestions on that because I feel art is very personal. Good luck! These are just a few ideas without knowing your personal style it's tough.

There are a lot of great ideas already mentioned here. I just wanted to share what we had done in the past to help liven up our boring space.

This is a sparse photo of our last house (taken as we were moving out), but we wanted to save, what we felt, was a perfect way to liven up what was once a boring dining/living room space. We had a wonderful team of ladies who painted/designed as a side hobby, help us to create this rag-rolled pattern for that home. My wife and I loved it. It looked to us like rose petals had been applied to the walls. We're thinking of doing the same thing in our current home, on one of the larger, more lifeless walls we are tired of. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

No! Don't paint your beautiful furniture! Paint the walls and get a mirror as wide as the buffet. Also, array the chairs around the table. The table appears empty on the ends. You could also upholster the seats of your chairs with a bold pattern fabric!

One more thought and nwsutton made me think of it. I live in San Diego and at our local Lowes there is plain, textured wallpaper that you can purchase that will give your walls the look of stucco, plaster, etc. It's an economical solution if you want this type look. I used the "plaster" look paper in the powder room and then painted all four walls with Dunn Edwards "Hope Chest" colored paint (chocolate) to go with an italian stone floor which had various shades of chocolate. Yanked out the old fashion cabinetry w/standard sink (actually that came first and then the flooring) and installed white Koehler european toilet and pedestal sink (very contemporary & sleek with wings for sitting purses, etc.). Painted baseboards and crown molding white, added stainless contemporary hardware and accents of chocolate (paper guest towels, trash, soap dispenser, etc) and chartreuse. On the primary large, blank wall, put one very, very large oil painting of a Japanese Geisha in a kimono of chocolate, cherry and chartreuse holding an umbrella with cherry blossoms with her back turned away from the room. Very simple and quite stunning. This wall paper was easy to install (as far as wallpapers go) so another thought for you.

Go to Overstock.com and get a black wrought iron chandelier ( shipping is $2.50!), find table runner with texture for the length of your table, and put a glass vase filled with flowers, leave your furniture natural, but maybe change out the hardware and last, go to a discount fabric store and pick a great microfiber material and cover your chair cushions. For special dinners--TJ maxx has great tablecloths to coordinate with your chair covers. And yes, a framed poster or maybe art from a fundraiser auction or art festival would be a good choice for over the chest. But pick something you love. Good luck and enjoy!

Maybe create another sitting area in front of the window? Like a bench with colorful pillows? Also-agree with others about adding some color to the wall. Good luck!

Oh, I like the idea of a bench by the window!!! Also, here's a mirror in my dining room and it's high enough to where guests cannot see themselves in it while dining. It actually makes the entire room look larger! You have a wonderful space to work in!!

I'd start by getting two upholstered chairs at each end of the table. Buy two simple parsons and do slipcovers in a great current pattern - like a nice trellis geometric that is classy yet hip. Replace the dated and boring light fixture with a chandelier with more "omphh" and statement and do chunkier lamps on the buffet with shades that tie in with the slipcovered chair colors. Without even having to paint the walls you could go darker on the mirror frame and add some artwork on the other wall.

This is what I would do. Add 2 or a collection of 4 framed pictures on each side of the buffet. Add a large mirror over the buffet with your lamps on each side. Add an area rug and two upholstered chairs and you're done. You might want to change your chandelier and coordinate your drape color with the new rug.