I would pull the cream color out of your rug and put it on the walls. Then I would go two shades darker and put that on the ceiling. I would add woven Romans shades. Consider painting your coffee table off-white and then distressing it. Then I pulled the Orange-red color out of rung and use that on throw pillows and accessories. To your dining table i would add a light colored runner with the colors from your rug. If possible, add a rustic chandelier with off-white shade. (Sorry, i didn't take the time to paint the walls). I think your fireplace is fine. I would take all the little items off mantel and the picture to left. And add a cushion to firewood box for roasting marshmallows!

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I would lighten up the entire space with a soft white or cream color on the walls and ceiling to compliment the beautiful wood floors. You've got a lot of nice natural light so a light wall/ceiling color would reflect that much better. Then I'd paint the fireplace with a complimentary color that is a few shades lighter than the wall. You may want to consider looking at FLOR squares (flor.com) so that you can design the style and size rug to match your new walls, and pick out a primary color that you can repeat in your accent pieces. I've used FLOR in many rooms throughout my house for area rugs as well as at entry ways. Bring in some pillows and other accent pieces to match the rug and you've got a completely new look without having to invest a fortune.

I actually think the wall color looks pretty with the sofas and floors. And since you appear to have children, your existing rug (which I also like and think goes) is probably practical. For a simple change to freshen things up, how about plain cream curtains and throw pillows, and painting the brick of the fireplace cream as well? Seems to me you could just paint the front of the fireplace itself and the mantlepiece, and leave the apron and the firewood box as is.

Have you considered adding a nice cushion to the top of that firewood box and finding a nice box to fit snugly within to hold those kids' toys?

I have a brick corner in my dining room---yes, odd---and I chose a color called Tile---like terracotta pots---it goes well with my bricks. Either light color curtains or a color to go with the tile---some colorful throws---I love orange with brown---I have Spice curtains in my living room to go with my browns in there.

That is a lot of brown. The wall color is pretty, but probably the least expensive way to change the feel of the whole space would be to lighten it up. If you want to stay with a neutral, I would choose a creamy color matches the lightest color in your fireplace brick.
A lighter rug and pillows would also help. There are plenty of practical, dirt-hiding patterns that aren't brown.

As another option, using more cream/white accessories may also help, like your picture frames.

If you really want to keep the dark walls (and I can see why you like them - so dramatic and warm!), then you may want to consider a lighter color sofa. Or slipcover the existing one. Do they make those for sectionals? Anyway, just a thought.

White,white and more white. Your room is very dark. I have a home with little light coming in. Been here a year and going on my third round of paint. Went with white and now my home is bright. I have brown leather in family room, looks great with the white. Everything hanging on walls now pops! Best thing I ever did. If you look at rooms on houzz with white walls you will see what I mean. When walls are white you notice the decor, when walls are dark you notice the walls.

I think your home is very pretty. It's very warm and cozy. And it looks finished. The only thing I would change is your wall color. I spent years flipping homes and I could never pick paint colors. I had the opportunity to meet with a very famous home designer and his cardinal rule was all walls should be some shade of white. I thought this was silly, but I redid a mid century modern home and what is more modern than white??? Now I see the light. I religiously use several shades of white paint from Sherwin Williams. It keeps the space clean, warm, and bright. It allows the furnitire, wall art, and accessories come into focus. And touch ups are a breeze. Good Luck.

I like dark walls. I painted three walls a dark cinnamon mocha brown the other a wheat grass. The carpet is light and there is a light oak book shelf with cream baskets. Browns are warm and dramatic. Yours is a pretty color similar to my family room. We also have a brown leather sofa. One wall is predominately a white wall with shutters . Light carpets help as well as light accessories to make a contrast.Your room just needs some tweaking.

I'm with colleen656 - bright white! I find any color on the walls makes the space look darker.

Paint the fireplace white, or a pop of an interesting color, like turquoise, coral, lime - and paint the wood holder and the section below the fireplace black - so you don't have to worry about looking dirty - or even save that pop of color for those 2 sections.

