Paint it........wall color, satin finish.The wood police will not knock in the door, all the detail will still be present.

The wall color is doing nothing for your flooring........and LOSE that ceiling fan please, and see a how to return curtains to the wall.

https://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-hang-draperies-and-curtains-like-a-designer.html

Those are a bit short! ) Get a rug........ ) Add ART!!!!!

I’d paint the walls a brighter white first, and see how that goes.

Thank you. Ive added a round mirror to that wall but i have a hard time picking out a rug since it flows to our living room area.

Buy one you like at HomeGoods and post it. Clearly you know how to pick a nice rug.

What is your goal?

You can paint the oak white but the space is still going to be boring because of the items you have selected and those that have not been selected.

I'd eliminate the ceiling fan

Select a table that is larger in scale for this room

Get a sideboard for the wall and some colorful art.

It also helps to show a floor plan … like where is the front door and kitchen?..and do you eat at this table everyday? Or is it a more formal dining area?… I agree the wood paneling and stair risers would be an improvement

If painted

imo, the woodwork makes your space.

I like the wood paneling, but ok. I don't think it would be too awful to paint it. I would get a metal and glass table instead to "break up the oak". The big eyesore is the draperies. As Jan said, you need a return. And, while I love air movement and have all my fans on all the time, I don't have one over the dining room table. In this case the fan is a much greater offense than the wood wall. And she's also correct that you need an area rug. In fact, before I would touch the wall, which you are unsure of because you created this post, I would fix rug, draperies, table and ceiling fixture. THEN see if you still think there's too much wood. And here is another thought. In a dining room, the focal point is supposed to be the table, the centerpiece of the room. A great table and chairs, a great ceiling fixture, a great rug under it all! The walls should disappear. Right now, with the wood and stairs matching, the back wall can disappear. If you paint, you create additional contrast, and the wall will jump out and might grab some attention. That's why I would change the other stuff first and reassess. I also would consider painting the wall behind the stairs a darker color so there's less contrast between them and the wood, but it's hard to know what color from the adjacent living room you could pick up. I thought maybe you could paint your other dining room walls too, but there's no natural breaks, so you'd have to commit to painting your living room too. I have no idea how you'd feel about that.

I would paint just strategic areas of the stairs to break up the oak look, but not the entirety of it,

It is quick and easy to paint things, but very hard to go back to wood after it has been done too. Go too far and it looks exactly like it is: something done because it was quick and cheap.

I think with some detail painting to bring out the details of the stairs, then some other interior decorating modifications, you will get the look you want.

Ah, I see you are a black and white no color person. That does add a challenge. But I think if you are going to continue the black and white into the dining room, you need the wood more than I previously thought. Maybe you plan to paint your walls white? Maybe paint the wall behind the staircase black? Leave the wood for now. I like a rug with more black than white under your table. Like the bottom left:

Henry VIII made his colors famous: black, white, and golden oak touched with actual gold. They were great then, and they are great now. The golden oak was integral. Make the other changes then reassess.

You're black and white and wood all over? You don't want a land of meh: )

It's what you love?Bring it to life a bit

In the living room......?

Adjust a little bit and add some color

take it into the dining room!

I would paint the risers and the balusters white and leave the treads, vertical paneling, handrail and newel post natural stain. It's nice oak but there's too much of a contrast between all the wood and the white walls.

I love your dining table and chairs but like everyone else, not the fan/light. The entire area needs some work to make it come to life. Perhaps you're already thinking of what to do, but starting with the stairway. A chandelier over the dining room table, a rug, a console and something on the wall above it. A more defined color palette, perhaps taken from the rug, would add a lot. Either wallpaper or paint on the walls. Depending on your budget, I'd also suggest different curtains, with color and pattern to complement whatever rug you choose. I like Bev's green console.

Here are my suggestions continuing in the black & white theme you have going.

I would paint the risers and balusters white. The rest is simply adding a few pices of furniture and decor.

In the dining room, place the 4 diing chairs facing each other and buy some end chairs (I show Parson chairs with 3/4 skirt & black legs from Ikea). Buy a nice sideboard and a large canvas and flower pot (something like shown). Replace the fan with a nice pendant/chandelier and since your curtains look a bit short let down the hem so that they barely touch the floor and turning the end corner would look better. Once that's done with light end chairs and decor, I don't think you'll need an area rug which would have to be large enough for the chairs to sit on the carpet when taken out to sit.

In the living room, I would start by taking out your rug so that it extends more into the room but have the front legs of the sofa sit on the carpet. It's a Ruggable so shouln't be a problem with a thin rug to extend that far (no tripping). I would also turn your chest and tv against the wall, buy a coffee and end table with lamp.

Here's the look...

NOTE: I'm not against painting the wood at the back of the room but not sure how that would affect the rest of the baseboards etc. in the house, it looks like your baseboards are oak and I would find it odd ot see the wood wall painted with oak baseboards.

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC I always appreciate your answers on this forum. Not only do you have great taste, you are always kind and never rude nor condescending.

Why, thank you @birdstalker, I try my best!

I would look at a piece of painted oak and make sure you like the "texture" that will remain after painting. Oak typically does not come out smooth once painted - some don't mind the look, but others do. Personally, I love the oak wall as it is.

If it’s too much wood, change the furniture so it’s black and white or whatever your preferred palette.

Just wanted to point out that this is the first sentence in the original post: "I really love our staircase "

The heaviness of wood is what gives it a such a pleasantly solid feel. As others have said, put down a rug and call it a day. Should not be difficult to find another rug in a black and white pattern that fits well with your LR rug. I would also consider some sort of vintage cabinetry (could be painted) for the otherwise barren wall on the left and chandelier/ better lighting over the table. me, I ve always loved a warm cozy feel in the dining room and the wood panelled staircase contributes to that vibe. No, you dont want that in every room but it doesnt hurt to have one room that's cozy and intimate, while other rooms are light bright and airy. Its good to mix it up.

I'd paint it. It isn't original to the house and it seems there are a ton of different styles and vibes here and the streamlining would be welcome. Is there some way to fill in the surface so the oak testure does not show through if you paint?

I’m not a pro by any means, but I agree with the majority of the comments. Keep with the black and white them. Paint the spindles a different color, how about breaking it up by adding a runner like rug on those stairs? And def break the room up with a nice colored dresser/buffet pics and wall art above it.