If I understand your house description, I grew up in a house like that. Do you have one wall which runs front to back and serves both the living room and dining room? If so, I echo someone else and think painting that one wall a contrasting color could be interesting. I'm thinking something that goes with the other walls but has more punch to it. You could pick up that same color with accessories too.
(I lived in that house in the 70's. We had multi colored daisy wallpaper in the kitchen and white/gold flocked wallpaper in the other rooms. Ugh.....)