How to makeover a school conference room?

My elementary school has a conference room with a mish-mash of items. The soundproofing on the walls is gray (on one wall). The carpet is red - yikes, but no changing that. The room is very dark and dingy with old furniture that does not go together. I'm trying to give it a makeover to make it a calming pleasant place to be - not a dark dungeon. My first thought - chair covers; maybe a table runner in a bright color; and some sort of window treatment with color. One wall is a white board (floor to ceiling), another is the gray soundproofing and the other two are a beige type color (maybe once upon a time white). There are 3 small windows - but being in Alaska it doesn't bring in much light during the winter.

Any ideas to make this dark dreary room into a beautiful comfortable space?

How about painting the walls all a soft butter-cream and putting a red and white checkerboard border around to tie in the carpet and soften the effect - then cover all the furniture in a canvas duck or denim so they are casual and easily cleaned. The white board wall should be cleaned and accessorized with magnets or clings to make it cheery then bring in some potted plants and a few side lamps (hit yard sales and ask for donations. I think if you approach the room with a casual "country" look it will be pleasurable for many years to come. Good Luck!

I agree with person above me.
1] pain the two beige walls a light, bright color - pale yellow would be great.
2] get some valences for the windows, to dress them up without losing any light. A small print with a bit of red and some yellow would be perfect.
3] Add a table runner or a few placemats in same print or same colors.
4] a few potted flowering plants or silk flowers in red and yellow for center or on top of cabinets, etc.
5] can you put red velvet bows or rows of red and yellow rickrack on the soundproofing?
6] go thru all chairs - which ones are broken, can be fixed, or must go?
a] match them together as much as you can, in groups
b[ get some red or yellow pillows for lounge chairs, if any, and chair covers for the rest - say, a light tan . [ get washable ones! ]