What colors should I decorate my living & dinning rooms?

I have a light beige microfiber sectional and a pale ivy rocking chair. My tables are a dark brown wood and round. I have a black lacquer table and hutch in my dinning room. The two rooms are divided by an open partition that allows you to see into the other room. The walls, throughout, are a light beige and are not the same color as the sectional. I want to redo everything except replace the furniture that I already have. The space takes up exactly 1/2 of my downstairs and it runs the long way from north to south (if that makes sense) The living room, however, opens (horizontally) into the kitchen with enough space for a 4 seat table. I look forward to any thoughts or ideas and please keep in mind that I have 3 kids who are ages 1-9 :)