There is a lot you could do to improve the appearance of the room. Most of it does not involve the paneling or fireplace. It seems hasty to paint before you make the room look better. I like the paneling on the fireplace wall. The other walls may look better painted. I do see a sconce that could be replaced. I would begin on this room by cleaning the brick.

Wow dark as adungeon in there Iwould paint the wallss except for the wood around the fireplace clean the brick get a light colored area rug take that little picture off the fireplace wall get rid of all the little storage pieces and get one long low unit for the T,V wall and it appears that your furniture is too big for the space if one piece has to block off part of the fireplace. Leave the beams and see how that works

Thanks for the feedback. Something I probably should have included is that I don't live there yet, I am moving in next month.

Agree with the others - don't paint the wood above the fire place or the ceiling beams until you do the other walls a creamy white or light tan. It might end up adding a nice accent. The room needs less furniture and less bulky furniture - current owner's belongings are making it look a lot worse. Ditch the fire place screen too - adding bulk in a small room.

I hope we will see it after the transformation.

If you are purchasing, consider putting in some recessed pot lights, especially in the corners of the room. It seems very dark and I agree with the other posters, paint all the walls except the one with the fireplace and clean clean clean. You also must paint the ceiling -- but not the beams.

Instead of painting the paneling, perhaps you could sand it and then stain it a natural wood color. This would brighten the room and would look rustic next to the brick provided that is your taste.

I think it looks worse at present with the dark heavy furniture. If you aim at Light curtains, furniture, area rug. Perhaps just whitewash fireplace and add oversized bright art, could look great without having to paint all the panelling. Interesting in pic below where they have just painted the trim white.

I would paint the fireplace white and leave the walls ! Yes , it's dark in there but perhaps you can decorate with lighter color furniture and a wonderful light beige area rug ... it's all dark because you have dark walls snd dark , heavy furniture , it seems too much , and is the couch in front of the fireplace ? with such heavy furniture ,,, start slow , the paneling may look better with a white fireplace ... then look at all the brown on brown ...

After