For practical reasons, the lightest colors generally are used for walls, deeper ones for upholstery and floors, brightest ones for accents. If walls are dark, use light colors elsewhere. Work out a plan using swatches in sizes that represent the approximate amounts of each material used in the room. If not, try again. Amounts vary according to the room and furniture used.
Wood has color, too.
If you have a lot of it around, wood tones are the prominent colors in your room. Materials such as wood, plaster, cane, wicker, metal, and stone also will introduce color and texture. If they exist in quantity, don't ignore them. Making the switch from one color combination to another usually is a gradual process. A starting point is to change accessories and accents.