I always like cheerful yellows and greens great, and some pattern would help too. Lovely room!

Yes. This was the staging. We haven’t moved yet but will buy an entirely new furniture. I just wanted to get the right colors for the furniture before we buy.

Can you get pics with the room empty? That might help—you can play with with tools and plunk in furniture, drapes etc and see if that will give you the result you want.

I’m not sure how you are feeling about the floors and walls—are you “meh,” wishing they had more pop, or do you actively dislike them? If you hate them, it may be harder (next to impossible?) to overcome that. To me, the floor doesn’t looks bad and if you buy rugs you LOVE, you can focus on those. That wall color could be better, for my taste, and while repainting is a pain, it is one of the cheaper projects, one that many people DIY, and it easier to paint before you move in.

I agree with your thoughts to get the bones of the room right before buying furniture.

PS I see nothing wrong with the floors. Nice color, lovely planks. It will be fine once the walls warm up a bit.

I can take new pictures of the empty room when i get a chance but that could take a while. What I don’t like is the combination of wall color and floor, either one by itself is probably not so bad. It’s a very light blue, and probably doesn’t make the room look bright. I am definitely considering a big rug. Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot.

• I would definitely change the wall colors and Rita made some good suggestions for possible colors. Be sure to try samples in the actual room, since they can look very different depending on the light in your space.

Personally I wouldn't be bothered by the wall colour unless it feels very chilly in person, it's very easy to warm up grey, add bright colour like lime green, orange, yellow, red.

Devkids you may have answered your own question—that you don’t like the combo of the floor color and walls. It’s much easier and cheaper to paint the walls.

It is a rather depressing-looking space, isn’t it? But paint and furniture alone aren’t going to do the trick because, from what I can see, the problem is with the amount of light that area receives. Are there trees outside those windows that could either be taken down or trimmed substantially? Can you put in some skylights? Add/enlarge windows? If not, in addition to picking better furnishings and paint, you need to add a lot more artificial lighting—but not that cool blue-colored light that’s there now. And the best way to do that is by going to a lighting showroom and working with a professional lighting designer.

The problem is your approach; its backwards. Since paint is the last step in a decor project, and must work with the fabrics and textiles you're using, the furniture, rugs and drapes need to come first. Get them with the floor in mind. Then the paint can be custom blended to enhance those soft goods.

Are the drapes staying? If so, I would raise the rod or shorten the drapes so they just barely clear the floor. Large rugs for both the living and dining areas in richer colors than what's there now willground your furniture and cast a warmer light on the walls. Large paintings on the walls in colors and styles that you love will give an immediate lift, as will books and large plants by the window. Everything in those rooms is beige and more beige, which makes the rooms look cold and impersonal. Choose furniture in colors you like, although a chesterfield couch in a lighter neutral color like the one shown is not a bad place to begin. Choose pillows in tones taken from the rug, although the shades can be softer or somewhat different in tone to add some interest.

I'm not sure that recessed lights are the way to go. Overhead lighting in living areas is unfriendly and cold, and makes people look not their best. You're much better off having good area lighting, perhaps some kind of chandelier or hanging lamp in the dining area, and several floor or table lamps in the living area where they should be in places that allow seated people to read, sew, play games etc. In homes where I had recessed lighting it was almost never used because it had a glaring quality that table or floor lamps don't.

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. Current drapes are going but we will be putting new ones, hanging high.

I’ll update this post when we are ready to choose furniture, which should be the next few days.

devids, I am totally with you on the blue painted walls....Any blue walls depress me and I never have them in my house. I have had dark navy furniture but never light blue walls. I really would try to paint before you move in.....after you have chosen your furniture colors, that is. Looks like a fun house to decorate and live in.