The buffet table and mirror came from Ethan Allen about 10 years ago. I suppose I could paint them but I would be nervous. I do put white tablecloth and candles on the table when we entertain.

I probably can change the light fixture. I have seen so many nice modern ones but would need recommendations? Buffet lamps too? thank you all!

You could actually keep your light fixture but replace shades with a large drum shade which would surround the entire fixture. You could also paint it black or white or dark gray or another color if you change fabric on chairs.

Do you mean buy a round shade and somehow put it over this fixture...interesting..!

how about a slipcover for your chairs?
you can touch it all up with a few details - that would be cute next to your mirror on either side - some accessories - a nice table runner - that might just do the trick for now
good luck!

Remove the valance from your drapes. That two-tone phase has come and gone.

oh, I love that slipcover idea. Wonder if I can find a less expensive version. and I love the table runner idea, too.

Kathryn - glad we have got your decorating juices going. lol you can do it !

You know, recovering dining chairs is usually very simple: unscrew and pop out. Then stretch new fabric over old and put back.

Here is a pretty table scape for you. Definitely simpler window treatments. Pretty linen sheers aren't very expensive. Check around online.

And, if you just change out the mirror for some beachy art, that also is a big impact.

Yes. Re: drum shade for light fixture. Search Houzz for drum shades and you will find examples. A lamp repair shop could help you attach it.

Here are a couple of examples

before you take down your panels and sheers, consider if that is an east or west facing window, you will need some kind of cover for uv ray protection that can damage the wood and fabrics.
You can let more light into the room by taking down the top treatment and move the panels and sheers out wider on the wall. You still have coverage but more light. Keep the sheers across the window.
You can change the drapery panel tiebacks to update the look. Maybe use a contrasting color or different things to work as a tieback. Maybe a chain, a scarf tied in the front etc.
Change the shades on the buffet lamps- maybe add a colorful trim glued to the lampshades.
Hope that helps!

table and chairs are lovely. remove valence, add centerpiece, clear off and under buffet, look for new art, paint walls light cream.

Love your chairs and the table but paint the buffet, we just did ours, we were petrified but amazed with the result, we used Annie Sloane chalk paint.

Wendy, do you have a photo??

your dining room is lovely. It's probably just the drapes that are overpowering. You could always just use shears and if you wanted, leave the valance on only.

I'd take down the curtains altogether and put up wood blinds. They can be angled up for light but they occlude the view and protect the wood. Remove some of the chairs- somewhere in your house you should be able to find a place to store them--bedroom, perhaps? Try to keep it to four chairs so it doesn't look like a boardroom. Can you put the candlestick lights on your nightstand and use a chunkier lamp on the buffet? Yes to the drum shade. And also yes to the artwork over the buffet. Bright colors which you could carry on to your table scape.

whatever you do, DON'T paint the buffet :) IMO, painting dining room furniture is only for when the wood is in bad shape beyond just sanding and retaining repair. If you ever had to sell the dining room set as a whole set, having one piece painted could deter someone.
I painted old oak cabinets, but I won't paint my dining room furniture :)

I'd think a light runner for your table, removing the curtains (you might want to get two narrow panels in a different color, like light blue. Slip covers on the chairs in a blue, with the dark wood and sandy wall would be light, nautical and not that expensive.

Reupholstering chair seats is easy, unscrew, stable the new fabric on top of the old (on the bottom) and put the seats back. Upholstered chair backs are a lot more complicated. Look at the way yours are done, look at books or on-line how-tos (there are plenty) and think about your skill level. You don't want to ruin your chairs.

We're probably all reacting to the darkish picture, but photos can be deceiving, particularly when there's a window in the center of the pic. So, you don't need to paint your furniture to lighten up.

I agree with other posts to remove the valance for sure, but take it all down (at least temporarily) to paint. Typically, there is a green incorporated into the type of floral fabric you have on your chairs. The room could be lovely and lighter with a soft gray/green above the chair rail, and a white or off-white below the rail. Before putting up all that fabric after you paint, try a sheer roman shade to allow light. It will still give privacy during the day. The current drapes are probably on a standard white traversing rod. If you need to put them up for night privacy, invest in a nice decorator rod. At such time that you can afford to replace the drapes, your hardware will be in place.

Remove the mirror for painting. If you have another room in which it will work, great! Accessories need to be lightened up.

If your budget allows, find a rug that helps to break up the darkness of the floor and furniture. A new light fixture would help. There are on-line shopping sites that are quite reasonable.

You can use modern curtains with bright colors and paint walls with brighte colors like light pink or light blue...

old looking.........paint the furniture and get rid of the awful looking curtains. Get some color other than GREEN. Green is awful

Painting the buffet might be a great idea like others have suggested. Also agree with removing family pictures maybe to a hall gallery.

