Any luck choosing a color yet? Any pics you can share to get an idea of what you are working with?

You need light and bright. Being rented is tough. First change out the drapes with to the floor length. Cream with a horizontal stripe of brown to match or furniture. This will 1. get rid of the horrid things hanging there 2. pull the initial visual to that wall instead of the floor. Tall and high colors ( mango, aqua, yellow) decorations on your mantel with shorter cream and brown items. Then a large square table in the middle, painted distressed cream, with high color items setting on it. DIY project or Ikea. Green is the number one calming color, just don't let it put you to sleep. :)

I was about to say grey until I read the last line. What about a light brown carpet?

Do you have a photo of the front of your home? That usually helps when it comes to colour scheme questions.