Accenting with red rugs

Red is the color of passion. Red is the color associated with leadership and energy. Because of the intense emotion that red evokes, many people will not choose to decorate entire rooms with red paint and furniture but instead to accent areas with the hue to give an area more intensity. One of the best ways to accent your room with red and not overwhelm the space with the energetic color is to skillfully place red rugs. By doing so any room will be given a new vibrancy and life.

You can purchase area rugs and red rugs at any home decor stores or online. From classic pattern designs such as paisley and ruby garden to new and trendy styles like geometry and abstract you can find the right fit for any room. If you are looking to cover the cold wood floors in your house you will want to make special note of the floor space and buy an area rug that covers the allotted space. Also take into consideration that the rug will create a slight grade change in your floor, so measure for couches coffee tables and other furniture that will be placed a top the rug. It can be cumbersome and annoying to have your couch wobble on three legs, being unevenly set up on the floor. So it is important to measure the rug to either end short of the beginning of the couch or make sure it covers the area to the back of the legs.

In the same way, take the time to decide what purpose you will want the rug to fill. If it is to keep your wood floors in good condition, it will not matter as much what kind you buy. However, if you want the rug to be a special decoration accenting your space, be sure to factor in how much traffic it will get.

Warm Neutral Color Schemes

There is something very easy on the eye about neutral color schemes especially those at the warm end of the spectrum encompassing colors from cream, through honey beige and coffee colors, right through to chocolate brown. They are understated in nature and provide a feeling of relaxation and comfort as soon as you walk into a room. Here is how you might use those colors in your living room.

1. Creamy White or Ivory

These colors are fantastic for walls as they reflect light without giving a chilly atmosphere to a room. They can be used even in rooms which don’t get much sun and in small rooms to help them look larger. You can also use cream tones for window curtains, valances and sofa colors to give a sophisticated modern look. Add texture and interesting accessories to introduce another dimension into the room so that it does not seem flat.

2. Honey Beige

Honey beige is a lovely warm neutral color to use for flooring. It has that mid-tone which does not show every speck of dirt and dust yet it is still light enough to avoid having an overpowering effect when being used in such a large area. You can buy a honey beige carpet or install an oak floor to provide the perfect backdrop to your neutral decor.

3. Coffee and Caramel Colors

The slightly darker tones of coffee and caramel work well in contemporary interiors and they have enough depth of color to rise above the neutrals which form the backdrop. Use them for sofa covers, curtains and rugs mixed with lighter neutrals.

4. Chocolate Brown

Dark brown or chocolate tones are great for adding rich contrast and impact to your neutral color scheme. You can use these darker shades of brown in wooden furniture and dark wood flooring or leave them in small doses as a pattern on a cushion, throw or curtain. If you want to add texture to a lighter wooden floor add a brown rug in leather or suede would add a sophisticated and luxurious touch.