How to brighten this room?

Ann
by Ann
Ideas to brighten this living room, 22 x 11.5 ft. Picture makes it look brighter than actual. Walls are soft cream similar to cream in fireplace brick. Carpet beige. Wall left of fireplace has large window with only sheers & front door.
  20 answers
  • Billie Trout Patterson Billie Trout Patterson on Sep 24, 2016
    If I wanted to brighten it, I would paint the bookcases and all wood cream to match the wall or complement it. It would really popl out.
  • Belinda Salsburey Belinda Salsburey on Sep 24, 2016
    Agree I'd paint the bookcases and wood cream. You may also want to consider whitewashing the brick to lighten it up without losing all of the color.
  • Maureen riggs Maureen riggs on Sep 24, 2016
    Put mirrors behind the shelves.
  • Freckles Freckles on Sep 24, 2016
    Add a pop of color where the wood is - bookshelf doors , pick your favorite color that you accent your room with or mirror them and change to glass shelves. Some people like painted brick, but I'm not really a fan...you have a lot of choices
  • BrendaB BrendaB on Sep 24, 2016
    Paint just the back of the book shelves an accent color. A deep green would be beautiful, or a rich blue.
  • Taylor L Parton Taylor L Parton on Sep 24, 2016
    Bookcases need to be Painted to Match the Walls n add Mirror on Back Wall...and after you mask off the Brick wall around the Fireplace Door, I would find a High Heat Paint like you use on a Bar b q grill n Paint the Iron on the Fireplace. the Doors look old n tired....
  • Rlmhubbard Rlmhubbard on Sep 24, 2016
    Paint all of the brick a creamy white tone and all of the wood and shelves/mantel a brighter white. You can also remove a shelf on the left set of shelves and place the TV on that side. Place a large mirror on the mantel for light reflection.
  • Shannon Pierce Shannon Pierce on Sep 24, 2016
    White wash the brick and paint Wood grey
  • Susie Susie on Sep 24, 2016
    1 - Run wood panels, ceiling to floor, one on each side of the fireplace. 2 - Crown molding across the entire wall. Repeat the same molding (in a smaller version) across the bottom of the shelves. 3 - Stretch interesting fabric across the back of the shelves (in lieu of paint or wallpaper). You can change that out on a whim! 4 - Create paneling with V-groove panels under the shelves. This can be done to camouflage the little doors. (All this woodwork still allows for you to see the brick in the middle & the hearth. That's big in my husband's world, & thought it might be for you, too.) 5 - Stack seating pillows in 2 or 3 compatible patterns on each side of the hearth. 6 - Take out 1 of the lower shelves & put a large, colorful something or other on it. (I know you probably have something in the house already you'd like to showcase.) Perhaps a flowering vine on the high shelf to grow down to the hearth. 7 - Paint horizontal woodwork in 1 color, and vertical wood in a little different shade for visual interest. My fireplace is similar, but don't have the same room on the sides. This got my creative juices flowing. Wish I could do it for myself. Please keep us up with what you do. I'll be excited to see what happens!
  • Deb Greenwold Deb Greenwold on Sep 25, 2016
    I would paint the mantel and the doors the same off white that you have on the walls. Paint the back of the shelves a nice accent color, nothing too dark, and I would move the TV to the side (looks like you would only have to move one shelf. The mirror over the mantel is always a brightener, with a display of things that add even more color. Unless the brick is really crappy (doesn't look like it) paint is a big step. Think carefully about that - you can't go back. Good luck and HAVE FUN!
  • Lynleeben Lynleeben on Sep 25, 2016
    I'd remove both bookcases and paint wall behind them same color as other walls. This would make the shape of the fireplace & hearth the wall feature. Ad one shelf, painted same wall color on top of brick ledge. Play with overhang depth (6", 9" 12", etc.), to see what looks best. Then could display art work on each side, vases of fresh flowers, seasonal decorations, lamps for more lighting, etc. What's behind the small wood doors? If cubby's are to store wood, would remove doors and show stacked wood for an added organic touch.
    • Lynleeben Lynleeben on Sep 25, 2016
      To better explain shelf: one painted shelf should be on each side of fireplace where the dark wood bookcases were removed. Also it is not necessary to make the sides symetrical when decorating. Have fun with your project.
  • Kathy Lovenburg Kathy Lovenburg on Sep 25, 2016
    Look into some of Chip and Joanna Gaines HGTV interiors. Most of the time they paint the brick white. Best examples I have seen of fireplace renos.
  • Momsandie Momsandie on Sep 25, 2016
    There are many instruct-ables out there for white-washing the brick if you are sure you'll never want it brown again and don't want to go with a solid color (IMO that always looks 'weird' and I regretted it for many years after I did it in our first home). Can you remove those lower doors? It's so much easier to paint the wood elements as your desires change than to address the brick again. I think it looks cozy, and more natural while being fresh and modern. You could also run a long mantle-which needn't be complicated-the full with of the wall just under the bookshelves. That would allow for an interesting depth to the whole area. Best wishes and please post again when you've decided, we'd all like to see it!
  • Deb Greenwold Deb Greenwold on Sep 26, 2016
    And make sure you share an "after" picture with us!
  • Diana Berreman Davies Diana Berreman Davies on Sep 26, 2016
    I would bring some brighter color to the room with an area rug in Autumnal colors like yellow, orange and russet red placed in front of the fireplace, picking up the theme with a few cushions and/or arm covers for the chair. I see a wreath in the corner. It would be easy to brighten that up with some dried or silk flowers in the same colors. Could the television be put in a cabinet off the mantle piece? If so, you would have a lovely focal point for your room - a space for your wreath,maybe some family photos in nice frames, or alternatively, a feature painting or mirror to bring more color or light into the room.
  • Melanie Melanie on Sep 28, 2016
    If you don't want to paint the brick, paint your mantel and the wood in the same color as your walls. Also where your bookcases are could be painted, or use wallpaper with a nice design with the same wall color or go for something bold with a pop of color. Another option is putting mirrors in the back of the bookcases. I seen you live in Canada so head to your Dollarama they have square mirrors that would fit perfect and won't bankrupt you if you don't like it.
  • Blazed T-Square Blazed T-Square on Sep 30, 2016
    Brighten the room and retain the warmth of the room, while updating for a more contemporary look. Paint walls, and if you can, change the bricks for stones. See picture idea.
    • Leesa Leesa on Oct 02, 2016
      Nice, but her brick wouldn't work with that lovely paint color! I think she needs to paint,nor whitewash the brick.
  • Blazed T-Square Blazed T-Square on Sep 30, 2016
    I got carried away. Here's another look, just changing the chair.
    • Lizzy L Lizzy L on Oct 03, 2016
      I like this design, except for the wall color. I'd pick a more modern light greige, or even a complimentary white.
  • Julie Julie on Oct 02, 2016
    I can't afford to reface my brick right now, so I have decided to finally paint it white. I have seen so many pictures that have white brick and white shelving and it looks amazing. It really brightens up a room.
    • Lizzy L Lizzy L on Oct 03, 2016
      If you're going to paint the brick, make sure it isn't a shiny finish. Staining the wood mantel & doors darker would make it pop. If you have the money to add pot lights, that would really help, too. I would also put a white slipcover on the chair, if you can't replace it.
  • Blazed T-Square Blazed T-Square on Oct 03, 2016
    Ok, if you want to keep the bricks, and if I were you, I would add accessories and definitely paint the walls. Add drapery and if possible, change the floor.