That room could use 3-4 lamps, one on each side of the sofa, one on the other side of the room, and not some weak, low wattage lamp. And the color is kinda dingy.

Yeah - this colour worked so well in our previous home but I have to wait now until I can afford to paint the family room, front hall, wall going upstairs and hallway outside bedrooms! I hope to paint early in 2024. Because of the pot/can lights we’ve always just used it for TV watching & hanging out. So - adding lamps is a new idea for me. Thanks for your ideas!

yes, the room could use more lamps, but changing out the rug to a lighter color would make a considerable change. Often, adding color to the walls can add interest and definition.

Of course keep the wall opposite the door/window a bright white to reflect the light, but another wall of color will add interest. as a quick fix, remove the dark decor and add back a little at a time.

Thanks! Wow - a carpet change would probably be expensive! Yes, I’m thinking of going white when I do get it painted next winter. (we are overspending on our vacation costs this summer - hence the postponement of the wall painting project.) I agree that I need to move the dark blue fabric wall-hanging! Would it help to put a framed mirror on that dark wall?

For sure— several lamps with white shades and at least 100 w equivalent. Can you add more pot light to ceiling and have ceiling on a dimmer? For a regular 8’ ceiling those lights on medium- low can provide some light which is then supplemented by the lamps at lower height. Do you see any opportunity for wall sconces, for another layer of light?
Also take a look at your shelving and see if any way to add small lights there.

And no dark red rug! A lighter rug of the right size would be great— doesn’t have to be white or cream but overall lighter— but of course need to budget for that and also collect inspiration pics, don’t be hasty. Perhaps even a large bound carpet remnant, but a rug with subtle pattern and bits of your decor colors would likely look richer what are floors underneath?

But the actual lighting is first step, because is needed regardless and needed for there to be any light bounce off walls, furniture & floor.

Thanks so much for recognizing that I may have to make these changes gradually - as budget allows. There is a dimmer on the pot lights so turning those down when we get some lamps is an important shift. Wow - loud & clear on the carpet issue! The hardwood floors (perhaps maple - narrow grain) are well-loved by the dogs of the former owners. Since we have a dog too, we have not refinished them yet.they are a walnut kind of colour. When we moved into the house we added oak hardwood to the front part of this house and chose a colour similar to these family room floors. Needless to say, I’d probably choose lighter floors now!

Thanks …. So many helpful ideas.
Any suggestions about style of lamps?

I actually don't think floors make all that much difference, I think walls make a much bigger difference, and honestly some rooms will never be bright.

The house I grew up in had two walls of books on built in dark walnut shelves, and black grasscloth wallpaper-and a black leather tuxedo sofa and Jacobean finished furniture. It was cozy, not dingy, and it had three or four large lamps with three way bulbs. And ceiling lighting only can be kind of bleak and commercial looking. If the room is dark anyway, it takes color and lighting to bring it to life, not white or off white surfaces.

I’d rather add colour in decor items, rather than painted walls. Artwork, cushions, candlesticks, etc
That’s why I’ve tried playing with reds & blues so the carpet had points of connection. But I’m tired of having tooooo many things that together make it all seem cluttered. What about a gallery wall. I have lots of extra artwork (including original watercolours, professional landscape photos, etc). I might not have mentioned that I’m 73 years old but I would like this room look more put-together… not just a series of leftovers.
I really appreciate your wording about ceiling lights sometimes looking just bleak & commercial looking. That is exactly the case in this room. I guess, I just never added lamps because we didn’t need them to see. This discussion helps me realize that 7 years ago we put furniture in here as you do after a move. But even though each furniture item has since been replaced, the look is still unfinished. The facade & new fireplace were completed just as the pandemic began so we again just settled into our chairs again!
Anyway, thanks so much for clarifying the issues for me.

@Bartlet50 Is your home - or this room - one story with nothing but the roof above? If yes, think about installing a Solatube - that’s not a skylight as cannot see out like a ceiling in the window. It only lets in natural light. There are several sizes & different glass look covers for the interior end of tube. They look like a pot light in ceiling. You can also have lights inside them - we replaced a pot light in dark stairway up to bonus room with a Solatube & used the ’hole’ the light was in as well as had the LED light installed in it so we still have a light to turn on at night when no daylight coming through. Installation isn’t a budget killer either.

