- 1). Consider accent walls. If your brown living room features four walls painted a dark brown, opt to change one of them to a lighter shade. Go with antique white or cream for a classic look. A pale green adds Zen tranquility, while lavender accenting espresso brown has modern cool. A medium brown set against mango orange evokes an Indian palace. Saffron or mustard yellow with brown has French farmhouse style. Add a contrasting color of wall trim by using stencils or by freehand painting flowers, vines or swirls.
- 2). Invest in a focal point piece of furniture in a lighter, brighter hue. Simple frames with no ornamentation keep the look sleeker. Tray a modern couch with a modular frame and simple cushions in off-white, pale yellow, sage green or popular periwinkle blue. A couple of armchairs in light and bright patterns may not match but may share the same background or accent color. Go shabby chic with a low, round coffee table painted white and distressed with sanding at the edges, or soften the look by using two tufted ottomans in place of a table.
- 3). Maximize natural light in the room. Keep window treatments minimal or non-existent. Use pale window scarves to merely frame the window, suggesting curtains rather than covering the glass. Alternately, set a thin tension rod halfway down the window, and hang repurposed vintage dish towels or pillow cases as cafe-style curtains. Use translucent cotton fabrics that allow natural light to stream through. Avoid setting any high profile furniture in the path of natural light.
- 4). Accessorize with light and bright colors. Install a simple floating shelf in a corner or a narrow shelf that extends the length of the wall. and line it with simple white pillar candles for Japanese-inspired wabi-sabi simplicity. Clear and lightly-hued glassware can add sparkle to an otherwise dark brown living room, especially if you flank glasses with artificial or natural lighting.
- 5). Integrate nature into a brown living room. One of the best sources of light colors is plants. Frame a doorway or window in tall, leafy palms or decorate a sunny spot with an earthenware planter filled with cacti or succulents.
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