I like two companion pieces flanking each side.

This is my bedroom. But, you get the idea.

Joy asked about updating the room. Start with a colorful area rug, change the upholstery on the chairs. This may be a DIY project. I did my own, easy peasy. I would remove the mirror and add a large piece of art over the buffet. As for art surrounding the china closet, @Beverly nailed it

*you asked about updating the room

Have you considered painting the furniture?

Decorative plates can be placed on either side of the china cabinet

Why is the chandelier not centered over the table? Maybe the china cabinet and sideboard need to change locations??????

have you considered removing the leaf in the table if there is one? I know you said decor, but if you painted this room it would really elevate it. i could see a blue color in here.

HERE IS A LINK TO A GREAT ARTICLE.

I feel like the scale is off. Can you swap the china cabinet and the sideboard? On a (presumably) shorter wall, the china cabinet might be just enough, and it's easier to decorate above a sideboard than around the hutch. The existing mirror may or may not be right on the longer wall, but your options for art are much greater.

I would consider removing one of the furniture pieces the hutch or console…the room is really not big enough for all the furniture pieces and it off sets the dining room table so is not centered under the chandelier…looks overfilled...the room needs to breath! this room could really come together with a few changes….That big console/buffet could make a great TV console if it could be moved to another room…maybe paint it..just a few ideas to think about.

Regarding updates, lots of ideas but it depends on your interest and budget. If it were me, I’d paint the walls one color and use as your jumping off point for rug choice (or use yours) and reupholster chairs. .

Consider the buffet’s accessorizing…balance and impact. Add drapes (try Ikea) if there are none and look for art as the last step.

The china cabinet could also benefit from a more modern display.

Maureen, I love this color you suggested and your ideas!

Maureen the Pemberley Blue is a yummy color…Kerrywolf do the walls and lower wainscoting too!

and really think about removing one of the pieces of furniture it will make a huge difference..can we see a better photo of the rug you have? and also consider changing out your bulbs to less of a warm light.

First do you love the furniture ? Yes there iis too much stuff in the space . No you do not set the table as decor that stays there day after day. IMO the hutch part of the piec on the wall could go IMO no need for display of china ever . Then a great piece of art could go there and after you choose that use a color from the art for wall color. I rarely like mirrors in DRs no one wants to watch themselves eat anfd in this case that cabinet is too much for the space . I do not like the chandelier but that is me and IMO the lamp on the piece is too modern for the space .I like chandeliers that light the table not the ceiling and those ones with the wood type beads are no attractive IMO.. I think the buffet piece on the wall where the hutch piece is might work and then the buffet hutch finds a new home. Sentimental furniture is IMO not a gift if it is not your style . I have often used buffet/ hutch pieces in a walk in closet to honor the gift but make it work for me. I think we need to see your LR to get a feel for YOUR style

Here is a picture of my living room to get an idea of my style

I have the table decorated for Thanksgiving. The table is actually beautiful without the tablecloth on it. It’s the only piece of the set that I like. I’ll show a picture after the celebration.

Do you use the dining room? How many people are you normally seating?

What is the size of the room?

Add photos of the other walls.

You have received great suggestions for your room. It won’t take much to elevate your room. Paint, put the sideboard where the china cabinet is, use art rather than a mirror over sideboard, recover the chair seats, get the great chandelier centered over the table. Consider removing the china cabinet as it dominates the room and removing it makes it easier to use the end chairs.

My dining room is almost identical to yours. I am planning an update that involves all the suggestions you received . Please post photos when done!

Lovely LR and I think the ”look” I shared would tie in really well. Don’t make any decisons on buffet and cabinet for now, as the updates may pull everything together.

Such great advice already - one thing I have done to lighten a china hutch is to cut foam board to fill the back walls of the hutch and then I covered it in a fabric I loved (spray adhesive works great or you could do wallpaper) - once the all the back walls were done, I stacked china plates for a bit more informal look, a few pitchers etc - easy, inexpensive and a fun way to non permanently lighten the piece

I am a sucker for a statment dining room mirror! bottom photo is my dining room I love the light it reflects and it mirror's my chandelier in the evening.

But, each of those pieces is dated in style and that you cant change unless you change them. And that does not seem feasible and not something that I would suggest.

I agree with one who suggested that some color on the walls might be nice and also maybe a bit less formal of a look.

I like the idea of stacking the plates rather than displaying them like that.

I dont care for the fancy light over the table and would add some soft lighting from the side, such as a floor lamp and change that one out for something more modern. Overhead lighting like that is so harsh, no matter what it is.

If you do choose art on the walls, maybe look for something more modern.

In other words, add a bit of anachronism to the statement that the room makes. Mix in some throughly modern textures, colors and try to ease up on the formal. Formal is often not very inviting and so many of them just begin to look like so many others.

I assume that this not where you eat take out pizza. Rather it is your formal area and you have another place for that.

There are so many of these room settings that are to be had at resell places like Habitat. The store is full of them. Our lives changed. The world changed and people just live differently now.

I am all about relaxed and informal living . The more simple it is , the better, IMHO.

But there are lots of curly pieces on the furniture and it is always going to have that look of yesteryear. Surround it with throughly modern as much as you can.