You can brighten the room with floor and end table lamps. They generally give more pleasant light than ceiling fixtures.

The green color that you have now is nice, but my choice would be a pale aqua, which would also compliment the dark furniture.

If you are looking to brighten the room, grey is not the way to do it. Also, grey walls would not work very well with your carpet. And as far as an “interesting color” - your husband is correct; grey did become pretty standard and boring, which is one reason why the grey fad is essentially over. Many folks are leaning more toward classic colors and finishes now.

I would recommend a warm white. Simply White from Benjamin Moore is a nice choice. And I recommend BM’s Natura line. Try some paint samples in your space. If you want more color, I would say gold/light tan.

How about a beige that has some gray in it? https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7506-loggia

Here are ways to get the room lighted properly ("brightened"). If it goes with your decor, see if you can get some reflective surfaces in either lamp bases, accessories, wall art/mirrors, or table tops. Reflective surfaces can be mirrored or glass. Years ago, I had custom made glass table tops made for a lot of my side tables. When the light hits them, they do double duty and really bring light into the room. Also, ceiling lights don't do anyone any favors. I hope yours are on dimmers so you have some control over them. The best lighting in a NON bathroom, dining room, or kitchen is a table lamp or sconce in each corner at chest height. Lighting is often an afterthought, but it actually makes quite a difference in a room.

agreeable gray is not interesting. just saying.

if you want to lighten the room, you could paint the beams white to match the rest of the ceiling.

but really, replacing all the dark, heavy furniture would really offer you the most change.

And better lighting.

maybe some type of inset blinds instead of the curtains?

here are a few examples to give you some ideas

I know this one is larger, but if you did a built in media cabinet/shelving in white (against your tv wall) , and did lighter furniture, w/light walls, or your gray color, it would look something like this.

painted beams/ceiling a bright white. get a white fan. white walls,

If you want to brighten and keep some warmth, try a sample of BM Pale Oak.

Here is entry with it and bright white trim.

Opps

https://www.amazon.com/Lush-Decor-Syndney-Darkening-Curtain/dp/B0795NQ4PK/ref=pd_di_sccai_6/141-2042128-8534114?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0795NQ4PK&pd_rd_r=e47dc59e-37d1-4c47-843e-adb3bc1c097e&pd_rd_w=yB5xn&pd_rd_wg=34mSc&pf_rd_p=61ce50cf-2379-4458-9044-fa8b402c702d&pf_rd_r=17VBRR8QZMBC1T09Q8VM&psc=1&refRID=17VBRR8QZMBC1T09Q8VM IMHO, LOL.....I think you simply need to bring some kind of pattern into the room. Since you have so many surface solids, and you mentioned the colors, there are many beautiful fabric and geometric patterns you might enjoy for your window treatments? https://www.amazon.com/Lush-Decor-Bohemian-Curtain-Turquoise/dp/B07JJ5W42V/ref=pd_sim_201_6/141-2042128-8534114?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07JJ5W42V&pd_rd_r=36e08c3a-b114-4a7b-86c5-5e0ed9bc006d&pd_rd_w=BnBk5&pd_rd_wg=WiSm2&pf_rd_p=6f740e39-0c25-4380-8008-7a4156dab959&pf_rd_r=74ZVA5E85GHX91JT8C43&psc=1&refRID=74ZVA5E85GHX91JT8C43 I found this one above, and YES, it is quite a bit of pattern, there are simpler lattice patterns and some cute geometrics that are more repetitive in their prints, but you get the picture. You also could use some Feng Shui principals added, like some mirrors, some wood grain, some soft fabrics, a glass top on the desk, a pretty complimentary lampshade there to match your new curtains, and maybe a credenza with some metal drawer pulls or bookcase? beneath your television? Some nice landscape or still life art paintings would be nice on the bare walls tooo...https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081SZ45S5/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B081SZ45S5&pd_rd_w=lQL9p&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=GOq7l&pf_rd_r=QAF3TNED1A0A391EKFX9&pd_rd_r=55382aea-16dc-403e-9163-de7266e3c04e&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyU1ZDRjBIOE1HNkJPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTgxMjQyM08zQ1pJMUhTWlIyNiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTU5NTM3MlUxUU0xTFJZTFJWJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== and you can't go wrong with The Four Seasons art in any living area.....https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KF4LFZD/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B07D3T7B3Y&pd_rd_w=lQL9p&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=GOq7l&pf_rd_r=QAF3TNED1A0A391EKFX9&pd_rd_r=55382aea-16dc-403e-9163-de7266e3c04e&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUUNaSlFWS0lWUktJJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDY4NTg4MkVINVdJWEVWMzczTyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODA1OTkwMldHRFpDSDQ3Tk1QWSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1 Such a nice place, just add a few touches and you will love it!

Question - how was green chosen?

It's not bad, but something seems to draw my eye too much to the ceiling - so much light and dark contrasting possibly. I wonder if the ceiling should be painted instead of walls.

How about another direction --have you thought of gardeny- tropical ? lighter than current furniture:

Nautical Decorative Wall Mirror, Rattan, Natural-Brown · More Info

Englische Wohnzimmer Tapeten und Stoffe von Osborne & Little Cubana · More Info

Safavieh Soho Soh335A Tropical Rug, Blue/Multi, 7'6"x9'6" · More Info

Toasty tones --

Cordless Driftwood Dockside Flatstick Bamboo Roman Shade, 39"x64" · More Info

thanks for the ideas! the green paint was there when we purchased the house. I really don't like it, although my husband does. I thought painting the walls could brighten up the room.

I would think about painting the beams, or maybe whitewashing or lightening their color, in addition to painting the walls white, but not gray.

I think the beams are not helping and I would paint them white so ceiling doesn’t feel so overwhelming and low.

I would paint the room soft white as well which may sound boring, but it’s a good backdrop to allow other elements to become prominent design features. Will make room feel brighter and larger - all of your dark furniture are also adding to the darkness and the light walls will off set them as well. You mentioned you have navy accents - on back wall you could create a great design feature with any of the ideas below. Could be a really gorgeous room.

I like the idea of painting the walls different colors. what do you think of painting the wall with the tv navy blue and the sides white?

or maybe the tv wall white and navy blue sides?

Some ideas.

Ceiling and beams white with neutral or vivid fun color. TV wall dark charcoal and new carpet.

totally agree with painting the beams white, because of the acustic ceiling tiles, I would like to draw less attention to that. love the navy

The color I used for accent wall is.