Area rugs are the foundation to every well designed room and their color will define a space’s personality. The intersection of these concepts makes for an important decision that will dictate a room’s appearance and vibe. As far as aesthetics are concerned, the success of a design plan will hinge on rug color. For most rug buyers, color is by far the most important issue. It is easy to understand why considering the transformative power of color and of area rugs in general. Color profoundly impacts space. It dictates the affect of lighting, the appearance of size, and feel or mood of a room. It literally affects your brain. And area rugs can make over a room on their own.

But the concept of color is also dynamic and illusory. Trends change and colors fall in and out of favor. What is considered an acceptable color scheme or combination may be intolerable at a moments notice. While this fact may be frightening at first blush and prohibitive for being creative with some furnishings, it highlights a distinct advantage area rugs offer – they are easily movable. They are also available at prices that permit updating if you want to stay trendy or desire frequent change. For these reasons, area rugs are the safest bet to take a design chance, introduce a color trend, or add a focal point to a room.

Unfortunately, for some buyers color is also the only issue considered when shopping for a new area rug. Beware; color quests can have a blinding effect. They are often taken to the point of being an unhealthy obsession that can strain eyes and turn strong minds mad. Believe us, we have been there as a buyer and a seller and neither position is pleasant when it comes to color obsessions. Of course, the reason for this is that more than any other rug topic, color is subjective. This is both the gift of color and its curse. It is so hard to define or even to grasp. At times it is also impossible to predict the how people will receive it. And, as with any other freedom of choice, some people will not be able or willing to make any choice let alone an informed or wise one. This article intends to help buyers decorate with a plan and maximize the beauty of area rugs.



A color wheel is the best tool to better explain and understand color. Yellow, red and blue are the primary color hues and the building blocks of all colors. There are also three secondary colors hues; orange, violate, and green. The third color level consists of yellow / orange, red / orange, red / violet, blue / violet, blue / green, and yellow / green.

Color & Temperature

The wheel also illustrates the dividing line between cold and warm colors. Colors originating from blue are cold while those that come from red are warm. To create a “warm” room use orange, yellow, and red-orange tones. Conversely, green, violet, and light blue will achieve a cold color scheme.


Black, white, silver, gray and brown are neutral colors. They are perfect for providing a background and putting the focus on your main color palette. Of course, they can also be used as the focus colors of a design.


It is important to frame any discussions of color meaning and its affect on mood in a context that considers one’s age and culture. Having noted this, there are generalizations that can be made. Also, consider that some colors tend to spark emotions that seem conflicting; again their use and context must be considered. This is certainly an interesting and valid topic; however, head caution in the weight you give it. Ultimately, your personality and sense of style should dictate your color choices.

Black: strength, class, mystery. Blue: cold, silent, soothing, sadness. Brown: rustic, stable, richness. Green: new, natural, soothing. Neutrals: quality, timeless, dependable. Orange: fun, friendly, inviting. Pink: sweet, youth, romance. Purple: elegance, royal, mystery, spirituality, atonement. Red: excitement, energy, passion, and danger. Yellow: warm, cheerful, bright. White: pure, crisp, innocence, and brightness.



Attempting to perfectly match the colors of a rug with existing furniture or decor is practically impossible and rarely creates interesting or good design. It is also sure to send you on an endless color quest that will ultimately leave you frustrated and resentful of your design project that was supposed to be fun and enjoyable. Instead strive to develop a well-thought plan of complimenting colors.


Here, different shades of a single color are used to make a design impact. Monochromatic plans are generally easy to do well and send a soothing mood and authoritative tone. This is a perfect way to create a sophisticated look while playing it safe.


Colors directly to the right and left of a desired color on the color wheel are its analogous partners. These colors often appear in nature so they are familiar and intuitive. Be sure to choose a dominate color and accent with its analogous partners.


Colors that are opposite one another on the wheel are considered color complements. For example, blue and orange; red and green; and purple and yellow are complementary colors. Using complementary color schemes will bring energy to a room. This is especially true when they are fully saturated. Overusing complementary colors can create a busy and confused look. Less is more.


This plan achieves a defined contrast without the extreme drama of the standard complementary scheme by using a dominant color and the two colors adjacent to it complementary.

Triadic

If you want high contrast with a sense of balance and harmony consider a triadic scheme. It uses three colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel, like red, blue, and yellow.

Tetradic

If you are going to meet the challenge of using four colors to decorate a room you need to have a plan. Tretradic designs use two pairs of complementary colors. An example is using red and green along with blue and orange. To achieve harmony consider using muted tones and choosing a dominate color.