My Family Room...

We have been in our new home for almost a year now and as spring approaches I am wondering if my husband is right...our family room/great room is to dark, this is a good thing if it's where your family gathers to watch movies:) but we don't believe in a TV in the family room/great room off the kitchen...it's annoying when you're trying to visit and the TV is blaring in the background (no offense to those who love their TV room as part of their main living area, I don't judge:)...and I can understand if you're sports fans but if you know us you know we don't watch any sports...none). We have a sound system instead and enjoy music in the background as we gather with friends and family. All of that being said...the one place I would love unstoppable light happens to be the darkest part of our home. At first I disagreed with removing the valances that currently hang in our family room...they are so cute and I love they way they match our stuff so well, but as you can see in the picture...they block an awful lot of light, so I am planning to remove them and hang panels like the ones in our front sitting area (earlier post) Below is the before shot, and I will post the middle and end to this dilemma... wish me luck!