Thank you! Those are great ideas!!!

You could also paint or use peel & stick wallpaper on the back wall of the china cabinet.

I'd work with your existing lovely area rug and find drapery panels & some framed art in the same colors.

Find a ceramic blue gray bowl and have a floral arrangement make for it.

That is a lovely dining set. I'd go more dramatic. A dining room can take a little drama, as you mostly would eat in there at night. Darker walls...I like the blue suggested by Beverly. Recover the chair cushions in a navy print. Add flowers on the table.

How about mirroring the back of your china cabinet and lowering the chandelier to reflect in the mirrors and add more brilliance to your dining room? Consider flipping your living and dining rugs. You need a more classic one with that furniture and chandy. Since you apparently hope to replace the set eventually, you might try "ghost coating" it with gel stain. It doesn't require sanding and all that effort. Some don't think it is ideal for a long term solution, but I've seen it done very well and it will certainly update things. DIY videos on YT will help you decide.

Are you up for painting? I think it would look great with the whole set painted white. You may like it well enough that you won't replace it. It looks like a well-constructed set. Maybe leave the table top unpainted wood. Some examples Or these with cane back more examples

You can also paint the fabric of the chairs with latex paint. I haven't done it but apparently it's pretty easy. If it doesn't work the way you like then you can always cover it. Here's one tutorial.

I would paint it white also. Girlfriend had chairs similar, chalk painted them black, but I think white would go better with your place. New chair covers also. They are easy to do.

ps that picture I see in the living room looks a little high.

It looks like you have the chairs slipcovered. You could either re-upholster or re-slipcover in a lighter shade.

I also like @jk910's suggestion to put removable backing into the hutch, maybe with a fun wallpaper or upholstered fabric. Something that wouldn't be permanent but could brighten the look of the hutch. I really like your dining set overall, especially that gorgeous table top.

Could you move the smaller sideboard piece across the room to break up that wall a bit?

Adding art and maybe some drapes would also help add softness and light to the room.

here's a picture of a cabinet similar to yours painted white.

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Gosh I love those chairs and wouldn't paint them at all! I would however recover the cushions which can be a fairly quick and easy task with the right fabric and pneumatic stapler.

I certainly would start with easy fixes like Beverly's drapes and art. I agree the little bar setup & cabinet needs to move. Is there room in the opposite corner form where you stood to take the photo?

You may want to show more pics of you house so people can get a better idea of your style.

Thanks you. We do not have a wallop the other side it is completely open to the kitchen.

Since you are going to be getting a new set in the near future, I would make some minimal changes to spruce it up a bit. I would change the seat cushion covering to a lighter color that is in the rug. I would get drapes also to complement the rug. Then I would get some light color pieces in the china closet--like plates, etc. On the table, I would put a bright, tall and wide centerpiece of flowers or a grouping of ginger jars.