humour me. What colour to decorate a very dark dining room (which doesn't belong to me yet)?

[LowLevelWhiiingeing]

We've had an offer accepted on a house (squeal!) and I'm fantasising about what we'll do with it. I know it's dangerous as it could fall through blah blah blah...but I'm chuffed and want to play

So, the room we'd use as a dining room is very dark and made even darker by dark burgundy wallpaper and curtains. I'm thinking it would be an evening room anyway as there's room in the kitchen to eat too, so more of an entertaining room.

But, even though it would be used in the evening, I don't want it to be so utterly dark during the day.

So, any clever people out there got suggestions for me please? I'd love it if anyone's got links to interesting blogs/sites too.

I'm no interior designer, but would say maybe apricot white, something slightly apricot-ish, and maybe terracotta ish curtains, maybe a nice wooden table, that way you get to make it feel lighter in the day but can still make it rich and luxurious for evening?

oh and lightish colour on the floor, maybe 'biscuit' colour (which is light beige in my lingo)

Dorset Cream [F&B] walls ,cream [calico very full curtains] and dark rich floorboards.Only because in my really dark hallway out of about 50 testers only Dorset Cream worked.

thanks for these suggestions.

The floor is actually a beautiful oak colour. teta, 50 F&B testers must have cost you a fortune!

ooh, the F&B website is gorgeous! Good tips too.

I would go very light on the walls but accessorise with fab thick patterned curtains in a rich colour and glam lighting - maybe some kind of chandelier / crystal type thing.

ooh, yes, deffo chandelier!

Have a look at Dulx Light and Space

There are two ways to go with a dark room, light or dark and womb like! Why not live with dark for a few weeks and decide? if you decide to go lighter you could go with a self pattern on the Walls to avoid bland. see how you use the room before you decide and don't be afraid of colour.

Also, large mirrors and metallic sheen wallpaper are not to be forgotten,

oooh, definitely a mirror of some sort, but hugely depends on taste and the shape of the room imho.
Would also suggest maybe some uplighters or picture lights on the walls, esp if there are alcoves which make it more dark

I would go for wallpaper like this ...it doesn't show in these picture but they do this pattern in silve/gold too. I think it's beautiful for an evening type room but nice to sit and listen to the radio of an afternoon. (see how I'm playing along) nice lighting, perhaps a low level bookshelf. lovely.

Which way does the room face? If its dark because its north facing then you have to be careful which colours you choose or it could be feel quite cold during the day.

Playing along is much appreciated

That wallpaper's gorgeous!

The room faces east and the windows are small. The F&B website reckons that east facing rooms have a blue tinged light so it's best to kind of work with that with blues and greens. hmmm...