Paint the back wall a bright color. Maybe put a big mirror on the wall to reflect light?

Or floating shelves with candles.

An accent wall with a bold graphic on the back wall and a nice rug that pops.

Obviously, artwork and a bold rug could do wonders. It would also help to decide whether it's going to be an adult space or a child space, but if it must be both then go with primary-colored artwork and a bold neutral (black and white) rug.

I really think you should rotate the table and chairs 90 degrees so they are facing the other way. I think it would show off the unique shapes better and look more welcoming to not have the backs facing the opening of the space.

Then I would try to lighten the space, maybe painting the back wall a brighter or lighter color. Maybe add some light/bright place mats or a runner on the table to break up all. A rug would help too.

I also think a new light fixture could really update the space.

Can you paint? I'd paint the back wall a bold color and hang a large piece of art or a mirror there. Then I'd switch out the light fixture with something larger, more modern, and hung lower down (maybe an over-sized drum pendant). I'd move the easel elsewhere and rotate the table and chairs as adamwa suggested. A small rug might be a nice touch too.

Do the whole back wall with dark cork squares and get a big sisal or sea grass rug.

With little kids, a rug under the table isn't a good idea. I'll be messy within days, so I advise against it. But the area could definitely use some color, and I agree a brighter color will automatically liven it up. An inexpensive way to decorate that back wall could be hanging interesting fabric (lots of examples on AT), or mirror. Also, a large colorful bowl for the table would make a nice impact, especially if you fill it with fruit. (Those little nectarines, cuties, look really good displayed like that.)

With little kids, a rug under the table isn't a good idea. I'll be messy within days, so I advise against it. But the area could definitely use some color, and I agree a brighter color will automatically liven it up. An inexpensive way to decorate that back wall could be hanging interesting fabric (lots of examples on AT), or mirror. Also, a large colorful bowl for the table would make a nice impact, especially if you fill it with fruit. (Those little nectarines, cuties, look really good displayed like that.)

for some reason, i see the space in white.
i feel that it'll make the furniture pop :)
oh and change the light fixture maybe?

I love the table and chairs!
I would:
Make a bench along the back wall with storage (piano hinges or drawers) and top with a cushion (in kid friendly fabric).

Turn the table so the bench is on one side and the chairs on the other

Place a large mirror above the bench

Paint the side wall in chalkboard paint (I think gray would be nice with the wood) and let the kids go crazy

Good luck and be sure to send after pictures!

If you want to stick with the nuetral color how about some family pics framed in frames with brightly colored frames. SOmething modern and fun. Buy cheap frames and spray paint with bright colors.

Radnav
http://houseonashwelllane.blogspot.com/

Lose the easel and paint it with chalkboard paint! Looks like kids have taken over your house (as they have mine) so just embrace it. When the adults come over put the menu on the board. You can also paint it with some magnetic paint so you can hang children's artwork too. Chalkboard paint comes in a variety of colors so you can also add color that way. For more organization add some floating shelves on top of the chalk board paint in varying locations and frame some of that artwork instead. Target has great frames that make it easy to swap out kids artwork easily. You might also consider mixing and matching the dining set, like keeping the chairs and getting a white round one instead or keeping the table and painting those chairs something like hot pink or orange). You have kids have fun with color. Let us know what you do!

First, I think you should turn the table 90 degrees so that it looks more inviting. Remember that warm colors spark the appetite more, and I actually think your space would look really great in a bright coral color (like this kitchen that was featured a while back: http://bit.ly/2w9frp). It could also look very pretty painted a not-too-bright aqua. Definitely invest in a big piece of art for the wall, and a new modern light fixture would look gorgeous (IKEA actually has some cool fixtures for a decent price).

P.S...what's up with all the spam and people trying to promote their businesses in these comment sections lately? (I'm obviously looking at YOU, ybhjnk)

Currently everything seems to be conspiring to crush the room in from the sides. I think the biggest difference would be achieved if you painted those overhangs on the left and right walls white (or the same colour as the ceiling).

