I would post more pictures from different viewpoints of the room so we can get a better visualization of the space. That console looks great to use as a small buffet table. But I would need to see the rest of the room.

Thank you for the speedy reply. My main goal is make the room less crowded so it looks larger. It's difficult to get the right angle for photos because the piano in the living room gets in the way.

Dear Zinn, You have a great start with your traditional dining room set and chandelier. Now that the furniture and style is set, add some personality so people can imagine eating dinner there with familily and friends. Soften the window with an inexpensive cream or pale yellow sheer, pulled back to let in the sun. Set the table with linens, china and glass ware. A cream or matching pale yellow table cloth will lighten the mood and be more inviting than a table pad. A few pictures on the wall also adds charm.

If you are staging your home for sale, I might remove both side pieces so the room looked huge.

The idea for staging is to showcase the room to its best advantage (space/view) and to evoke a feeling in the buyer of "I have to have it". I'm a Realtor and the word you want to hear from buyers when showing is "wow" (it will be on their face even if they don't say it).

1) Cleanliness and spaciousness are top of the list
2) Do not add back a bunch of clutter or items on flat services. To that end, there are stagers that put table settings in dining rooms and others that do not. This is personal. My feeling is to keep it simple - so generally no place settings but a nice center piece works.
3) Agree with mcbmd3 about space. But sometimes it looks larger with the console in the room and not just the table and chairs. I would leave in the one with legs (console) and remove the buffet.

Here is an example of a staged dining room with table settings.

The example is traditional. Personally I think the mirror frame is a little heavy for the example room but the idea is there. You can do better if you happen to have framed artwork unless the mirror reflects something wonderful (windows/view).

The vignette on the console works for dining OR a centerpiece. Not both.

Here is another staged dining room


One more staged dining room

I would get rid of the extra furniture in the room and add a crisp carpet, fresh flowers and mirror. If you want to tone down the yellow- purple will work.

In that case, I would get a patterned area rug to place under the table, a simple runner and centerpiece to put on the table, window treatments, a mirror possible w sconces on either side. That will leave you will the wow factor you need. Remove the other pieces so viewers get a great idea of how much space they will have to work with if/when they purchase your home. Good luck!!

Using a beautiful light creme would make this room come alive. Less furniture. The lighting needs updated.

You have beautiful structure to work with (plus) but my first thoughts went to optimizing the function of the space as well. It will be difficult to maintain a walk around flow when you are actually using the room; when adults are sitting at the table I would recommend removing the console table; the buffet can handle more storage. Also consider a beautiful carpet for the floor and panels on the windows to bring warmth to the room. The chairs can instantly be updated with new fabric and choosing a theme for the artwork will tie it all together!

Lighting, good ideas for using the space. This particular poster was interested in staging the dining room for sale. Two different goals. Two different solutions. The goal of staging is to showcase the room and how much space there is for the new buyers - but not necessarily show how it would work from a practical point of view. That's why the console works (legs are lighter in the room) more than the heavy based closed buffet.

If you can, I would pain the room a more neutral color and remove the smaller piece of furniture. I would hang a large mirror on the blank wall for balance, something with a hefty frame. Put a large bowl of fruit on the table and dress up the buffett with a few large objects.

This styling might work with what you have https://www.houzz.com/photos/old-farm-traditional-dining-room-boston-phvw-vp~48979

Here are what others have done with their formal dining rooms.... You already have your furniture and light fixture; a rug, draperies, artwork and a few accessories will bring the room to life :-)

Maybe move the 2 wooden pieces seems that there is more room on the side with the buffet....space out the chairs evenly need head of table chair also. drapes, shades?? stage it with place settings and a nice centerpiece. if you like the color...great otherwise make it more neutral.....medium gray is in right now or a grey/creamish color.

Remove the leaf from the table and if it rectangular, turn it so the length runs from side to side which will visually enlarge the space. Use only 4 chairs at the table. The two additional chairs can flank the console sideboard. The buffet needs to be removed as it crowds and is too heavy for the room. You may have a pair of wing or other upholstered chairs in another room to use as master chairs on each end. Polish the table surface and add a centerpiece arrangement. I would not add a rug at this late date. Make sure the floors shine and are uber-clean. Lower the mirror to 6" above the sideboard. Add drapes for the most impact as one steps through the door.

yes remove the console, keep the server, does the table have a leaf extension? take it out-
paint walls light/medium neutral to complement dark wood, add simple drapery,artwork,rug with minimal pattern/color-keep it simple/elegant.

