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Why don't you use the classic color wheen method and choose something like a burnt orange or a maize yellow or something?

Before I read the whole post I was going to say chartreuse.
I see you wrote that. I think it would be great, especially with the brown leather. I have some daring colors in my house, well at the time I painted them they were. But friends of mine did an intense chartreuse and it looks incredible. I wish I had used it in one of my guest rooms. Very uplifting. Good luck with your choice.

Depending on the light you do/don't get, perhaps a very clear, bright orange? Tangerine. I don't generally like yellows, but I once painted a very dark studio yellow to mimic light, and I second the maize suggestion. I had bad walls (East Village tenement bad), so I layered a maize glaze over a pale yellow for a parchment look that really did brighten the place considerably. If your walls are in good shape, you can use clear strong color. I wouldn't go too dark with oranges and yellows, though, unless you want a real 70s feel with the avocado rug and brown chairs.

I agree with II on the maize yellow. Or maybe a slightly brighter version of that pale greenish blue in the rug.

Not to sound like a jerk, but I'm not a huge fan of the rug either. Very blah and bland with dull colors and a boring design. Now that I've completely insulted your husband (tell him I'm sorry - it was nothing personal!), I'm not so sure I'd go with an orange or yellow wall. I would stick to the pale green/blue (like the color in the middle square on the left side of the rug) to brighten up the space. Call me boring, but I wouldn't go crazy with really bright colors in this space. Maybe wait until you can get a new rug to do something more fun?

pale blue or grey - play up the cool and tone down that icky yellow vibe. make sense?

A chartreuse can be kinda tricky-if it's too bright, the rug will just look muddy next to it. I like the orange suggestions. If you want to really go for the wow, find the right chartreuse and paint one wall brown (probably the smallest). I think the rug will then create the great look you want.

If you paint the wall a contrasting colour (yellow or orange), you will only draw attention to the rug. Paint the walls with a shade of green so that it blends in more and doesn't become a focal point.

In general, I'd say never decorate around a feature you hate, but if your husband loves it, you'll just have to find a way to minimize its impact on your eye and let him enjoy it.

i say go with a cool slate blue. its certainly not "bright" or "vibrant", but i think a loud color would look tacky when paired with this rug.

the blue will bring out the richness of the greens and keep the room wonderfully earthy, without being too granola ;)

I love all of these suggestions. Thank you so much.

Sorry, i don't have a colour suggestion, but I like the rug!

in a strange way, your rug reminds me of a paul klee painting. i like it! and i wholeheartedly agree that you should go with an orange. i have orange in my hallway and just love it! please post pics when you've finished your room!

but orange would just scream "pumpkin!" with this green rug...

The maize sounds wonderful. I love this color.

Orange is definitely one of my favorites and will definitely find itself on other walls in my house.

Chartreuse would go but I agree that it may cause the rug to look even muddier. It's pretty drab, dul, blah as it is.

I think I'll go with the slate, muted, or muted greenish blue that many have suggested. For the space it seems like a good fit. I think it will look good with the brown pieces that are in the room, and won't bring much attention to the rug. I can accent with white and a few green accessories.

Thanks so much for all of the helpful suggestions. I'm thrilled to see my question on AT. I will definitely post pictures when the room is done.

I would go either terracotta or bright turquoise

I did ask for vibrant. Bright turquoise sounds beautiful! Decisions, decisions...

I think chartreuse would be a BIG mistake. It would make the rug look drab and dirty.

I vote something coppery, but if the room is dark already, I say go for drama, not brightness, and paint the whole room chocolate brown.

I think you can make many wall colors work here, but the key will not be either the rug or the walls, but everything else in the room. You need some other textile to bridge the wall color and the rug's tones.

Or, EVERYTHING else in the room needs to referenece the wall color.

Thank you Patrick. These are great tips and give me a lot to think about.

Coppery is an interesting idea. The leather chairs are warm and kind of coppery. I'm wondering if it will offer enough contrast. I would have the same concern with chocolate brown. We have a lot of brown in here in furniture. We have added a couple small nesting tables in brown and a television console in brown.

If I paint the wall blue can I use the same color fabric in throw pillows and maybe a covered stool and accessories? Is this what you mean when you say everything else needs to reference the wall color?

Thanks.