Red Rug & Blue Chair Decorating Ideas

Decorate With the Bezold Effect

• Color theorist Wilhelm Bezold discovered that changing a single color within a pattern alters the perception of how individuals view and respond emotionally to the pattern. With the colors red and blue, especially if they are bold hues, they can create a vibrant energy within a room. Consider using a solid red rug and pairing it with a couple of bright blue patterned chairs. Add an accent pillow that picks up the brightness of the red rug on the chairs. The proximity of these colors will create a glowing effect that results from applying the Bezold principles.

Go Patriotic

• Red, white and blue instantly remind Americans of the colors of the flag, alluding to patriotism and the idea of freedom. Make your room feel free and light with a red and white striped rug, a white sofa and solid blue chairs. Incorporate a star patterned throw, tin star shaped sculptures or a framed American flag to tie the theme together. Consider painting a single wall in the room with a dark navy blue to make the room feel more cozy. Give the room a country or weathered look by using roughly hewn furniture.

Pick a Signature Color

• If you like the energy that the color red brings, or have an affinity to the soft, calmness of a pale blue hue, pick one as a primary color in your color scheme. For instance, using red as your primary color, find a rug that has a bold red patterned with hints of blue. Add blue chairs with a blue and red pattern to coordinate with the rug. Add a red sofa, red lacquered chairs and a red accent wall to boost the vibrancy in the room. Temper the heat of red with small blue accents such as a blue patterned vase, a blue tinted lamp or abstract art that has both blue and red hues.

Decorate in Retro

• Pick a retro theme to make a red rug and blue chair look both charming and inviting. Choose a time period, such as the 1960s, for a themed look to your room. Pick blue chairs that have a molded look, find a red rug that has a bold geometric pattern and base the rest of your decor around these items. Choose an angular sofa in a chocolate brown or charcoal gray and include decor items that are made from plastic. A plastic blue and aluminum table can fit in with the 1960s retro theme, as well as a blue and red display of lava lamps or a 3-D abstract wall sculpture. Balance the blue and red use by incorporating even amounts of a neutral hue such as brown or ivory.