I recently purchased a home with a family room done completely in barn wood. The room is too dark for my taste. Any suggestions on how to lighten up this room without taking the barnwood completely out?

I cringe at the thought of painting it, but other solutions may be a mess. Likely the wood under the surface is much lighter. Sanding, scraping, or wire brushing would remove at least part of the surface lightening things up. Ordinary household bleach might work.

Whatever you try, don't start in a place that shows. Maybe even remove a board if you can, and work on the back of it. If something seems to be going well, and not too much work, then go ahead.

Could you add light to the room, bigger bulbs or new fixtures?

This is one of those questions where I hope somebody else has a better idea. If you give up and paint, there are 2 ways that might work. One is to thin the paint and put a heavy coat on it so you can completely cover the rough surface. The other thing would be to use a short nap roller and lightly roll just the surface, preserving the contrasting color.

Ah Déjà vu of the 60s and 70s when remods consisted of covering the walls with dark gloomy but cheap and easy wood paneling. It took a while for the remodelers to realize all of that dark wood was depressing.

1. Ask yourself, does this room fit my lifestyle at all? Would I be happier redoing it with an entirely different wall covering? If you answer no, yes then rip it out.
2. Barring a total makeover whitewashing a wall that faces the windows receiving the most daylight would help and directed lighting on that wall will help to brighten the whole room.
3. Light colored furnishings and wall hangings.
4. Recover all but one wall or two.
5. Although it may present too much contrast light colored floors and ceilings would help.