Heck, if you almost never use this room why not experiment and do something that might be out of your comfort zone? I'm only guessing that from your having said you have lots of other cream walls. Why not pick a color from the rug, like a red or deep blue, leaving your trimits present color? If this would be new for you, it might be fun, and would give a bit of a "library" feel to your husband's reading corner.

I was thinking blue walls with ivory fabric for the chair. Possibly an ivory (matelesse?) coverlet with the current blue coverlet at the foot of the bed.

That would be pretty simple and the chair wouldn't necessarily be tied to one color scheme, if you ever wanted to use it elsewhere.

I was also thinking that blue and white striped fabric for curtains. Maybe ticking fabric?

My post was not very clear - this is the bedroom I share with my husband! My old house has few closets (none downstairs) so we tend to throw junk in here. The woodwork and windows need work and the blinds are disgusting.

My sons use the other two bedrooms and they are both painted blue so I think a third would be overload? I should have included that info.

Well, I like your rug; I also like the paint color, especially if blue is out (although the darker blue could be really neat.) I'd just get some white/cream/ivory bedding and linen curtains, maybe some colorful pillows in blues/yellows/white, and the chair in an off white or blue.
Or if you're bored with blue, is that pink or more reddish in the rug? If reddish, you could pick that color for pillows.
On my monitor, your current blue bed cover looks very bright/aqua.
Or why not a third blue room?
http://www.juxtapost.com/site/permlink/1b743320-515e-11e1-a7d7-0943d4d71592/post/blue_walls_and_dark_wood_four_poster_bed_/
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6RuB-MyU_O4/SP2S7UTfcQI/AAAAAAAADBo/NlsvKk5-R0Q/s1600-h/020.jpg
http://www.myhomeideas.com/decorating/room-of-day/comfortable-bed-retreat-10000001649126/
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/i-have-a-dark-wood-four-poster-bed-and-i-dsvw-vd~88685=

Here is a link that might be useful: dark four poster bed

You could put that cocoa color on the walls, use a soft blue chair or the deeper teal, and keep the trim paint the off white.

If you want to do more, put up some crown molding at the ceiling.

Then get at least valances, and maybe hang the hanging plant at the other window so all the plants aren't crowded together.

The chair would definitely carry a pattern in a saturated version of a color pulled from the rug.

I like the idea of using the cocoa color but I don't know what it is? There's always a problem of matching a rug as one can't take it to the store.

You don't need to match the rug, you just need to match an impression of the rug. Oriental rugs often contain colors that you don't see--they combine to give the impression of other colors. You bring home likely swatches and go from there.

I would look at Robert Allen "Tohono" fabric in its various colorways, RA "Spears" in Skipper; RA "Velvet Ombre" in Blue Sable or Blue Taupe; RA "Taos" in Navy.

With all of the dark furniture, you could use a dark brown leather chair to balance the dressers on the other walls.

Something like Farrow and Ball's Picture Gallery Red; or Hay could work.

Bamboo blinds would look nice on the windows, I've used Lowes (got the lined ones) and they're pretty good. Cut to fit in the store. I think navy blue paint would look great on the walls and with the dark furniture.

Thanks for all the great ideas. My husband's being very particular about the chair's comfort and shape (high back, supportive, wide enough so he can "wiggle around and sit sideways" whatever that means). He doesn't want leather even though that's a good idea. I may need to pick out a color fairly quickly.

Pal - thanks for the specific fabric examples. I do like the stripes. I've been looking at chairs on Room and Board's website and am contemplating a trip to the D.C. store but styles may be too modern for this room? and in-stock colors kinda dreary. I do see some blues though, and the custom colors only take 4 weeks or so.

I came across this striped chair but it looks too green:
http://www.sammoore.com/index.cfm/upholstered-armchairs/catalog.product/code/1107.22/tyler

I like this floral:
http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/chairs/39769C1BPS/

A vote for the creamy ivory on the walls -- soft and comfortable.

Yes -- lined matchstick blinds would look very nice -- and pick up on the dark tones of the furniture. Try to buy them a bit wider than the side of the window's moldings and hang them higher above the top one.

Check out overstock.com's selection of chairs -- might be something there!

Try placing a painted-ivory board on top of the radiator (handy spot to place a drink while reading) -- of course -- when you turn on the heat -- you could elevate the board slightly for heat distribution.

I'd look at BM cappuccino or BM cafe mocha...one has a little more pink than the other...then you can bring them home to the carpet and see which works best.

A lt taupe or ivory or soft blue chair would look great against the cocoa color walls...or even toward a teal.

Get a pretty floral or print fabric for window treatments or the bedding that tie the colors in together.

Or an ikat for a more contemporary look

Teacats - Ivory would be easy for the walls with a blue chair, maybe I can't go wrong with that!

Annie - Thanks for the specific paint recommendations. That color would be quite different (for me). I'd be sure to paint a large sample board first as I can imagine it looking either very beautiful or absolutely hideous in that room.

I like florals and those are very nice.