I agree with all the advice to improve your lighting, no matter which approach you take. If you install a new light fixture, be sure you get one that really pours a lot of functional light into that space. Whatever you do, don't pick a color before you decide on lighting. Choosing colors, or anything design related for that matter, often involves a compromise between aesthetics and function. I understand you are worried that a color color will not work with the rest of the white in your home. My big fear is that those walls, if they work aesthetically with the rest of the house, are going to be a source of stress for you, given the amount of abuse they will likely receive. There is no better example than yours for my color mantra "Decorate in the Color of Dirt." Mudrooms, garages, sunrooms, porches, dog-washing rooms (yes...people do have those!) should ideally be colored to closely resemble the dirt in one's neighborhood, especially the floors. One could make the same case when considering wall colors. In Georgia, where clay reigns supreme, the floors should include at least a smidge of red. In Florida, sand is the guideline. You get the picture... Of course, if you won't be unhappy with messy walls or don't mind cleaning those walls regularly, you have my blessing to paint whatever color you like, including white. In my house, the dirt rules. My floors are mid-tone browns and the mudroom floor is swirly gray marmoleum. It's almost scary what that mudroom floor can hide! ;-) My mudroom walls are a blue gray...not perfect, but certainly more forgiving than white. Fortunately, there are a lot of gorgeous neutrals out there that kind of look like dirt. Read through some of the threads on beige, gray beige, taupe and griege...the kinds of colors Jessica mentions above. The only problem with two colors, one on top and one below, is that it breaks up the space and makes for more visual information, which can lead to visual clutter. In an area already full of stuff, I would encourage you to reduce the visual stimulation, not increase it. In fact, one trick I like to use in a small hallway with lots of doors is to paint out everything in the wall color. Take a step up in sheen for the millwork, but do everything in the same color for one long unbroken view.

I'm so happy I could help you gs r. I would say your best bet for budget friendly custom draperies would be to find a local seamstress that works out of her home. Check Craigslist under services/creative. Make sure they share examples of their work with close ups. Not everyone that advertises really knows what they are doing. If you can see their work in person first, that's even better. If you find panels you like retail, a good seamstress would be able alter them to be one wide panel. I've done that before with lined panels. It's saves a lot of time and time is money so that could be very budget friendly. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask. Not sure they allow private messages here, but I'd be happy to help. I've sewn since I was a wee child and started sewing things for my own bedroom when I was teen. My specialty is for the home.

I’m following this post because I have the same issue with my living room — dark brown couch and very dark floors — brown overkill! Can I ask for more specific advice, if possible? Should my rug be mostly ivory, with tan accents? Or will the tan color bring in more “brown?” Should I paint the brown wooden top on my fireplace white to eliminate some of the brown in the room? BELOW: View from my entry foyer looking at living room. What can I place behind couch? The couch reclines, so it can’t be a sofa table. BELOW: 1. What color sideboard can I place under TV? 2. See room with yellow arrow. I have 3 swivel barrel chairs for that room (ivory color); must the rug in that room match the living room rug?

Amy, I am a huge fan of whole home color pallets. I am not a big fan of trends. I think every home should have colors that make the homeowners heart sing. Sorry, I am going to be sexist here - In most cases it should make the woman of the home's heart sing. (Men tend to stay in the "safe" zone with both clothing and décor and after a year the women feel like they are drowning in a sea of neutral). You know how you have that one outfit that makes you feel like a 10 when you put it on? I want to feel like a 10 when I am sitting in my living room. So I want those colors that make me feel wonderful surrounding me. I want to feel sexy in the bedroom, so I will pick colors and fabrics that make me feel amorous. I want to relax in the tub and feel like I am in a spa and I want my kitchen to be warm and friendly. My office should be a color that makes me feel creative and boosts energy. How do we accomplish this? First you have to know the colors that make your heart sing. We all are drawn to different colors. For me, I love color, more specifically I like bold colors. The colors that make my heart sing are purple, red, teal, lime green, fuchsia and coral. Okay - I can't use all of those colors in one place without making someone sick to the stomach. But I did pick purple, teal and red for the main color pallet for my home. I then picked a taupe with purple undertones as my neutral. I am mid-stream in planning out all of my selections, but here are some pictures and descriptions that will give you an idea of how I am incorporating the colors into my home. The outside of my home is a lighter orange/red brick with the MCM Cherokee Red siding and storm door. I am adding red in my plantings (dwarf weeping red maple, holly and red coral bells.) (Mulching this weekend) Had to add my Welcome sign (Fair warning to those who wish to enter) When you enter the house the flooring in the foyer is tri colored Red/Purple/Green slate. I also painted the previously cream colored light in the foyer to go with the blue greens that I will be adding elsewhere. I haven't painted walls or replaced carpet yet and the floors are dusty from drywall work. Here are some pictures of the flooring and bathroom tile with some of the paint colors. The front guest bath and bedroom will have the dark flooring. The rest of the house will have the lighter flooring. Bathroom cabinets are going to be the darkest of the blue/greens. The walls in these two rooms will be the middle blue green. The master bath is going to be the lightest blue green with white cabinets and the pictured purple towels. The walls in the bedroom will be a purple similar to the towels. Have a sample in the picture, but It isn't quite the right shade. The two neutrals that I have picked for the walls in the living room, hallways and master sitting room are by the sample of wood and the upholstery color of the recliner that will be in the master sitting room. One neutral is just a bit too gray and the other just a bit too pink. Working toward the perfect custom mix. My thoughts thus far are to get a purple/gray sofa with a geometric design area carpet with my purples, blue/greens an reds. Add pillows with the colors and get a deep teal green stressless recliner. The kitchen cabinets will be painted in the taupe neutral, soapstone countertops and the walls will be the deep red that matches the flooring in the entry. Thoughout the house I will have my "Things". most of which have the colors that I love . .