I also think the space needs a serious debeigification. A light warm green would be neutral enough to go with whatever you already have that goes with the current colour.

I think something tall (a plant, a standing lamp, a tall narrow piece of furniture) in the left hand corner, beside that door, would visually broaden out the area. I also agree with others that the table should be rotated so that the backs of the chairs aren't the first thing you see. And I too don't love that light fitting (but then I hate downlighters).

I'd paint that back wall a fun color (or in chalkboard paint, if it's a casual family space).

Maybe doing something cool to better display the artwork would add some pops of color :)

A more funky lighting fixture might help you out, too.

I love the chairs, though.

I like the shape of that wall -- interesting! I'd paint the bulkheads white to match the celining and paint that wall a slightly darker color -- either an contrasty accent or maybe just a cafe au lait (darker version o fthe beige you have.)

I too would rotate the table, and I'd add a colorful runner, and probably a large framed poster or other artwork in simlar colors hung maybe a foot or so above the level of the table.

*I* would lose the kids' table and easel, but if that's where the kids actually eat, then use that red elsewhere in the area (in the runner and the artwork.) (I think the space is too small for all that stuff, but I realize that sometimes there is no other location for things...)

It shouldn't take much to jazz up the space!

Have fun!

Def. rotate the table. Just go do that right now. Then at least everyone can look "out" into the room instead of two people looking at that wall. And it will be instantly improved.

Then, invest in a really attractive light fixure. I wouldn't go with a Drum fixture because it just further adds a block in a rather closed in space and unless it's got a really great shade, it's not very interesting to look at. I'd get an amazing light fixture that hangs much lower. Something you fall in love with. Used or vintage is great. Some fruit in a glass bowl on the table is easy and practical. Then if you can't paint the back wall, you can hang a large canvas in your color or print of choice. Or paint a sheet of very thin wood chalkboard paint and hang it. But that might add to the darkness.

You could frame your children's artwork with plenty of white matting and with white or light wood frames. Help them make some new large ones in colors you like. Fingerpainting yields great modern art. Maybe 3 larger frames in a row.

AT readers and commenters, you rock. Thanks for your advice. Table rotation? Done. Mirror and paint? In the works. Easel? Gone. Working on new lighting and children's art.

Let me float this out there...what about a banquette table in the corner of the room?

All those given ideas are awesome!! What I'd do to turn it on even more into a family space, would be painting both kids' and adult's table and chairs the same colour, so the children have their meals in a smaller version of the adult's dinning room. :-)

I think a fun light fixture would do wonders.

1. Change the wall colour; everything is blah brown. Something bright/pale.

2. Change that light fixture that obviously came with the house. Pretty pendant lamp. Centre it, then drop it a foot to a foot and a half above the tabletop.

3. Add a nice credenza, along the back wall.

4. ART! Naked walls are just that; naked.

5. Paint the bulkheads white, it's making your ceiling look much lower than it already is.

6. Get a table that seats six; it'll be better proportioned to your room (and make entertaining easier).

7. Ditch the kiddie stuff and put it where they normally play.

I like the idea of a bench with storage with the piano hinges. I would be careful painting with the chalkboard paint. It's a really cute idea for kids but I have no idea how you would paint over it come time to sell your house (if you ever plan to) or even when the kids out grow it. Maybe paint a piece of wood with it and hang it up on the wall. Or check with a local paint store (someone knowledgeable about paint) to see about painting over that chalkboard paint in the future.

I would find a huge and very cool frame (Ikea maybe) with backing and paint the backing with chalk board paint. Hang it at your child's level on the right side wall next to the railing. Then, find a cool print and frame it in an identical frame and hang it above that one at the normal level you would hang a picture. Paint the big wall a cool color that you love and put some cool graphic on it. You also need some sort of centerpiece on the table. If you go modern, make it a low centerpiece.

A large piece of art would be great on the back wall. If art is out of your budget, paint it a still neutral color but something different that the walls on either side. A corresponding rug once it fits in budget would finish it off.