I am assuming you can't paint your new apartment walls? Any art work to hang? Will you be able to hang window treatments?

If I were you I'd start with colors from existing artwork, if any. Or buy art or a rug and pull colors from that. With a lot of brown and white nearby, you could do a wide variety of color schemes.

Color is fine...but what is your style? I have tons of brown in my home, too....but green is what keeps me sane. :)

I have lots of dark green, along with accents of red, purple, gold, bits of blue...and rich fabrics as accessories. While I'm not a big fan of orange, I do like it with fall colors. Most of my art is outdoor landscapes, animals (deer) etc. I like what I call "fairytale" style, but it's more woodland/old world.

Think about what you like, look for pictures and even ideas from movies and TV. For me, I love Once Upon A Time, so the Enchanted Forest influenced my style! LOL

HI guys, I like bothyour ideas. Actually I collect artwork but boy it runs the gamut (lichtestein to Keane :) ) In fact, i was clinging to the art asmy last hope for color lol. I LOVE these palettes you listed Lavender_lass. It looks like I can just shift it to a more robins egg blue instead of the super bright aqua I was looking at. Plus...the artwork will be a huge help in tying it together I think. As far as window treatments, Crl, should I stick with white. I was thinking of using super sheer aqua panels, but when I started looking at mixing them with tan or chocolate brown panels to tie them in, I just couldn't bear any more brown. i could possibly dress up blue and white sheers with a bit of brown. Maybe use a brown floor vase, or put my long suffering buddha on the floor near one side..... You guys have really helped so far. phew, thank you. I really appreciate it :)

Not sure if this rug from overstock is at all your style.

Pictures of the art you'd like to use in the room would help people here help you.

Those are lovely palettes, but Crl listed them. Mine are Snow White :)

I especially like the middle palette... and this last choice!

Or there's this from west elm. (More blue I think than aqua)

Check out this thread.

on using a tan sofa.

hmm,i'm not entirely sure what Im going to hang in the living room just yet (I've only got one full wall there. here are a few contenders. but I also have framed lyric sheets from some idols I'd like to put up so Im really not sure. don't want to clutter. I've got boxes and boxes full of stuff & not somuch rom unfortunately. I own a JohnWayne Gacy Pogo the clown but I am pretty sure I've got no place for that lol (there's some color for you though. lordy) Anyway, these are todays contenders anyway. I've got a Jesse Mosher originial on the way so that might trump all but the pen and ink below (my all time fave)

wow nosoccermom that tan sofa link is a godsend. I love those blue pillows with the tan (from O I think?) , that rug (!!!), and the pic of the sofa withthe robins egg blue of course. The sofa inthat pic is the color of mine so seeing that is a big help!! plus you haveme some ideas for other places i can check out. Do't get me wrong, I'm stil tempted to throw my Dark brown furniture out the window :) but at least now I have hope lol. :) thank you guys. If all turns out well, I will post pics once i get settled in :)

p.s ignore typos. someday I'll learn to type and use a space bar

Brown and various shades of blue has become a current trend. Why not deviate and try something different? I once saw a brown/red duvet in a high end furniture store and it blew my socks off! As much as I wanted to re-do my house, I didn't have one piece of brown furniture and had recently bought a new striped sofa/loveseat. Here's the idea........

https://www.google.com/search?q=brown+and+red+decorating+ideas&client=tablet-android-verizon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CD0Q7AlqFQoTCNC9oZPD5sgCFcHoJgodgioLRQ&biw=1280&bih=800

You can add a lot of color and brightness through the use of accessories. You can add them all in a single color...as here they focused on the coral...

Brookline Private Residence · More Info

...or gold

Kid Friendly Family Room · More Info

...or any other color, preferably a bright one. Or you can add multiple colors such as aqua, orange and acid green as suggested by this design seed.

You can even choose stark white as your accent color.

Living Room · More Info

Regardless of color, take a look at the pictures above and notice how much interest is added through texture and pattern. And notice how the window treatments are used to reinforce the color theme. Especially in the first one, notice how important the color in the art is to the room as a whole.

Here's a room that is all white, beige and brown, yet notice all the textures that keep the room interesting...pattern on the rug, another on the throw pillows, texture on the white pillows, wood, ceramics, pattern on the window treatments, leather on one chair, velvet on the other texture in the sea shells.

Hillsborough Classic Tudor · More Info

So there's a lot you can do with brown to make it bright and keep it interesting...just choose carefully what else you put in the room and the brown will become a neutral background for whatever color story you wish to tell.

Your house sounds wonderful... soothing! I always loved this picture... mostly browns w/white... has some color but a neutral/calm pallet... the green is very helpful... or replace the green w/your color choice...