I would never ever paint fine furniture in good shape. It's a trend- trust me-I've been around for more than a few and quality traditional always endures after the trend ends. If you really can't stand it then save up and buy new when you can sell yours intact. It WILL make a difference to a buyer. Jiggle the other things around but don't paint the furniture.

Update the light fixture. Clear everything under and on top of the buffet. Try a large Accessory or flower arrangement on the buffet with the lamps. Update the chairs to match drapes in solids.Remove the valance and put the new drapes on a nice decorative rod.. Put a large arrangement or accessory on the table . Try some contemporary crystal accents on candle holders

I would paint the room above the wainscotting blue (your choice of blue) Change up the draperies. Plain white is fine too. Slip cover the chairs in white. I would paint the buffet, taupe or gray or white or black would all work. New mirror, new chandelier. ???

Try replacing the current window dressing with something in navy and white stripes (see top right photo below), or with white plantation shutters (photo attached to next message). Reupholster the chairs with stripes as well - bottom right photo (although I saw one photo where the chairs were reupholstered to look like nautical flags). Add some art that includes fish, boats, or other nautical items. Remove anything not necessary to the room like the storage under the buffet. Of course you could just cover the window with a big toy boat like the first photo below.

Here's the photo with the plantation shutters.

Ann Danielson, green is NOT awful :) Green is one of the most soothing colors

Kathrynf100, here is our buffet, not quite finished, needs knobs!

Comments on not painting good wood furniture, if the furniture no longer works in the room you have to either live with it, sell it and buy new or paint, you will never get a good price for second hand furniture, so we decided to paint and see if it worked as we loved the furniture, which is now 25 years old, and we absolutely love the result which means it may stay with us for another 25 years!

Wendy-- then so be it!! When we first married I inherited my grandmothers dining room set. It was beautiful mahogany, with a buffet and leaves to seat 12. Two of the chairs had been painted back in the 60's, and I worked all summer to refinish them. When I did, they were beautiful! This was 1979 when wood was all the rage. My point, (and there is one) is that if the trend rotation is about 60 years-- well then go for it! Glad you love it, that's what it's all about!

@kathrynf100: do any of the ideas suggested above appeal to you?

I have gotten so many great ideas from all of the comments and suggestions made here. Thank you so much! I think the curtains will come down and some nice new sheers with go up for now. I will then work on the fixtures and perhaps move the mirror to somewhere else and put up a beachy print or some sort. This is a start!

here's a sample of black chalk painted pine furniture.

Against family and friends advise, I painted my galley kitchen's real wood cabinets Black Raisin and installed rain glass back splash with under counter lighting. Converted all of them! Also painted a real cherry wood (new) entertainment center Antique White and made more converts. It's about living now!

To complete a nautical theme you can follow my mother's example and get Bing and Grondahl's "Seagull" dishes and Wallace "Romance of the Sea" sterling silver.

patricia - can we see photos

Here's another project just completed with chalk paint

Angel ..., impressive!

I think I'd leave the table as is, it's very pretty. Recovering the chairs would do a lot for the room in terms of updating. You could even do a separate fabric pattern on the back to add some interest. After that, updated curtains, possibly paint buffet, heavier lamps for it and new chandelier.

Just to throw something else into the mix, another way to update the room is to paint the walls a rather unexpected fresh color. Here is BM Dill pickle:

Or refresh with something more subtle:

kathrynf100, you have an ethan allen dining set. if it was mine, i would NOT paint the buffet!! do as others here have suggested, take down your current draperies, except the sheers, put covers on the chairs, paint the room a whiter color. save your money to one day do a beachy diningroom. your furniture is too nice to be painted . it looks like the buffet is in good shape. one day you may use it in another area of your home just as it is. good luck!

It's so dark lighten it up.Soft color wall in a very light. Art with light backgrounds.Brighten up the chairs with paint and lighter fabrics.

I would leave the sheers only, paint the walls a light cream with white wainscoating, then paint the existing light fixture and mirror silver or pewter. Remove the shades on the fixture. Declutter and wham, you have updated for just the cost of some paint! Save up your money to get the chairs recovered in a solid color later.

Try some things and post as you go!

I agree with the posts about the window treatment updates and painting the buffet, even if it is Ethan Allen. A little wall color above the chair rail would go a long way too. I would focus on decluttering the space as well, remove the items under the buffet, the shades on the light fixture and all those chairs. 9 chairs in this room is too many! Stick with 6 at the table and put the others in a closet or other room until you need them. That will also allow you to recover/slipcover 6 now, and the others as the budget allows.

Good point Ashlie, I had 8 chairs, recovered 6 and put them out, took me 3 months to do the last two, which are now back in the attic but ready to go for parties! Having said that, I actually love those dining chair fabrics so not sure if they need changing if downplaying the other colours in the room!

Think we need a rug in here because the furniture and floor colors are almost identical.