Art

• No matter the colors used in your paintings or photographs, keeping the mats a bright beige or crisp white will ensure they stand out against a dark wall. If your artwork isn't matted, simply lighten up the color of the frame. Frames in an accent color that is taken from the artwork or used elsewhere in the room would work well. A silver, nickel or gold frame would also contrast nicely.
  
  Another framing technique that works well on dark walls is the glass sandwich. The print or photo is "sandwiched" between two larger panes of glass and framed. The excess glass between the edges of the print and the frame allow the wall color behind to show through. Use artwork that is light in color for a really pretty effect.
  
  No matter how you frame it, the colors in your artwork can work with the brown to create whatever mood you are trying to evoke. For a soft and calming room, choose lighter shades of brown to blend smoothly and add richness. For a more vibrant look, add bursts of energy with hot pinks, yellows and blues.
  
  Incorporate mirrors or candle holders with mirrored finishes to add sparkle to dark brown walls and lighten up the entire room. Dark paint has a tendency to suck the light out of a room, so add candles, wall sconces and other reflective surfaces wherever appropriate. Try an oversize mirror with a silver or nickel frame flanked by a pair of wall sconces for an elegant and timeless look.
  
  

Wall Treatments

• Enhance the dark brown wall with bead-board wainscoting on the bottom half or third of the wall. Paint the bead-board in a white or cream that matches the existing floor boards. A simpler and more affordable option would be to install a chair rail around the room and paint the wall below a lighter color.
  
  Few things change the look of an entire room as inexpensively as a can of paint. Try adding a horizontal accent band of color across the wall to break up some of the brown. Divide the wall into thirds, tape off the middle band and paint it a different color. Or paint the band across the section where you plan to hang art to highlight your collection.