That light is insufficient because it is too high. I believe the standard is 36 or so inches from the table top. I would not have a fan there at all. You are just lighting the ceiling.

Thank you for your suggestion Sue! We do plan to get a sideboard eventually since we host a lot of family and friends. But the sideboard will be used as a buffet table to serve food and hence will need to be relatively empty.

You might try a brighter wall color and area rug as well.

Thank you for your suggestion Pam. Good point about the light source being too high and hence giving insufficient light. But the ceiling is vaulted, so trying to bring the light source lower will involve putting in some kind of extension rod which will suddenly make this fixture the centerpiece of the room - will that make it look too ugly? or too distracting? I also don't know if the current fixture is exactly in the center of the room. What kind of fixture will look good in that room?

Thank you phuninthesun. The wall color is actually peach but somehow you don't see the peach in the photo. Don't the wall colors need to be lighter in shade if you want to make the room look bright? Maybe I am mistaken, so more ideas are welcome...

Right now, the light fixture IS the centerpiece of the room because it is so big and dark. I would go to a lighting store - not a box store - where they can show you how you can lower the light. You may have to get a new one, but I think you will find it works better when it is lower. The light should be over your table, not necessarily in the center of the room -- I would also say that having a tv in the dining room is something that interferes with good conversation. In any case, the tv should be at eye level.

Thank you Pam. I will check out some lighting store and see what options are available. You are right about the TV. We don't use it and it needs to go. At some point we will remove it and patch the wall.

Take the shades off the ceiling fan for more light.