hermustangs, if you'll read the "new to GW" thread below on this page (or if it's left this page by the time you read this, search for it) you'll find explicit instructions on how to post photos; very easy to do. I think you'll get many more responses if you include photos. I'm not good enough with colors personally to try to answer your questions without seeing the rooms. Good luck!

I wasn’t able to edit my comment to add my answer to your question. I have a ceiling fan with awful lighting that I don’t use, and two table lamps. I want to get a leather chair for the corner next to the fireplace so I can set up a standing lamp next to it. In the future, I really want to install recessed lighting.

Without seeing pictures, it's hard to suggest something for your specific situation. In general, I have found that areas of white can bring a lighter feel to a space. You might consider a white slipcover for the couch and other touches of white such as pillows, lampshades, curtains, textured area rug or wall hanging. Hope this helps!

There are many expamples of rooms with dark walls that work beautifully. It is unusual to have an entire home with dark walls. Usually when you have a room with dark walls you compensate with light flooring and furniture, light trim, light artwork and light window coverings, ceiling. It isn't like you are placing black furniture in a black room. Usually you also don't paint the entire home with dark walls - it is reserved for the rooms where you want more drama or can work the look. Good lighting is necessary in dark rooms, it is also necessary in light rooms to make the colors sing and necessary wherever you do any activity where lighting is needed . . . in other words every room needs good lighting. Since these guys are first time home owners, they probably don't have the funds to gut the house, so before picking a paint color that they love and want, they need to look at all the things that have to stay in the house (can't afford to replace any time soon). They also need to look at all the items that they love and want to keep in their home (art, sculpture, furniture). and pick a color palette that works with those elements. If they are just painting they will need to work with existing flooring, counter tops, cabinets, furniture, window coverings, art work . . . Picking colors can't be done in isolation. Everything in your home comes together as a beautiful quilt of textures and fabrics and colors and styles. You can't just take a random handful of scraps from Joanne fabric and expect to make it look beautiful together any more that you can randomly go into a clothing store and buy any pair of pants and any shirt off the rack and expect that by some miracle it will fit you perfectly and create the perfect look that makes you feel like a 10 walking out the door.