I would suggest painting the walls above the chair rail. I don't know what colors are in your other rooms, this room is bland and needs a vibrant color. Choose a color that you use as accents in other rooms.

Beautiful room and furniture. Just add some wallpaper in a traditional pattern with a lot more color than you have now. The vases on top of the china cabinet can go somewhere else. Their light green, maybe celadon, color could be a good wallpaper color if you have the same colors elsewhere in the house.

New Orleans has had some gorgeous show houses. Take a look online to see how they use colors in their dining rooms.

Your furnishings are very nice to work with. It appears that you prefer traditional decor. I would start with a beautiful oriental style carpet and a pair of curtains at each window. Next choose more colorful art for the walls. A display of pretty plates around your hutch would look nice and give it more presence.

As an example....

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IMO the right place for the chairs is close to the table, chairs sitting in the corners looks like for bad kids with bad behavior lol

I'd choose some lovely chintz curtains with some color. Yes, chairs on the wall, not in the corners.

I'd look for a jazzier rug and art.

New Orleans style home? Glam this room up! Pick a gorgeous wall paper with color for above the chair rail. Change out the drapes for full panels with color. Then address the area rug and add some art. Viola!

I think wall paper would be fantastic!

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ShadyWillowFarm, wallpaper hung on a properly primed wall is not difficult at all. Maybe yours (like mine) was just stuck directly onto naked sheetrock?

I just love the plate thing...I saw one on here (asked for a better picture and promptly lost it!) by a poster who had a yellow kitchen eating area and blue and white plates, but she had arranged them in such a creative way (can't explain it...beginning near the floor and curving around part of the window and ending in a swoosh near the ceiling...so cool).

I saw that! The swoosh of plates! Kind of like birds taking off in formation. I loved it too. Very creative and cool. Don't know what I think about plates on the wall in this room, though. Here, I'd start with a a show-stopping wallpaper and let the room build from there; see where it goes. Marymush, find a wallpaper that speaks to you! And don't shy away from color! Ü It's all about the drama, Mary. All about the drama.

All chairs at the table unless they won't fit without the leaf.

No fake flower arrangements.

Add a large green live plant in the corner.

Large painting between the two windows

Vibrant Oushak, lighter art:

Thank you all so much!! The chairs in the corner critiques were so funny and so correct. I guess I was just trying to fill up that wall. They will go back to the table!! A live plant is a very good idea for one of the corners. Right after I sent the pics, I realized the drapes were just so blah as well. In my defense, they came with the house and were good for a neutral showing. I have attached a picture of the backsplash used in the butler's pantry and kitchen which is a soft powdery gray blue (it looks greener in the pic). I am using grays, blues, royal blue and creams

through the house. Also attached is a page I pulled out of a magazine showing wallpaper that I like but am now finding out is way too dull. But am I on the right track with the wallpaper, just need a more vibrant color? Thank you all very much.

Mary, think about wallpaper...You don't have that much wall space that it will be cost prohibitive (above the chair rail). It doesn't have to be top of the line designer stuff...and yes, you can diy this.

Also as far as the china cabinet goes, I wouldn't put anything on top of it. With the curve, it's got enough going on up there.

I very much like something like this, which you can do to the back of your china cabinet. Of course you don't have to do gold, but how fabulous would that look with a chinoiserie wallpaper on the walls?

Absolutely swoon worthy, Penny!

I love all the ideas...

I can't wait to see what you come up with. I love the wallpaper options.

Wow, Penny!

In answer to your question - fabulous!!!

In answer to your question - Fabulous!!! I googled some wallpaper and these two caught my eye real quick. A lot to think about and pull together. Would I need to wallpaper the whole room above the chair rail or just above the chair rail behind the china cabinet?

Both lovely! I can't wait to see you transform this room...You clearly are not a shiplap/gray/modern farmhouse kind of person and I love that!!!

My own dining room has chinoiserie panels (I have textured walls so wallpaper is out of the question for me)...So I'm a bit biased toward that look (plus the blue and white accessories are easily available where I am. And I have a tiny budget so if I can't find what I want, there's always cans of spray paint)

Many looks would work in here for you--especially since you're a bit adventurous :)

And, for some reason, posts are showing up out of order for me...Manon, your wallpaper post just showed up now (beautiful!), along with Mary's backsplash post...Houzz you're making me crazy with this!

I concur, all four walls above the chair rail, Mary! The first sample is striking, but I like the second one better as well. I like the additional colors - will add dimension to your room as you pull some of those colors out in lesser degrees. I just always like the interplay between colors, but you have to go with what strikes you emotionally. You will be living with it. Which one will make you smile when you walk into (or by) that room? (If neither do, keep looking!) I so can't wait to see your room!!!! Ü

Like the wallpaper choices. The 2nd one will give more choices in color for rest of room & will be pleasing to look at while dining.

That second wallpaper is very pretty. Like the tile look that it has!

Agree with leelee! Maybe a Bird-of-paradise!