Thanks… but the bedrooms are above this family room. The home is a backsplit. Front looks like a bungalow with kitchen, dining room & living room & full finished basement with large windows. A skylight or Solatube would be possible above the first floor of the front section but it’s not too dark. Then the back section of the house has a bedroom & bathroom beside this family room (behind our wall unit on left side of wall). Bedrooms above & massive full basement underneath. So the house is generous in space & usage. Everything is very functional. But, the family room has always oozed ‘potential’ but never quite looked pulled together.

I have dark places in my house too and I have a lamp in there but it just looks artificial without making the room feel lighter. I switched to a lighter rug, added white textured throw pillows, and artwork with predominantly light colours (white mats and frames). Also added accessories with interesting patterns and textures. That helped.

Looking at inspo photos or deco YouTube’s helps me a lot. Usually on a bigger screen than my phone, or an actual decorating book or magazine.

Of course I have to seek out styles that are more “ me” and more, umm… realistic. You won’t find that for lighting inspo , because pics can’t capture the “ layers of light” that you are trying to achieve— most pics will be super- lit artificially and/or have magnificent windows and natural light. But you can look for use of color, texture, proportions, repetition of color throughout a room, furniture arrangement & so on. Think of getting ideas for cohesive look with your own things plus some strategic additions or replacements and not on duplicating the rooms. One reason you’re getting some advice on “ not just white” is that white walls may fall flat in less natural light and end up looking washed out rather than bright. You may want to read some about color depth, chroma, all that. So sometimes even a fairly light neutral a little farther along on the “ color card” paint chip thingy looks richer. But I do think you can get some of that with your other decor. For lamps, remember that they can’t all be random floor lamps but need to be on table(s), and the tables themselves should be the right height relative to furniture arm,

right size.

It is hard to find good examples of lamps in decor because people don’t use them as much anymore! I have my theories, such as, bigger rooms, open plans/floating furniture so no outlets, ubiquitous “ styled” coffee tables and large ottoman rather than end tables, trend towards big sectionals, TV & devices so no reading light needed. So then you end up with no layers of light.

This is so helpful. I’m concluding that I shouldn’t go for a quick fix before creating a plan. I hadn’t thought of YouTube regarding some elements of design as I build this plan.

I went down the Sarah Richardson rabbit hole. Mostly her old videos. Even rooms that are not the particular room of one’s focus are instructive. I try not to get discouraged by how my rooms likely won’t turn out the same but just look for clues. Plus unless using a turnkey/ white glove design team, it takes a much longer time to “ collect “ a room and put it together. Also styles can be much different but there’s something to glean, like colors, patterns, personality. And she does use vintage and re- purposed items.

There may be other sources too if someone else has some favorites.

Other than the lights, I was thinking it might be better to have your tv lower along the wall beside the fireplace. I would get a low narrow credenza to put it on. Then look through your art collection and pull one out with colours that go with your rug to put in the tv's place. Art and lamps will help even if you don't change the location of the tv.

nellibean, we already had the tv on a console on the long wall. The room just felt awkward with the elephant in the room… the massive fireplace that demands a disproportionate amount of real estate for the size of the room.

Thanks for advice about art. I’m concluding that the carpet stays because we have an old dog and the pattern & colours provide a great disguise for spots. Besides, it’s an Indian Bokhara & we like it. True, it would stand out in a more modern way if we refinished or replaced the hardwood with a lovely light colour but that’s not happening soon. So, I think for me, the changes need to happen with lighting, cushions, artwork and perhaps curtains. I could paint the long wall a white to create a gallery wall. I could even handle painting the small end wall a dark colour so the white hardwood pops. Unfortunately, we are of an age so the mismatched recliners stay taupe & beige - as does the grey tweedish sofa ( just 2 years old.). Without going totally boho can I marry the room with lighting and by working with the softer shades in the carpet? Would I pick black lamp bases to match the candle sconces TV & Fireplace frame would I choose coloured lamp bases to pick up peach & teal or blue from the carpet? We have 3 dark mocha coloured tables in the room. I’d be willing to paint them white or another colour? Good idea or bad? I also have 3 round leather ottomans in the room - cream, dark teal & burgundy. I purchased them for extra seating. They get moved around to serve as end tables. I have also grouped them in the centre like a coffee table but I don’t have a tray big enough to cover all three. Tomorrow, I’ll post photos of couch etc & closeups of the carpet.