What would be opposite that yellow on the color wheel? Probably a violet blue which would not be bright but could be a deep, moody cocoon color. Don't fight the shade and shadows, but make the room a shadowy retreat from the bright sunny room. Some of the bedroom rugs would be right at home it the hideaway.

Your yellow room reminded me of Ellen Kennon's Full Spectrum Paints. Check out her line of luminous colors. I was drawn to the Azure or Spring green with your Monet Soleil Yellow. But you may like the Pumpkin Spice, Tuscan Sun or Citrine colors.

http://www.ellenkennon.com/index.htm

Those full spectrum paints are an interesting and fun concept. I will have to check those out. Green is another color I have been contemplating. I’m unsure if a bright color like orange would end up looking drab if the room has too dark of lighting, but I’m also fearful that a dark paint will just absorb any light in the room, making it much too dark. I definitely want pigment. This is the first room you enter when you walk in the house, so I’d like it to give a cheerful impression.

I would keep the backdrop neutral so your items can be the focus of the room.

All your rugs are a bit too neutral for a global collector IMO. Usually I see rugs in stronger colors and patterns.

The living room rug is a cheap one I bought to cover the space when I first moved in. None of the furniture in the living room was purchased “for the house.” I plan on decorating as time goes on, hence why I am beginning to paint. The living room currently does not match my style, which is why I’m trying to update it. I’m very much open to more colorful decor.

Below is Benjamin Moore’s Caribbean teal. Looks lovely with the light wood floors and in darkish rooms, and doesn’t seem to require white trim to look updated. I would want to eventually update the upholstery in the room to lighter contrasting colors. But this would make the ivory wall canvas in my living room really pop. (Could also look cozy in my bedroom while I’m at it.) Thoughts?

Look on pinterest for bohemian decorating and you should come up with many rooms, that may interest you.

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I really like the teal suggested previously.

Here are some colors that go well with wood trim and floors if you want more focus on your furnishings and accessories and not on walls:

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-terrific-paint-color-matches-for-wood-details-stsetivw-vs~9025200

I agree with you about the red, Rawketgirl. The teal is a very calming color. I do think I would love it in my bedroom. So I think one success so far: I seem to have come across a color for my bedroom!

And looking into your suggestion of a violet blue, decoenthusiaste, I quite like that!

I don't know enough about how light affects paint, but it seems that I don't necessarily need a light vs dark color in this living room, but I need a saturated color that can deal with the dark and shadows of the room and still stand on its own.

The purpose of accent walls, IMO, is to provide interest where there is none architecturally. You appear to have architectural elements on all your walls, so I don't advise an accent wall. I think the room is choppy enough with all the elements, so it would get busy if you used two colors. If you want to start thinking about the adjoining dining room, a red-orange (half way between the yellow and violet blue om the color wheel) would work well. If is more of an appetite stimulating color and so is a good choice in dining rooms. The orange would look great next door to the violet blue.

All bright dark colors make room dark. Nobody mentioned sage color that goes good with Honey Oak and not making crazy room but calm.

I like the idea of a dark color that was originally posted especially if you are planning on light furniture. I also like how dark colors work against natural trim. you could pick on of the darkest colors from your rug in the yellow room.