I should've thought of this months ago!

So I have these sailboat paintings I bought months ago, $5 each. I love the colors in them, and the old, rustic man-style (kind of)...but I feel like they make my apartment dark, and a little too 70's porn-office or something.  I guess I never really thought there was a way to make them look bright, but then I had an epiphany! What do you think??
BEFORE

(my kitchen doesn't look like this anymore)

(it looks more like this)

the frames, up close. This is the picture that is the most "true" as far as color.

(paintings up close)

ta da! (AFTER)

I understand that these paintings would probably never find a home in most people's... homes. But I really do love them, and I think they look much less depressing now. In fact, I would almost call them pretty.

What do you think? Better?