what does the rest of your house look like? What colors/style do you like?

I think you can paint the bottom of the table brown or black. I suggest new chairs.

Paint will go a long way to change the room. Painting the dark cabinets a lighter color will make the room feel larger. If you do not need to seat any more than 4, don't put money into new furniture but paint the table and chairs or just get a new tablecloth. Add colorful valances to the tops of the windows.

You definitely have room for a hanging cupboard in the dining area - that will give you more storage space.

A green or blue would go nicely with the dark woodwork.

New cabinet hardware (keep an eye out for discontinued styles, closing stores, etc for the best deals on a budget), ditch the chair rail in the kitchen, a new backsplash and paint will bring the biggest improvement. And remove that spice, whatnot shelf above the sink. If there is still room in the budget.. new countertops (you could get a great looking laminate)

Do you own or rent? If you own, and have time and elbow grease, you might lighten the cabinets via rustoleumtransformations.com.

agree with hayleydaniels.........here's a bluish gray wall color that would be pretty.
i would keep the table, paint the legs the color of your cabinets and then find some new chairs that are a little more modern.

ikea hallsta chair

maskros pendant light over dining room table..........and mounted lower than one there now! :)

As someone with a small kitchen and apartment, I would stick to light colours. If you can paint the cabinets, I would paint them white (although that countertop colour would bug me more if the cabinets were white).
Definitely check kijiji or craigslist, thrift stores, for a new table (or paint it dark) and new chairs, or paint them a funky color, (all the same, or half the same). I would throw a pendant light over the table. If you need more light in the area, go with one that is more open, less directional light.

Painting the small wall a darker color will give the room a nice feel, and will make your table and chairs stand out.

Keeping the main items "neutral" colours.

Any bright color will bring the cabinet color out, and if you don't have the time or money to re-do cabinets (which most of us don't), I would choose a simple light green or light blue for your paint color. If you went with a blue, you could go with a simple table like this:
http://deciture.com/shop/furniture/2/crosley-amelia-5-piece-cafe-dining-set/
Its a little modern looking, but small enough to fit into your space and make a statement.

Well, thanks for all of the great ideas--I will have to think about the colors. The chair rail will go--the rest of the house needs painting, because everything is so small, I will try to keep the colors light? All though, all of the neighbors have dark brown or gray walls. The rest of the trim in the house is wood.

looking at your nice cupboards the thought of Tuscany came to my mind ,here is the colour that I was think about

A couple ideas...You could go with grays or more tans. Painting will make a big difference. And because you have some interesting lines, go with 2 or even 3 colors of paint. If your budget allows for some Crown Moulding it really adds elegance to a kitchen/dining area.

Below are some ideas for paint, and some ideas for table and chairs. Gray and Red is very elegant together.



Article on gray in the kitchen: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/cooking-with-color-when-to-use-gray-in-the-kitchen-stsetivw-vs~6288537

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/color-guide-how-to-work-with-charcoal-gray-stsetivw-vs~2530680



I can picture a round table for you, either this or glass:


Overstock:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hera-Brown-5-piece-Modern-Dining-Set/7484639/product.html
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Monarch-Dining-Table-and-Chairs/7110111/product.html?refccid=H2X3EDERX6CLA62ELPQ7CWHN6Y&searchidx=69

You can always keep your table and chairs and paint them. You can take 2 of the chairs and put them in a separate setting area, and change out a couple chairs. You do not have to match all your chairs in a dining area. It is what feels good to you.

Keep your dining room chairs and paint them this happy blue color. I agree with mpoulsom. The IKEA Macros lamp would look great over a round pedestal dining table such as the one in the photo.

That room has a lot of potential. The big windows and tall ceiling. How much do you have to spend? And how handy are you? Can you paint the cabinets? With wall color and the cabinets painted it will feel much fresher.(even if you have to leave counters and flooring} What things do you like?

I would NOT paint the cabinets white because they appear to be oak which has pronounced grain. Suggest espresso such as Sherwin Williams Mahogany for base cabinets, and would use cream or soft yellow for uppers to lighten the look. Depending on upper color chosen, would do a shade of blue such as SW Ebbtide or a blue gray as suggested above. Either way, in dining area would use Accurio Chinese II latticework (order from Home Depot) as either wainscoting or take to ceiling . These come in 32 x 48 panels that cost $40/50 each .

Our decorating money went to unexpected home repair, as soon as we moved in. I agree we do need a pedestal table--I would love a banquette in the corner but there is a cold air return in the floor on one side and a heat vent on the other wall.( Thank you 1950's). Painting cabinets gives men heart attacks. and to add to my dilemma he wants a Tiffany style lamp to hang over the table. It is the only room with painted woodwork. I am just a little overwhelmed, but you have given me some great ideas--thank you
I am debating between brown and light gray walls the new stainless refrigerator kind of over whelms the room ( no picture, it just came)

The cabinets appear to be fine. There is a Smart Color app by Behr that shows sample rooms (including several kitchens) and you can digitally paint walls different colors to see how different colors would look. I would use the app to narrow down choices and get paint chips for Behr at Home Depot. Whatever brand of paint you choose can match any paint chip.

I am sure you will find the perfect color or colors for the room. As mentioned, there is a Smart Color app by Behr and you can buy a small size of the paint you think you would like and actually put it on the wall. That way it gives you a chance to analyze the lighting.

Since your corners are taken up with vents, just make that dining area THE focal point. An attractive Tiffany hanging lamp will make it beautiful.

You could also go with some interesting plates hanging on the back wall.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/easy-decorating-great-plate-arrangements-stsetivw-vs~455734

The article on "Make It Easy on Yourself" shows a distressed looking lamp that actually looks very nice with the arrangement of things: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/you-said-it-make-it-easy-on-yourself-and-more-houzz-quotables-stsetivw-vs~19742433

Lamp links:
http://www.lampsplus.com/style/tiffany-lighting.aspx?cm_mmc=GOO-SE-_-Style-_-Tiffany-_-Tiffany%20Lighting&sourceid=SEGOO130604-G44126&gclid=CMKK77m3krwCFYqDfgods2kAmQ
http://www.wayfair.com/Tiffany-Pendants-C1771679.html