How should I decorate my cranberry red living room?

My husband and I just painted our living room cranberry red. I'm starting to think about decorating ideas, but am having a hard time figuring out what will work with the bright color and home style. It's a 1920's bungalow, so I want to keep that old, comfortable style and mix it up with some classic Pottery Barn designs. We have a greenish/brown Pottery Barn couch, oversized club chair, brown rectangular ottoman (used as a coffee table alternative), and a beige/sage Persian rug. I was thinking of black and white photographs of places we've visited, but I need other options. Maybe vintage Parisian/Italian posters? Would that be too busy/much? What suggestions do you have for accent table finishes, wall decor, and picture frame finishes? Also, is it okay to have brown wood furniture with black-framed wall art?

How should I decorate my cranberry red living room?
SOOO funny! One of my design projects in school started as a study in cranberries (yeah, cranberries)... which led to one of my color pallettes: cranberry, shades of espresso brown, creams and deep earthy/mossy greens. Sound like the colors in your living room!.



ANYway, I digress. The one thing I notice in your descriptions (except for the club chair) is an absence of patterns. At least, it sounds like everything in your living room is solid colored (except, of course, for the persian rug). I'm wondering if perhaps a few well placed throw pillows, made with special upholstery fabric you find that includes shades of your cranberry, browns and greens would add a bit of dazzle? Find two or three fabrics that would complement each other. You know: one that is a healthy mix of all three, one that is mostly cranberry and one that is mostly a brighter (or truer) green than the one that manifests itself in the sofa/carpet colors. One of these is bound to have another color, or colors, that you could add to your palette, opening the door for other additions to your spot.



The early decades of the 1900's were about returning to the individual craftsman's art... because the industrial revolution had taken away the need for individual artisans at the turn of the century. Finding a couple of interesting craftsman pieces from these eras (or wannabe's from these eras) would complement this older style I think you're talking about... and help maintain the warmth I think you're looking for. Even something like making a few homemade cheap votive candle holders from blocks of clean hardwood. Those would carry the wood up from the floor to the eyeline...





If you're cringing at the idea of putting stark b%26amp;w photos on the wall (which I don't think is such a bad idea), you could mount some shelving (with the hidden mounts) on a wall, staggered or in unison. A strategically placed Depression Glass vase with really good fake calla lillies (or pale green/white hydrangea globes) would go with what you're decor is doing already.



Pottery Barn is definitely a great place to shop: they take old styles and make them modern (LOVE their old oscillating fans....). Anyway, I like what one other commentator said about using metallic frames for any pics you put on the wall.



Anyway, not sure if any of this brainstorming helped. Sounds like what you have already is rich, warm and wonderful. I'm sure whatever you add to it will be quite lovely.



Good luck.
Reply:brown wood furniture is a no-no.you can't have brown with cranberry red!posters make the place cheap.put up some nice paintings.with light colors like white,aqua blue,etc.table finishes you could use brown varnishes or summat.for wall decor,use conventional items like pictures,black and white glossies are good. did you know that persian rugs look good on a wall?colorful pottery is also good.monotony can also look good.white curtains with cranberry red.mmm..im about to get some icecream.
Reply:go to hgtv.com
Reply:Greetings!Nice choice of color.I'm going to assume you have a formal or smallish living room so I'm going in that direction.The brightness of the paint will make the room look larger so let's play off that idea.I like golds and pewter.Deep colored,not shiny nor brassy.The couch and ottoman need to go.Sight unseen,the rug sounds complimentary,so we'll leave that alone for now.Wall art is going to be crucial to this room.I like the idea of maybe some abstract art in deep purples,greys,maybe blood orange.Frames should be simplistic so as not to fight the art,but to soften and compliment it.There again,a deep pewter would serve you well.Asian artwork would also do the trick if you decide to keep the rug.Pier One has alot of oriental accent pieces should you go that route.The color scheme you chose does not have to limit you,but you don't want too much going on or your guests (and you) will be overwhelmed.Think about this,too:Start out slowly and don't try to put the room together in one day.Purchase things that can be returned if they don't look right.Creating a good looking place should be fun.And you can learn some things as well.Bon Chance!!
Reply:I agree busy seems to be the case,,, or thought.



Greens,,,some,,, can work well with Cranberry. GRAY, very rich on its own, is a great compliment to Craberry,,,IE: Furniture, carpeting.



Black and White certainly are contrasting, but complimentary. Brown isn't, but obviously you have a lot of that shade in furnishings.



I have suggested this before, and it works for all things included in any room.



Go to a home store, paint store, Michaels art supplies, and pick up a color wheel. At the very least invest in a color chip sample booklet type thing, thin, long pages of the color chip paint samples. Apply the suggested opposing, contrasting, complimentary colors suggested to any choice you make on any level of decorating.



Rev. Steven
Reply:gosh you have a busy living room ....... i say strip it down and start all over
Reply:Because you have so many things going on in that room I suggest you go to HGTV.com and browse for some ideas. Check out what other rooms look like so you can get a feel for what you really want.
Reply:I think oriental/asian theme goes great with that color. To keep your 1920's classic style, there's a lot of reproduction vintage wicker and bamboo furniture out there. (try World Market). Also WW1 era oriental figurines and photos.
Reply:I think what you've started sounds great. I'd stay away from any greens, though, I think it tends to take away from the impact of the red.

I used to have a red livingroom and I decorated with accents of white, cream, beige, camel, black, and dark %26amp; light wood. Turned out very nice! At the time I had somewhat of an oriental/moroccan feel to the room, with asian-inspired artwork, candle holders, a home-made shoji screen, etc.

Good luck!
Reply:Sounds awesome! Throw in some gold, light green and puce fabric accents (throw pillows and blanket throws). I think the black frames and and brown wood is fine. I love busy...it's warm and comfortable.
Reply:you should paint it a nice mellow yellow color then think about it
Reply:Find something you like to make it your own. If you collected posters of famous people, Madonna, and other people, fram them and put them up.

Add a little bit of spark into it, say add green, or baige colored furniture, or decorations. Add some of those brown stick things that are really pretty.

Add flowers, wooden or the woven type tables, to keep it old. Make sure it stays bright, it will bring out the color of the walls, wich will bring out the color of the furniture and decorations.

Make it appeal to your eyes, then if you feel confident about it, others will love it when the come and visit.