I would use a neutral cream rug.

If my understanding is correct, you would like to lighten up the room and make it look more modern. I would try the following no cost/ low cost tactics:

1) Roll up the oriental rug and see how you like the room without any rug.

2) Move the dated silk flowers to another room.

3) Remove the four contrasting throw pillows from the sofa. If you decide to bring back the throw pillows, consider replacing the two dark ones with lighter ones.

4) Fluff up the cushions that came with the sofa. If necessary, add fiberfill or other stuffing to fill out the cushions. This would make the sofa look less worn and compressed.

I like the carpet with the light chair. I think the heaviness is from the dark tables and gray sofas.

The rug is actually the star of this living room , I would try to get rid of the rest starting with the green sofa

I am most grateful for the diverse, interesting and generous advice given. I shall have fun trying out these new ideas.
Thank you

Hello. You have a smart room, but I will agree with you, this carpet does the room too dark therefore, definitely, you need a light carpet. I would choose a high pile square beige carpet.

i agree with decoenthusiaste in that the carpet is lovely and makes the room. on point that the other stuff is heavy.

that green couch and drapes are heavy. even with no carpet or a lighter carpet, the room will still look "heavy"

if it were me, id slipcover or if i had more money, buy new lighter and whiter/beige couches, drapes, furniture. or any lighter color and sit happy with the way everything looks.

I would keep the carpet take all the pillows off the sofa and add 2 red bolsters one along each arm of the sofa. If those are artifial flowers and plant take them to the garbage they have no place in a house IMO.Since we do not see the whole space it is hard to comment any further. I think a lamp would be a good idea where the flowers are and maybe move one striped pillow to the chair to replace that one.Any more help will require pics of the whole space.

+....the furniture is too far apart....thus, a furniture arrangement is needed.