How to Decorate With White & Cranberry

Add doses of cranberry-red into a mostly white space. White has traditionally lent a crisp freshness to spaces, and it's a difficult color to overuse. Cranberry, in contrast, overwhelms and distracts when applied too thickly. A single throw or a pillow or two, juxtaposed on a snow or vanilla background, can create a stunning effect. For an effective and tasteful bit of drama, ignite an otherwise white room with one large item drenched in cranberry, like a sofa, rug, or dining table topped with a cloth in the color.

Accent your home with cranberry-and-white-patterned items. Search for quilts and blankets that interweave the two colors. Aubusson carpets beautifully blend the pigments to an elegant effect. Hunt out patterns like gingham, checks, paisley, florals and plaids that incorporate cranberry. A white-patterned background divided by stripes in the fruity shade also makes for a visually attractive fabric.

Use real cranberries and flowers in your decor. The tangy fruit can ring in the spirit of Christmastime, especially when featured in vases and sprinkled around candles. Place a few handfuls of them into star- or tree-shaped dishes to create a standout holiday centerpiece. Dark red or cranberry-colored roses, carnations and tulips, among other red blooms, can adorn your home with romantic lushness.

Accent your windows with this color scheme. For a highly original look, consider hoisting and setting a cranberry-and-white tablecloth or lightweight, patterned quilt over your windows; this style reads as modern and practical all at once. Match vanilla- or cream-colored lace with cranberry drapes for an opulent effect. You could also use a set of old-fashioned, rustic shutters, whose brown would nicely accent this color combination. Alternatively, drench the shutters in cranberry red to lend the white background a classy pop.