Decorating With Red - Red Rugs

Any time I hear somebody say "decorate" - boy, do I see red!

Okay, I confess. Red is my favorite color. And I know - being a Red Person makes me "blunt, demanding and a poor listener." But the personality chart also says I'm "independent, I take charge and I get results!" So listen up!

If you'd like advice from someone who is "driven to complete projects quickly and efficiently," then I'll tell you - the color red is definitely the go! And don't worry -- it's in tune with the trends.

I wouldn't be afraid of using a moderate amount of red, instead of a tiny amount. It can be done in good taste, either alone, or in combo with almost any other color, and it always has a warming effect on the environment.

The color red offers a wealth of rich hues that blend beautifully with most of the colors in the rainbow. It infuses a tasteful spark of emotion into just about any setting.

Red has been used successfully to lend richness to most decorating styles, including Rustic, Modern, Shabby Chic, Art Deco, Oriental, French Country, Cottage and Mediterranean.

Do you like Modern? Well, I don't think anything is more modern than spontaneous, unrestrained passion, is it! So I think every contemporary decorator who is passionate should consider a modern red area rug to enrich the overall design with feelings of warmth and beauty . . . or to inflame the passions!

A little bit of red goes a long way. Any large room is a good setting for area rugs, with red being a particularly good accent for color schemes based on blue, turquoise, gold or yellow.

Red also works especially well for window trim or coverings, drawer knobs, fringes and tassels, vases, bottles, a thin line of red around the ceiling molding, just about any smooth woodwork (try high gloss), upholstery, pillows, floral arrangements, paintings & photos with a red color scheme, the table centerpiece and knickknacks.

A startlingly stylish combo is red & white with one other strong color. For example, red & white with aqua, pink or black can be literally exciting!

And you can even do a whole wall in red (but never all the walls, unless it's a teenager's bedroom). You can use the red items cleverly in combo to weave a color theme nicely through the space (especially if you're doing it with a bottle of good red wine). Go ahead, roll out the red carpet for yourself!

Okay, now it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty. At the risk of sounding bawdy, I'll discuss my favorite aspect of red -- it is the color of passion! Especially when it's used in the bedroom -- passion unleashed!

Did you know that red symbolizes both Cupid and the Devil - how hot is that!

Some say a luxuriously soft red area rug is even more conducive to intimacy than a bed, if you like to . . . you know, Get Down!

The coolest thing is, it works equally well when the rug's not even in the bedroom!

So if you're a sensualist or seducer, I think you would really enjoy a plush Oriental red area rug in front of your fireplace - who could resist! Especially with some delicate but luscious sandalwood scent sprinkled on the burning logs, nice flowers and the right music for your guest. After all, this isn't merely your house we're decorating, -- it's your lair!

When I was growing up in Southern California, my grandparents had a plush red-upholstered King Chair, which was throne-like, with ornately carved woodwork. It provided endless hours of fantasizing about what great kings and knights had sat upon it before me. And despite all the interesting details carved into the legs, my eyes always lingered longest, as if mesmerized, on the deep red suede-like cushion. I think that chair might be part of why red is my favorite color today.

Now, if you've ever had to take the red-eye, because you were painting the town red, or if you've had a red letter day, or seen red sails in the sunset, or a red sky in the morning, or even caught a red herring - then you're aware that there are many psychological and physiological properties of the color red that are so significant they've made it into our language.

And it's not just expressions using the word that give off feelings. Even the names of the various hues of red are rich with connotation, such as flame red, Indian red, Venetian red, fire engine red, blood red, burgundy, ruby, rose, rouge, crimson, scarlet and vermillion - all carry a strong feeling, just as the color red does in decorating. The warmest of all colors, red symbolizes energy, action and confidence.. It can be an audacious visual statement, and it's the color most popular among extroverts like me. I just love color - most of them -- and as a decorator, colors are my way of life. So please excuse my enthusiasm for red, but whenever I want to "excite or inspire," or exude an air of "confidence and power," I use the color red with great effect.

Of course red is also seasonal and political. In this country it's traditionally combined with green at Christmas time, and with white and blue on the 4th of July.

Many other countries use red in their political and religious symbols, too, because of the unique psychological power and universal significance the color has. For example, in Feng Shui, red is the color of Fire, it carries the heat of arousal, and also of divine energy -- either creative or destructive. In China, red is reputed to bring good luck, joy, excitement and sexual potency! In India it's the color of marriage.

So kindly overlook it if I sound excited by the color red. Even though I may at times "run over those who are slower to act or speak," I definitely "enjoy challenges, variety and change." So take it from me -- if you want to create a quick and easy mood change without a lot of work, just sprinkle some red things into your space, and see what a lift it gives you! Especially with a good bottle of red!