I think you can put a patch on it, but use soft material and place it on the underside of the sheet. The secure it by sewing over the hole and patch in multiple rows (over the rip) so that the rip is securely held. That's one idea. ... View related article.
If you have enough light in the room, you could try a dark smoky blue. I have similar colors in my kitchen (light blue walls, white cabinets), and I'm considering painting the table this dark blue color. ... View related article.