If you are going to keep the dark sofa/furniture get pillows with fun large patterns of bright color so the eye is more drawn to those pops than the darkness.

get rid of the rug. Try just your beautiful hardwood floors and nothing else to see if you like that. If you still want a rug, go smaller, so just the front feet of the sofa/chairs is on it. Makes it easier to clean under, but also the floors have a gloss to them that reflect light and keep a space brighter. Any rug is more flat and light sucking. When I re-did my place I didn't have rugs, but found my sofa was sort of moving and marking my new hardwood floors. So I got a small jute rug from West Elm - with the front legs on it, it doesn't move any more. I really like the jute rugs - they are not dark, and can add a bit of interesting texture/pattern without competing with any other patterns/colors/textures: (and not expensive - check out especially the ones on the 3rd row)
http://www.westelm.com/shop/rugs-windows/natural-rugs/?cm_type=gnav

P.S. The rug size I got was just about 5x8 - just a little something to center the seating area...

Start with painting your adjoining room a soft beige color. If budget permits, I would demo the log housing and add cream base cabinets with a mocha glaze on either side of the fireplace, leaving the fireplace as is, and add lighter throw pillows.

Painting the fireplace white and putting a very light grey or a very very light green with crisp white ceilings and trim would brighten up the room. Add white to even some of the lighter paint color swatches for a nice pale look. Then lighten up on the fabrics as well. You can use medium tone fabrics like in the photo and then put white pillows with a bright, colorful pattern for a pop of color. In this photo, they could have painted the coffee table white for even more brightness. Any sisal like rug would work and is affordable.

Please! Don't paint the fireplace bricks or any of the wood furniture that you have. The easiest way to brighten up a room is to change the wall colour. If you have a Benjamin Moore close by they havean hourly service where their expert will come in and give you ideas. If that is not an option take your photos in and you can brainstorm with paint people on colours. I think your home has great bones and just needs a bit of tweaking.

Your room looks lovely and cozy. Before making major changes why not try a few little updates. Try painting all your picture frames white or cream. Try a few white or cream accessories such as pillows. Annoulexani's idea of a basket for toys in the log box was very good. This could also be light coloured.

I would change the wall & ceiling color to a creamy or linen white. Paint out the mantel the same color but I would leave the bricks alone. You could then change your cushions to a light linen with a pattern of color or just plain linen. That would change the whole appearance of those rooms looking so dark. I do however love a light appearance in any rooms I spend a lot of time in.

Getting a new living room rug would do wonders. Is there any other distribution for the furniture layout? I wouldn't worry about curtains as its already like a cave. I'd be trying to lighten things up.

And I guess for the future, steer clear of buying anything further brown

Ben Moore's Castleton Mist is a nice shade for a dark room like this. It would brighten it up and still go with your browns and your white trim. Not sure how it would look against the brick fireplace though. I would just put sheers up for the windows to let in maximum daylight. I would close them at night to make it feel warm and cozy.

Blue always looks lovely with brick - also is so calming and yet lightening at the same time. The blue mentioned above would be very pretty - you could even go a shade or two darker and it would not make the room darker.

Definitely change the wall color to something lighter. That alone will make a world of difference.

I liked the suggestion of toy storage in the log box, and I would find a large pot or bowl in an accent color to place on top of it to house firewood. The candle that is sitting there now is too small.

Personally, I wouldn't paint the fireplace, but would consider beefing up the mantel with wood to break up the brick. You could also add a wood shelf directly on top of the log box to tie it all in - that would be really inexpensive and easy to do.

I had dark walls; mustard color above the chair rail and brown paneling under the chair rail. The carpet was brown with a dark brick fireplace on one wall in my family room. I just recently had the walls painted a creamy, extremely pale, yellow white, the molding painted a brighter white, and new carpeting installed. (Hard to describe the color, sort of a light gold-brown? Anyway, way lighter than the former dark brown carpet.) The transformation of that room was amazing! I had considered painting the dark brick fireplace but now I like the fireplace wall. With everything lightened up, that fireplace really makes a great focal point in the room. I also lightened up my accessories in the room. So, I would say, paint those walls first. The lighter the better! Also, I really like the idea that was mentioned to put a cushion on top of the brick box. Put a basket inside for toys. It will be cute and functional!

