The photo's a bit dark, so I can't quite tell your colors. Looks like you have all solid colors in the room: sort of a brick-colored upholstry, dark wood framing and cream walls, with plants outside the window. I think you need so 'pattern' to relieve the solids...at a minimum a tone-on-tone so that there is some texture or pattern involved. get close approximations of your existing colors (swatches, paint chips) and head off to the fabric store looking for something that doesn't feel overpowering, buy a yard and bring it home for trial and error -- you may end up with great pillow fabirc, or a new drape.

It sounds as if the bricks were never properly sealed. Using a penetrating brick sealer should solve the problem.

I would like to give you more suggestions to improve your living room ambience . The highlight wall in pink can be switched to some other striking color such as a teal blue or moss green color , then you can change the curtain to from sheer/transparent to a thick fabric and the color to a neutral tone such as white / beige /grey .And yes definitely adding more lights to the space will amp it up .. Hope it helps!

Greetings From Dream Design, As per your Inputs we are suggestion you some ideas -Paint the cabinet with Grey color or use the acrylic sheet Grey color will highlight your top basin also -Paint the wall with cream color By this your bathroom look spacious -In shower area you can put the half foggy mirror and remove the curtain then Thanks