I think you could utilize the pieces well, because people want to know they can place their formal dining room pieces. However, lighten the walls and keep the window coverings simple and light. Perhaps a few pieces of light color on/in the buffet - but keep it mimimal. Also, light colors on the darker furniture with a pop of color. Fresh yellow/orange might bring out the colors of the furniture. Maybe with a little greenery for spring. Keep it simple, but lighten it up. My opinion only...but I like to have an idea if my furniture would fit, and if you have a formal dining room, I would like to know what fits when looking at buying it. Cream colors brighten a room and permit the future buyers a "canvas" to work with. Throw in the pops of colors with accents or centerpieces.

You should only remove that object at the side of the window.Maybe even paint with white wall with window.This could give more light to the room and remove that effect the notary Office space. :)

In my personal opinion i think that your room also looks very crowded due the color of your walls. Have you ever thought about using another color? I would recommend you to use a softer color since you have a really nice window. This is going to create more illumination in your dining room and it is going to look wider

Lovely pieces to start! There are a lot of hard lines/surfaces in Dining rooms, so it's nice to add softness/cozy it up with an area rug and window treatments. Start with something you love to inspire your color story/textile selections. This could be a piece of art, a rug, or fabric that you'd like to use in the space. An area rug is a great place to start especially if you choose something with pattern and or color to add interest. You can pull coordinating fabrics for window treatments, paint colors, accessories, linens, etc from your inspiration. You have a great opportunity for artwork over your sideboard (in lieu of the mirror) and over your other console. If you like the idea of having a mirror, a round mirror would be a nice compliment to all of the rectangular shapes in the room. If you keep the existing mirror, I would lower it...is currently a bit high. Also a couple of substantial lamps on your sideboard would cozy it up. When I say substantial, I mean with a fuller base...not those spindly narrow/skinny buffet lamps.

Good luck with your project!

~ Monica

Change, change, change color....some of the pics above say it all :) I like Denita's comments and pics...enjoy and good luck to you.

I would lighten the wall color, add a rug beneath the table, leave the mirror, and remove the additional furniture, just have the table and chairs and a some type of center to the table, whether it's a bowl of fruit, or a flower arrangement or candle holders and maybe a trio of different sized glass jars or something! Good luck!

One of the first things you should consider is painting your trim white or a shade of off white, like Benjamin Moore Simply White or Cloud White. This would make the room appear more clean and fresh
One of the biggest reasons that this room doesn't feel pulled together is because the wall color relates to nothing in the room. If you are going to keep the same wall color you will need to find a couple more pieces such as an area rug, draperies or some accessories that relate to the wall color. This color should be repeated at least three times in the room to make it relate to the wall color.
I would also suggest that you reupholster the chairs in something that is off white as opposed to the current color (which looks pink on my monitor). This pink ends up looking dirty next to the yellow walls.

Consider adding some lamps to console and buffet, because you can never have to many and some smart table dressings.
Adding a great piece of art over the buffet and a mirror over the console would also be great

I would move a chair to each end of the table, add a centerpiece of seasonal flowers, maybe a table runner too. Add some candlesticks or something on the sideboard, framing the mirror. The other console should have something placed on it as well. The space needs some vertical accents. I agree with one of the other comments about a soft window treatment of some kind. Make the room look like someone would want to throw a dinner party in the space.

Denita is right--I am staging the room for sale, not decorating it for keeps, and I'm trying to figure out how much furniture I should move out before putting my house on the market. But I do appreciate all of the comments as they will help with my future house The yellow walls are definitely going to be replaced by cream or some other neutral color.

I am sitting in an office/guest room that I recently had painted what I thought would be a cheerful yellow because it's a north-facing room. Well now I call it a screaming yellow. I will soon call the painter to have it redone in perhaps Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream. Again as applies to your room I would not put a lot of bucks into staging. A new paint color and perhaps some (inexpensive) sheer curtains would go a long way to soften and spruce up the look of your room. Used to be when houses were put on the market, the seller would bury a statue of St. Joseph upside-down in the back yard. Will you be doing that?