Living room dilemma

[mysaladdays]

I'm wanting to redecorate our living room, but am a bit stuck colour scheme wise. The carpet wasn't chosen by us and is a slightly lighter shade of chocolate brown. It's very well fitted and a good carpet, so we can't justify getting rid of it just yet as we've other things to pay for. Trouble is, our lovely furniture (which we did choose) is also dark brown, so not a good combination. I'd like to lighten the room (currently neutrals/brown walls) and freshen it up to try and play down the carpet/furniture combo. Can paint walls/fireplace and change curtains (also brown.... ).

Generally we like clean lines and clear surfaces, nothing too fussy if that makes sense.

All ideas welcome!

[echt]

Our living room is brown, wood lined walls, wooden window frames and wooden floor. It's relieved, though, by one long wall being floor to ceiling windows and two skylights in the ceiling. We have vivid rugs on the floor.
Curtains are neutral/cream.

In your case I'd concentrate on lighter walls and curtains. What direction do the windows face? That would alter your colour. If you fitted Roman blinds, you maximise the light coming in, though you might be able to have curtains that frame the window, but but don't take up any glass room, IYSWIM.

[StupidFlanders]

Ideas for colours:
Then check out houzz.

[mysaladdays]

Thanks for the ideas. echt our window is north facing, but quite big. Maybe we'll go for white walls, just need to think about curtain colour...,