How to Decorate a Vintage Dark Brown Room

Cover upholstered furniture in the room with slipcovers in a cream or off-white color. The slipcovers give the furniture a new look, but are cheaper than replacing the furniture completely. Use new slipcovers on couches and chairs.

Arrange throw pillows on the furniture, picking pillows in a new shade. Sage green works well with brown and cream, as do lighter shades of peach or pink. Pick pillows in solid colors or small patterns, like plaids or checkers.

Replace the existing window treatments in the room with curtains, drapes and swags in a paler shade of cream. The cream color creates a clear line between the windows and the brown walls while also working with the vintage theme of the room.

Bring in a few dark wood pieces, including side tables or end tables and a desk. The darker wood color resembles the brown shade on the walls, but using it in small doses keeps the brown from overwhelming your room.

Decorate the room with white accent pieces. A series of vintage white plates hanging on one wall creates a focal point. Alternatively, display vintage ceramic planters or vases on a sideboard, or decorate with a few bright-colored pieces that pick up the colors in the pillows.