I would definitely go with lighter walls. A couple of things that haven't been mentioned...Paint the ceiling beam the same color as the ceiling. There is no sense drawing your eye to a single beam. Or to add more dimension, add additional light colored "beams" in a square or rectangle pattern on the ceiling as in the picture that cdziak provided. Also, I would leave the fireplace with the natural brick, but I would add bricks to take the fireplace all the way to the ceiling (hopefully you can find the same bricks). This will give the illusion of height. And, as others have mentioned, add a substantial wood mantel.

Lila's suggestion of painting the picture frames is a good one. My living room has dark walls and the creamy white frames really pop and brighten the whole room. Try that and you might decide not to paint the walls. Also agree with having a box or basket that fits snugly into the woodbox area.

Hi Maureen, Your biggest issue isn't actually the color - although that might be part of the solution. Most folks don't recognize the importance of major and minor focal points in a room. Imagine all the notes to a favorite song played in one instant - it would sound like an auditory train-wreck. The same thing happens visually when we don't consciously choose definite areas of emphasis and subordination - we get a visual train wreck. It won't matter what color or fabric or any other finish you have if a hierarchy of focal points isn't established. I don't have room here to explain the entire process here, but I do explain it in one of my books: http://www.amazon.com/Early-American-Country-Interiors-Tanner/dp/1423632761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442201496&sr=8-1&keywords=tim+tanner

Even if you don't care for the Early American Country look, I explain several visual principles in that book that would be very helpful to you - principles that I use and teach every day at a University. There is a Kindle version of it as well that is around $10. Hope that helps! :)

I would install matching granite on the hearth, mantle and on the top of the log box. OG edge the granite. Also, I would put a glossy sealer on the brick after the brick is cleaned. See Below example of how granite or marble looks on stone or brick >>>

Today's goal....cream curtains. Anyone have a favorite place for curtains and rods? I don't want Target or similar type stores. Thanks

Please do not paint the fireplace. Try painting the walls a lighter tone (I like Rich Cream by Ben Moore). Perhaps replacing the bulky brown sectional?

Brown walls need lots of light furniture to balance. We always buy light furniture as walls change color often in our homes. I'm posting a pic of our

room.

However, paint is less expensive than furniture, so I would suggest painting. A nice greige would contrast with the dark elements and give you a similar look.

Good luck!

beautiful. Because this is our family room and I have 5 children, the leather sofa has to stay for now. I paid a fortune for the Farrow and Ball paint on the walls now as it was a discontinued color that I had them create...I have to say I love the color so I am going to take suggestions offered before that dont involve repainting or buying new furniture.

thanks all!

First Change the rug lighter with design color incorporate very little brown. 2nd Change the coffee table & dinning table to lighter color & then get some accessories that shines like silver or glass. Its easier to change the table than sofa or chairs sofa & chairs are more expensive.

see photo

I would totally recommend some blue added here and there

it will really liven up things.

I like the brown, very cozy... my idea of a simple inexpensive fix is just accessorizing. Pick a accent color of your liking and add pillows, curtains or just toppers (valances or cornice), a throw and you should be good to go.

I totally understand leaving your Farrow and Ball paint....a total splurge in itself! I'd say some light throw cushions and light window panels would give it spark on a budget. A light rug would make a large impact, but with 5 children, probably not practical. I agree that blue would be a great compliment.

I think the cream curtains are a great idea, as is Lila's idea above to paint picture frames cream/white so your pictures and artwork will pop against the brown walls. This room is just perfect for fall colored accents, don't you think? How about starting with a light wood/cream tray on the coffee table on which you can add some light-colored pillar candles with miniature pumpkins and gourds and maybe some gold metallic accents, then a light colored cable-throw and some pillows featuring cream backgrounds and red/tan/gold (think fall leaves) colors. Since you have little ones in the house, your accessories need to be safe for them and durable. In your dining area, how about some light textured cushions to add to the chairs to brighten that corner? I also like the idea above from Nancy Ingram to add a light table runner.