By update, what are you willing to do? Paint, new rugs, new draperies?

The heavy leather look furniture isn't working with the Victorian theme.

The one thing I would do is paint the walls.

This is B. M. Linen White. Notice that everything is that one paint. It will open up your rooms and brighten, showing off your antiques. (Not suggesting the window treatments in this photo).

In your home, I would do a match of the walls in the fabric for windows.

do I need to update the look?

If you like your home as it is now then you certainly don't need to update anything. Do what works for you!

It would be helpful if you drew a little layout of the room, took a pic, and then posted it so we could understand how the space fits together.

1. Declutter the bookcase. Get rid of things, put things in storage, place things elsewhere in your house. It doesn't need to be half empty, it just needs to not look like a choatic storage shed.

2. Who sits in the two chairs in front of the window and how often?

3. When do you dine in this space and is it comfortable?

4. Do you use this fireplace?

5. The curtains by the table - extend them to the corners and let them hang instead of tying back.

It strikes me that there are some tight spaces and some open spaces that seem underused. Maybe a new layout is in order.

Yes, please add more photos and/or a sketch of the layout. I can't quite picture the whole space, but I suspect moving furniture could make a big difference!

We sit in the two chairs when our grandchildren play that end of the room. We dine there every weekend with family. We use the fireplace alot- we had gas with logs installed and love it. The room was chilly before that in the winter!
I will declutter the bookcase!
I’ll try to get a picture showing the whole room. A layout for the whole space is challenging. An interior designer suggested the way it is now.
( years ago!) I appreciate your feedback.
I appreciate your

Here’s a left to right panorama of the whole space , if that helps. I’m standing in the doorway from our front hallway

The dining table is opposite the fireplace area and can be extended.

My husband doesn’t like to change anything!! lol
But I’m hoping to make small changes he won’t mind.

I CANNOT get him to paint the walls, which I realize would most likely be the first step to lighting the room up!

I like your room. I find I get bored with my layout and move things around seasonally so I understand the desire to change things. Would you be able to do a quick sketch of the floor plan? I would say if the layout works for you I would keep it. I like the "play" area for the kids. I would suggest taking all the small framed photos off the bookshelf and grouping them on top of the piano.

Here’s a poor sketch

I love rearranging, so moving furniture would be very doable and my husband will adjust!

I'm sorry your husband doesn't like change. I have met a few in my career. Some would say stubborn, but, I think hubs often can't visualize how a few simple updates would bring some brightness into a room.

Window treatments...would DH approve of getting rid of the blinds?

Agree!

Would you replace them or leave the windows bare? They do help with both privacy and adjusting the light
.
I have soft shades in other rooms….

I like Judy's idea of updating the window coverings. I thinik drapes that close would look nice, but they are costly! You can stack sheers behind them that can be used alone for light control and privacy. I think your layout for the furniture you have and your lifestyle is probably optimal already. I might suggest putting the 4 chairs around the table instead of lined up on either side.