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living room Design Dilemma Home Decorating

bright color to go with tan jute rug?

last year

I can’t believe I’m doing this but I need help. Trying to add some light and punch to family room. Just bought tan jute rug. Have cream couch. Have pine colored wood bar. Need a color for accent chairs and pillows, and sizeable ottoman. Can’t make decisions ~ there is stuff in my head but can’t see through the haze of losing my 21 yr old son suddenly and tragically 9 months ago. He was soon to be Clemson grad so we both loved Orange! But we also shared a love for nautical blue (his heart was drawn to the water) and red. I need something bright to sit in … he was so excited for me to be doing something I wanted to like fixing up the house and I am paralyzed.

Featured Answer

tracefloyd

last year

last modified: last year

You must be in a fog and I hope you find healing. I can understand why you want a little color.

Your jute rug is a good choice because now you can bring in pops of color that won't clash with a pattern rug.

Start with two of your colors. For instance, blue and orange is a great color combo. Start your path easy with some wingback slipcovers, blue and orange throws and pillows.

Then bring in art and accessories in those colors.

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Comments (10)

Tammy Whaley
Original Author
last year
Adding some pictures. I’m not stuck on keeping anything. I can even send the rug back.
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The tan is neutral, so I really wouldn't even take it into account. My bedroom is light tan carpet, light french blue walls, white trim, chocolate (velvet) curtains, duvet has shades cream and tan and so does upholstered chair with ottoman. My dark toned wood pieces fit right in. Personally I would put the money for wallpaper into linens/bedskirt you love (although my duvet cover was 75% off at World Mkt). Use great frames from Michael's or flea mkts on the walls instead.
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I have a seagrass rug in my DR that is surprisingly tough, stain resistant (at least long enough for you to run and get a towel), but not soft underfoot. I just bought a jute rug for the LR. It's soft underfoot, but I don't know about cleanability yet or even how durable it is. However, for the price of these rugs, I would still consider using them in a family room, especially if they are going to take a beating. I paid $350 for a 9x12 jute rug (the soft one). You could put it in a family room, flip it over when one side starts to look bad, then toss it when the other side's done, and have $$$ left over to buy a new one, all for the price of a fabric rug. On the other hand, you might want to consider an oriental design if you have kids. I used an inexpensive wool oriental rug in our DR when the kids were growing up, for 18 years in fact. It hid everything. It was a dark, busy pattern. You'd never know a whole can of orange soda got spilled on it at some point. It cleaned well.
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will tan/brown walls go with burnt orange accents
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thanks for the link sue! I like the colors--although not sure my husband will go for the print--he wants to stay away from florals this time around. I was at Bed Bath and Beyond tonight and they had several sets of drapes in the burnt orange/ brown scheme, as well as pillow, throws, and art work. And, walmart also had some nice pillows in the orange/turquoise/brown scheme in the bedding section. Normally, I don't like the quality of walmart home items, but I had really good luck with an animal print comforter (much much better quality and much cheaper than one I got at Macy's that only lasted me six months). Walmart also had some nice kitchen rugs in the burnt orange. I am finding burnt orange everywhere--which makes it so much easier. I thought it might have gone out of style as I loved it about 7 years ago. I am excited as now I have a vision in mind. Hopefully picking a paint color won't be as difficult as the last time around when I was picking yellow paint. I am going to look at the stone hearth. My friend has valspar lyndhurst timber and it looks really nice. Also, will look at the Mississippi mud.
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I tried to post a picture, but am having trouble with a few things. First of all, my photo skills are lacking and the true colors of the current wall color and the sample of Wheeling Neutral are just not showing up they way they appear IRL. The current wall color is much more yellow. In my picture, the two colors look quite similar, when they really aren't at all. The other problem is the size of the picture. I inserted the picture by dragging and dropping from my pictures library and the picture is huge. Do I need to resize before I insert a photo? This is my first attempt at including a photo since the change over to Houzz. Then, of course, there's that whole thing with my photos becoming 'property' of Houzz. I have been comparing my samples of Lenox Tan and Wheeling Neutral and I think I've figured out what didn't work with the Lenox Tan in our BR with the bedding I'm going to use. Altho I do like the richness of LT, the color needs to be grayer and I think I've achieved that with the WN. Could I go darker? I suppose the answer would be yes, but then the color is just about matching the grayed brown in the pillow sham and that's not necessarily my goal. The colors should just blend, right? I want a nice background color that works with the overall color scheme.
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ilikefriday
last year
last modified: last year
Tammy I am so sorry that you are dealing with the death of your son. I am sure this must be a very difficult time. I hope that you have a network of people you can talk to.

Can you post more photos of your space o that we can see what the entire area looks like?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I can't tell how much I feel for you we lost our son 6 yrs ago and honestly I still have some bad days. I think a more colorful rug would be where iwould start . I really dislike jute except for the front door landing. Then that can be the jummping off thing to add color somewher else . Right now just take care of yourself and take time to do this .Take some pics and post them here in a comment do not start another post.. You will get lots of help.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
last year
So so sorry for your loss.

I like the idea of orange and blue, since orange is special to you.
Maureen
last year
last modified: last year
My nephew died tragically 7 years ago and I remember the first year especially that life was on hold for my sister and her family. So sorry for your son’s loss and I hope given his recent passing, that being occupied and choosing reminders of his favorite things brings you some comfort.

I’d aim for a room that wraps you in warmth and a sense of calm. A good choice would be a nature inspired feel and a jute rug is a good grounding piece, add/change accessories slowly, only buy items that resonate with you, and art can be powerful in creating fond memories.
niccidhg
last year
I’m so sorry for your loss. I really like Maureen’s suggestions and, moreover her sentiments. Best of luck to you in working through everything.
Tammy Whaley
Original Author
last year
Thank you for all the kindness. Attaching a few more pictures. My while downstairs is basically an open area. My family room combines with a sunroom and kitchen area. I should have mentioned too that I am repainting walls a white color. I love all the comments. Please give me more ideas. I feel the clouds lifting every once in awhile.
ilikefriday
last year
Is it possible for you to take a photo that shows the entire fireplace?
tracefloyd
last year
You are going to love the white walls. After so many years (decades) of avoiding white we finally took the plunge and went whire. I am so glad we did, so light and bright and a good backdrop for the furniture and art.

I love the white and off-white room that Maureen posted. It is calming. Get some white or off-white slipcovers for your Wingbacks and armchair. I think the pale gray sofa is fine. That arwork is so serene. Nature or getaway inspired, good idea. You have some framed art with architecture, swap those with new nature prints you love and white mattes.

Bring in some white accents too. Spray paint some things white and cream- those green spindle lamps, the gray side table, the cane chair, etc. That example room has very few accent colors but it is just enough. And look at that neutral rug very nice. Great inspiration room.

I just noticed your log table, stuff like that will be perfect in your new space. Wait till you see your neutral window coverings against the the white wall. This is gonna look so nice. Keep us posted, I can't wait for you to get started and see some progress. Go buy some spray paint today and start with the green lamp bases, why not?

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