some pictures...

From the photos, I really like the tile color. It looks neutral and a little warm. What about a very light version of it for paint?

Thank you Carrie B. Funny that's what my husband wants to do, but I am very worried that it would become a very washed out look and make it dated. In the first picture the tile looks a bit more lively than in real life.... The tile is ok, I think it doesn't get its full potential in the exposure of our bathroom... Anyways that's why my instinct was to go darker and add a pop of color on the waiscotting, while keeping the wall a soft white... so you'd recommend against that, husband's taste aside?

Change all your lightbulbs to at least 4000k or even higher K if you can stand it. It makes a huge difference. Then go about selecting your paint. If you don't have adequate lighting in there, install a couple of cans in the ceiling. I don't particularly like dark colors in small spaces like bathrooms either, and I'm afraid a dark will make the tiles more drab. But you can't pick until you fix the lighting.

That's good advice, thank you. I'll change the current fixtures and bulbs and see what difference it make!
The bathroom is actually quite large, with hardwood floors. Ill post a photo of it later, maybe it'll add insight and bring more color inspiration :)

More pictures would be helpful to the folks here who are good at color selections. I'm not the greatest... :)

I happen to love this color very much))

will wait for you to post pictures of the whole bathroom, that'd be really helpful for suggestions

Off the top of my head-since it seems to be warm gray with a hint of green to it-everything that's truly bold green will make it seem less green by comparison, and more washed out gray. But everything that's more light green-gray, softer and washed out, will make it seem more green, maybe. So I'm leaning toward Carrie B' s suggestion. A bit in a vacuum though until we see pics.

To make the lighting optimal is always a great suggestion.

Second posting photos. Other paint color possibilities: a warm cream or a very light pink or peach.

I was thinking a very light blush color too! Great minds... lol. And bright white on the beadboard. Then you can get a shower curtain with a pretty print to pull it all together. (Is that too girly for your husband? LOL)

here are some pictures! The 100 watt light did make a big difference. first is with was was there first and then with the new bulbs, (there are more lights above the vanity not installed right now)

I also added a picture with the natural light of the rainy day today :)

the washer and dryer are in the way and will be pushed back in their corner.

And I just happened to have a can of Soft Sand we didn't use in another room, it is a light blush (its a soft rose) so I put a patch on the wall to test it so you can tell me what you think! I already know what my husband might have to say about it... lol

other colors are the White Dove under , and the Jade green above.

The "color" of the bulb makes a big difference too. If you're using a soft white bulb, everything will be more muted and yellow toned. If you switch to daylight, you get more clear or bluer light.. That's why I said try 4000k. Your bulbs are probably throwing a yellow tone which doesn't do any favors to the green/grey tile.

I think that Dove white on the walls AND on the wainscot will look great. Actually, I really like the color of your tile a lot! Do not go super dark. The color, above, is oppressive.

I think that I would likely paint the walls the same white as the wainscotting and then add some pretty patterned curtains/shower curtain.

Yes, I will have to try the different bulb. I only had a 100 watt on hand to switch it today!

ptreckee, I agree with you on the super dark color. it's wet there, but it I'm coming around to think it'll be too much, even if only on the waiscotting!

I like your tile color also, but a shower curtain should cover most it up.

You need to change the temperature of the bulb, not just the wattage. 100 watt could be any temperature, it doesn't mean anything without knowing the temperature of it. I find 4000K (K is for Kelvin, which is temperature, not the wattage) too harsh, but some people like it.

Of those colors, the white dove is definitely best. I'd still be interested in seeing cream and/or a (very) light pink or peach. The pink you show looks to be the same tone as the tile, and way too dark.

I was thinking the same as Ratherbesewing. The tile is only behind the shower and will have a curtain in front of it.

Why is your husband against painting it? I would only paint it white as it would look the most natural, and read as white tile and white grout.

He thinks painting the tile will look bad, it will look painted. He's done it once before and the results were not great in his opinion.

I will shop around for new bulbs that read less yellow. And I think I'll get the tile color matched and lightened to try a patch. Otherwise I'm also thinking White dove satin on the wall and semi gloss on the trims and waiscotting. that way I can play with colors in the rest of the room and am not tied to green ... if that makes sense.

Thank you all for your inputs! I'll post a picture of the final product when we get there!

The tile seams neutral color and its only in the tub/shower. I would find a pretty shower curtain that hints at the tile color and brings in another color or just go monoaromatic. I found several shower curtain on bed bath beyond that would go great with the tile. I think without the curtain and its bare bone you are thinking to hard on the tile. JMO

I think you are right Rehabit! I'm definitely over thinking and fixating on the tile, which will be hidden behind a pretty curtain ;)
thank you!

update: here is the sample of the tile color matched and lightened by 50%. Still too dark I think...
Anyhow, thinking a lighter version of that either on the wall or the wainscotting paired with White Dove.

or

White dove wall trim and Wainscoting using different sheens