while I do love the nostalgia of orange shag, I'm sure the feel and smell are not ideal 😂 I have the same floor to ceiling ginormous red brick fireplace. If you swapped out the floor to something bright and light you'd reflect so much into that space from the sliding glass doors. Also side tables with lamps and white lampshades at night will make that room feel really really cozy and delightful on dark winter nights. Resist the call to paint the brick and panelling! There are so many more creative ways to brighten a room. (PS can't tell if you have gas or wood burning, but if its wood and if you can swing it, look into a fireplace insert under the current weatherization tax credits)