Your dark couch may be what's giving you the cave like feel too. Your colors are dark(black or blue) light (cream/white) and hot pink (pillow)? I'd get a rug with those colors to brighten it up, get a cream throw for the couch to drape. Get rid of the brown ottoman and put the cream one in its place. Change out the lamp shade for a white one with maybe a pink band around the bottom of the shade. Can you pull the couch out so its not shoved into the corner? Making a walk way around your whole seating by the window?
Painting the molding..... Do you have molding in other rooms?
Houzz- could they add crown above on the ceiling to draw the eye up more?

unfortunately a new couch is not in the cards right now. I am considering possibly a lighter color on the walls? I've seen a lot of white with navy....the molding goes down the hall and each room has crown molding. love all your suggestions and will try!

Paint the ceiling with high gloss. The light movement and reflections will make you ceiling appear higher.

We had a situation where a new couch was not in the budget so we added a light colored throw over the back of the couch. I would go with cream and you can get one at Target or Home Goods without breaking the bank. I would also try and add some more pillows like the ones which you have. You could also spray paint the basket cream to take some more brown out of the room. I would paint the room a lighter color if that is possible. I love the white and navy color scheme with the pop of yellow and hot pink from the pillows. Painting the walls a creamy white will make the couch look much better. Good luck!

I know this will sound silly because you feel the room is "dark" as it is. Try painting the walls a light gray and the ceiling a slightly darker gray (3-4 shades darker). Paint all the wood trim white. These colors will compliment your dark couch and the contrast of ceiling/molding/wall will draw they eye up and the darker ceiling will create the illusion of depth. Plenty of pictures floating around with painted ceilings. Check em out... You might just fall in love with the idea!

thanks you all! will try!

You might also consider painting the ceiling the same colors as the walls. This can help brighten up a room. A light paint that can "absorb" the sunlight from the picture window can make the room appear bigger.

I absolutely agree with the above suggestions of removing the crown molding and painting the walls and ceiling the same color. Also, remove the curtains/rod as this is really crowding the space. Remove the lampp from in front of the window as this is also crowding things. As your budget allows, buy smaller pieces for this room than what is currently here. For now, slip covers are a great way to change the color/texture of furniture. Keep the big pieces, like the couch and chair lighter colors and accent them with darker pieces or you can keep it all light and just work in different tones. Good luck!

The dark couch is like a "black hole". A fun Patterened slipcover would be great
The walls are already light & the your ceiling is already lighter than the walls so you have the right idea.
MS colours inc has the right idea with painting the ceiling with a gloss to help spread the light around.
Don't get rid of the curtains. The vertical lines help draw the eye "up & down". The curtains pattern & colors look great & tie the room together. (besides the overpowering couch)
A floor lamp would do double duty, adding more vertical lines into the room & more light.
Some more VERTICAL rectangular framed art, photos & mirrors on the walls would help a ton.
Just like the vertically rectangular piece of art you have hung to the right of the curtains.

If you prefer a solid colored couch then use a solid colored slipcover.....but then use a pattern on the ottoman.
Too many solids is boring, but if you prefer small touches of color & pattern than a pattern on the ottoman in frount of the big couch would add more to the room.
The window is a challange. The long horizontal lines seem to bring the ceiling down!
Good luck, take your time in finding items you love & have fun.

I do not mean to confuse you but I would go a different route for sure. I would paint the ceiling molding a semigloss to add light and movement to the top of the room. If your ceiling is perfect.. than you can add a pearl or satin finish to the ceiling to brighten it up. I would make the room lighter with lighting in the corners... perhaps torch lights to illuminate the ceiling, it is a trick real estate sales people use to brighten up a space and have the ceiling appear higher. I have worked with clients in painting the ceiling and the walls the same color sometimes, but in your case I think you want to focus on adding brightness to the ceiling rather than trying to make it disappear and blend in.

Your ceilings don't seem low at all?? I certainly wouldn't remove the crown moulding and I wouldn't paint it the same colour as the wall either. I think there's too much furniture in that room but if you need to keep it all then you should re-arrange it. The big couch will lighten up if you put it under the window and try a patterned carpet with some colour.

Just an example image! You have a great home!

whoa! that's fun. is it possible to see the room with off-white walls? thank you!

Keep the trim white for sure, anything dark will pull your eye down making it feel shorter.

Lkristine, your so tech savy!
The gray wall paint (with a touch of light blue tint) looks fantastic!

The couch is fine. Don not do anything to your crown molding. The crown molding is nice. Reposition your couch. Repurpose your chair in another room. Add different colored brighter draperies and switch out the pillows with brighter bolder colored decorative pillows. REMOVE the rug add a smaller brighter one. There's too much in this room. All you have to do is move things around and add more color. Bring in some green.

Can't wait to see the after picture! Natural wood or bamboo roller shades might add a little more texture also.

Lydia knows what's she's talking about.

I like Lydia's idea of rearranging the L shaped couch if the wall on the left of the window allows it. That way you could put the smaller chair in the corner on the right of the window and it will open up the space around the doorway? Maybe take a picture from a different angle, like from the doorway to give a better idea of where things can be rearranged :)

go monochrome...