Your house has lovely features and it seems like you have a really nice fairly open floor plan. I'm guessing that part of the "dark" feeling is due to the lack of windows in the kitchen. (At least from your pictures it looks like there aren't any.) I think if you put some beautiful and colorful art on the wall across from the kitchen it will really help bring some life to the space. If you're not loving the wall color, by all means, paint!

One other thought / suggestion: consider replacing the backsplash with something more simple and light colored. Your cabinets are lovely rich wood, but the backsplash tile is dark so I think it's not helping to brighten up the space. If you changed it out to something in a single light color, I think your kitchen will be more bright.

Finally, bring some plants, lamps, and other brightening accessories into the space. You just moved in and things aren't put together yet. Plants, art, lamps, pillows, and accessories can all add a lot of brightness and energy to your home. Maybe consider putting a rug underneath the sectional that's a lighter color. I think adding in some bright and light colors in accessories will help contrast with the rich warmth of the flooring and cabinets.

Don't give up hope! It's a lovely house and with a little bit of work I think you can love it.

It would be helpful if you posted full pics of rooms. Would be great if you could switch DR with LR, but do not think DR is large enough for this change. . Older homes tend to have smaller rooms. Your home appears to have been updated. I think the color of your sofa and wall color are not working together. If you have just moved into house, I would live with everything it for a while before making changes you may regret. Perhaps move sofa to the dreaded wall-opening up space. Find one big picture or 2 that tie in wall color and sofa better to hang over over sofa. ( Check Etsy, Big fat canvas, Houzz, etc) Then add accessories as previously suggested. Would , also, look for rug/sofa pillows/throw to tie things together. Once you add color and your likes, you will like room much more.

How long have you lived there? Do you have photos of the other walls in the kitchen and sectional room?

I would look at adding another skylight in the kitchen.

skylight, or solatube [which comes with a nightlight btw]

From your own ideabook [a very different house] -- does tv wall have any of this look? the paint similar? …. why did you save this one?

You saved a few chandeliers - do you need the fan [if you do, you do] ?

I'd like to see art or tapestry or pillow that you love. :)

Increase the size of the skylight to make a huge difference in both rooms. Your kitchen cabs appear to be mounted very high. Do you have trouble reaching things or are you a giant? Under cabinet lighting will also improve the look. Consider making the sofa area into the dining space. Let us see the dining room and maybe we can help you do a flip that will change the foot print and give you other options.

Paint the walls a light, calming grey. Place a large fun shaped mirror on the wall facing the kitchen, this will bounce light back into the space and make it feel lighter and brighter. I would also recommend updating your light fixtures. This does wonders, and it's a fairly inexpensive fix to add character and update a space. This will also make the space feel more new! I suggest going with something light and airy, not heavy. Your home already has a heavy feel with the rich wood tones throughout, and lack of windows, so by making these little changes...the house should feel more airy, and less claustrophobic! Good luck

Yes to a lighter less busy backsplash! White or ivory subway. Yes to a large interesting mirror. Some large light colored interesting pillows and throw blanket on the sofa. (The sofa is very dark and heavy looking.) Remove the small burgundy/rust rugs in the kitchen. They detract from the nice kitchen.

Light bulbs seem to be giving off a yellow hue. Try changing them to another hue 1st before choosing any new colors in room. It's amazing how much color hue a light bulb can give off.

Try using mirrors to bounce light around the room & give appearance it's bigger.

10 ways to get natural light into a dark room

https://decoratedlife.com/10-ways-natural-light-dark-rooms/

Once lighting is corrected a light paint job would really help. Get 3 samples from paint store paint them on walls in different areas & post pictures in daytime & night time lighting, so Houzzers can help you choose the best out of your favorite 3.

I agree with the others the back splash is too busy & dark. That would be better to rip it down. Re tile with a simple light tone tile with light grout.

If backsplash tile is not in the budget now, then still rip it down patch up drywall, prime , with durable, washable paint. Backsplash can be done later.

If you sample paint, put a big square of the color in the middle of a white poster board. The large white border keeps your current wall color from distorting the new color you're sampling. Move the individual boards around the rooms for a few days in different light, weather and day+night to see how they do for you.

You guys are really great for all the wonderful suggestions ! I really got these pictures from my sisters house .She is so upset that she bought the house because it has such a weird floor plan. I think it’s beautiful ! Her and I don’t have that gift that all you guys have ! So I thought I would post some of her pictures. How can she see all the posts that everybody is sending instead of me copying and pasting it to her? . Thank you again for all your help Katrina

Tell her to join Houzz and look for your posts directly there.

Copy the link of the post & share it by email or text. She can then comment & ask questions here or start her own. She'll have to join Houzz to participate.

I whole-heartedly agree w/artistsharonva:

change the lighting first. Full-spectrum daylight bulbs will really help.

If she wants to keep the sectional in the room where it is now, it needs to be rotated, and the sofa section pushed against the angled wall. The traffic path needs to be between the sofa and the kitchen area, not behind the sofa.

Then put a picture on the wall above the sofa. Something that's about 2/3 the length of the sofa section. Hang it so that it's about 6 inches above the back of the sofa. Choose something that lifts her spirits when she looks at it, whether it's a beautiful landscape or ocean scene, or a crazy colorful abstract. A horse running free. Whatever suits her. Don't decorate the tall part of the wall. Nothing should go up there.

Choose some sofa cushions and throws that have the color from the artwork, to tie the room together. If she ends up with the dining room table in that room, then the
recommendation on the art work is the same. Hang it with the center of
the art piece 5' from the floor.

Definitely not a mirror there because then every time she looks over there, she'll see a reflection of herself cooking, and possibly a kitchen mess. No, no, no. And since there's no light shining on that wall, it will not bounce light anywhere and it won't make the room brighter. It will make it boring.

I wouldn't paint a room gray if there isn't enough light in it. This is where I'd get a color consultation from a local decorator or paint store.

Add some lamps to the room. If there isn't enough floor space for for floor or table lamps, use plug in wall sconces that don't need to be wired in, and can fit in any space. Choose sconces that wash the light up and down a wall - they're very pleasant light in a room.

If the wall angle at the ceiling is bothering your sister, painting the wall up to the peak will make that a nice feature.

It is very hard to start decorating when you haven't unpacked.

A tip I've heard: but I might not have it accurately: take everything out of the room so you can see its bones and features more clearly...

maybe that wall could be accented, but not so certain with its doorway making a shape like it does...

you posted that your Sister wants to start buying things. What kind of things? If furniture or rugs, get that done before painting. So you can get paint color that goes with the color of the new purchases.

Paint is the last thing that is chosen.