How to Choose What Colors to Go on My Walls With Red Carpet

Some people mistakenly feel that red carpet limits their wall color options.

Red carpet creates a bold look that pops with intensity in any room. While you may love the way red makes a statement in your living space, you may be at a loss when it comes to choosing a wall color to match or contrast with your crimson carpet. By taking an inventory of your decorating style and combining it with your lifestyle, you'll be able to choose from one of the many possible hues that will complement your red carpet.

Instructions

1. Examine your red carpet and determine what color of undertone it has. Red is often either warm or cool. Determine whether your red carpeting has a cool undertone like blue or purple or a warm undertone like orange or yellow by examining it in natural, morning light. Choose a paint color that complements, rather than conflicts with, your carpet colors.

2. Observe the colors of your furnishings. A floral couch with touches of red, pink, green and yellow in it invite you to choose one of the colors of the pattern as your wall color. A black leather chair may inspire you to paint black and white stripes on the wall or choose a patterned wallpaper to cover your walls. Heavy wood furniture may inspire you to paint your walls a deep tan.

3. Consider how colors affect your mood and choose one that complements your red carpet and your psyche. Entire studies have been devoted to the psychology of colors. Choose pink for a soft feminine feel, blue for a masculine room or yellow for a warm, stimulating atmosphere. Alternatively, opt for neutrals like white or gray as an impartial background for whatever mood you choose to create.

4. Study your wall decor. If you have a painting that you particularly love, look for colors in it that you can duplicate on your walls that will complement your red carpet. A portrait of you in your favorite silver dress may inspire you to paint your walls in a similar shade. A montage of black and white photos may encourage you to paint your walls white or gray as the perfect background to frame your favorite images.

5. Determine whether or not you'd like to choose more than one wall color. Choose a color that closely matches the red color of your carpet and paint one wall in that shade. Use white on the other walls, and allow your red wall to be the focal point of the room. Paint one wall black and the others white for a dramatic look that makes a statement.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect paint samples, bring them home and see how they look with your carpet.

• Choose a paint color that is one or two shades lighter than you'd like your walls to be. Paint always looks more intense on an entire wall than it does on a small sample.

References

• Sherwin-Williams: How to Choose Colors
• Moose Peterson Wildlife Photography: