How can I make my damp basement apartment feel more like?

a cozy autumn-feeling apartment??? After long negotiations, I finally got the owners to let me paint the walls a sage and biege.. i'm pretty sure they won't let me repaint it anything other than white.. There are two large windows in my bedroom and i have plants sitting in one of them... my two sofas are tan and dark brown pin stripe, very thin... all of my furniture is light colored. Please help?