I would look to pull blues from the rug.

I would ask myself if I really loved the rug. Then stand back and take a picture of more of your space, or IS that in your room?

The point is.....do not decorate around a thing you would not select for yourself. : )

A creamy paint color would work well with your couch and rug, but are there adjoining spaces/more furniture that have to be considered? If that’s the case, additional pictures would help and also knowing your style. This type of rug is pretty adaptable and can be a backdrop vs everything matching (which will lean more traditional). Depends on how you want room to feel overall.

When you say color of upholstery, did you mean cushions, new seating or reupholstering couch?

If you want to head more contemporary/modern here is a good combo using ivory and grey (to tie in flooring) and blue can be added with accessories with blue/red in art.

Did you like what you had before the rug moved in? Are you sure you even need to change anything? What you show isn't bad!

You have so many options!

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Did the inheritance come with a condition that you have to display the rug? Or do you feel obligated to use it b/c you inherited it? Or do you actually like it? I'd give you a different answer for the first 2 questions vs the last. Help us understand its place in your home and life.

I'm going to assume you love the rug! If the photo lighting doesn't deceive, then it looks like there is enough white in the rug to work with the couch. I have a similar rug, and I have used a solid blue and a solid red in smaller chairs that are either close to or near the couch. Although you can see many examples of patterned fabric next to orientals, it is best to stick to solids unless you really know what you are doing.

It is also good to try out a fabric first, at least a close color, in a blanket or sheet perhaps, before committing to an expensive piece (I have experience with this - bad one).

The picture below is not so much a suggestion on how to decorate, but to show how well blue fabric will work with your rug (not the gold so much) and slate floor.

Get the best quality rug pad you can afford. Do that.

Anything goes with that rug. And I agree that what you have now also goes with the rug.

The ”chicest” way to design around that rug is to just see it as a neutral element. For example, with your current sofa, don’t try to match your throw pillows to the rug.

I would go either of 2 ways; All natural neutrals and round stuff -- wicker, stone, unfinished woods, plants, plain solid fabrics, small artwork, earthnware lamps ---

or straight lines and squares, lots of metal, glass, concrete, leather, bright color pops, modern sculpture, arc lights, etc.

or mix up both!

If you're keeping the white sofa, get a gray or dull green coffee table.

Lots of big plants will help keep the rug from looking busy

Traditionally these rugs were treated as if they went with anything, and people used patterned upholstery and such on top of them

Wow! I appreciate all your comments and love the photos of beautifully put together rooms. I do like the rug, although my choice would have leaned more to the orange side of red..this one is almost a burgundy. Love the colors in the rug you shared, My Two Cents! I think the beige couch was a mistake. It looks a little lifeless. Several of you suggested blue and I think that would be great. I am posting several pictures showing the room, which is a dining and living space. See why I’m a little confused?

I brought in the little blue chair for the color.

Love your rug, glad that you do too. Blues will look great with it.

Glad you liked the photos. I like the rug! I also like your sofa, but if you want another one, up to you. One thing I would consider is putting a console table behind the sofa.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/17-stories-rachmadewi-64-console-table-w007996929.html

I love the color of your little blue balloon chair. It could even live in the room for a while, swapping places with the bigger chair.

I think your organic table and chairs go fine with everything else in the living room. Maybe like the 3rd photo I posted you could try pillow covers for the dining chair back pillows in a tribal black and white This is from Amazon

I'm thinking these faux leather covers might be nice (also from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09311CFMX/ref=sbl_dpx_bedding-throw-pillow-covers_B0754MRLCW_0?th=1

I'm wondering if these are too much or perfect with your art

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JK11RL8/ref=sbl_dpx_bedding-throw-pillow-covers_B09311CFMX_0?th=1

I don't know. Maybe the tricolor on the chair near the back window, and the tribal or black/leather on the dining chairs. Or maybe you hate all 3!

It's a great space and I hope you have fun finding more art and growing more trees

It's a lovely rug, I think you can make it work with the pieces you have and then add pillows, plants, and maybe some ottomans. Have you thought about placing both of those nice wicker (or rattan) chairs in front of that window with the high wood table in between, to make a small conversation area. Then bring that glass coffee table into the living room and turn the sofa to face the fireplace with the coffee table in front of it? Glass tables look nice on Persian rugs, it lets the pattern show through.

Does that other sofa need to be in the room, could you find a nice home for it elsewhere in your house?

And...the sofa in the living room is a great color to work with to complement your new inherited rug.

Even pillow covers like these could work with your rug...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1191526994/turkish-rug-pillow-handmade-pillow-kilim?click_key=bd66833b112601b3fe30380c27303aa45b746e83%3A1191526994&click_sum=3ac394bc&ref=shop_home_active_1&pro=1&sts=1&variation0=3394003480

Gorgeous room. I love your two white (off-white) sofas on the carpet but they should face each other flanking the fireplace with the coffee table in the middle.

Then pair the two cane chairs as suggested with the tall wood table on the far wall or window.

Leave the little blue chair in there somewhere.

I would treat the FP and window area as one large seating area. Start by moving the rug towards the far wall (away from dining area). It does not have to be centered on the fireplace.

Are you keeping both sofas? If keeping just one sofa, have it face the fireplace with coffee table. Wicker tall back chairs with table between floating in front of the wall (they do not need to be against the wall, but floating in the area). Placing the sofa towards the fireplace opens the flow between the LR and DR areas. If this placement has the sofa back towards an entrance, you could add a console table or a pretty kantha quilt or patterned blanket.

What does the rest of the room look like (doors, hallways, etc)?

Since red wouldn't be your first choice, do not add any red to the room. Pull other colors from the rug (light blue, the greens, pink) for accents. I inherited a huge rug with a lot of red for our previous home. I am not a red person, but came to enjoy the rug because of my other choices for the room.

ETA: You could also replace the cushion covers on the two woven chairs. I've ordered many cushion covers from here, and have always been pleased.

I am liking the pale green color in the rug. Perhaps you could use that as your inspiration for furnishings.

Draw the ENTIRE space with all windows, dining, etc and ALL dimensions including fire.......

and state the exact size of the rug.

I see you're wanting that "view" sitting area.......but there may be better ways to configure the space, and account for the rug.

Can't say without a drawing and all the feet and inches.

100% agree with Allison about pulling the rug towards the far wall. Looks like you are trying to center it with the fireplace or center it with the room. Forget about that and let the rug define the seating area as separate from the dining area.

Loving all this good advice! I have tried the two couches flanking the fireplace but one is white and slip covered and one is really beige- they don’t compliment each other. I have considered an L shaped couch and a proper floor plan would help me see how that would work. I am definitely going to try moving the carpet towards the wall.
The sea grass chair by the window is my reading and coffee spot so somehow that must stay. I do like the pale green and the pink in the rug. Time to get some lovely fabric swatches. The pillows, Dawn, are fantastic. Thank you for all your comments and suggestions! It’s a work in progress!

The rug is beautiful and most of the “red” Persian rugs can be treated as neutrals. That inheritance looks great with your current furniture.

You are being offered free professional help with your layout. Draw what Jan told you to, listing (with photos) all the furniture you’re trying to figure out.

Most of what you own looks great together. Let the pros help you get the rug-and-furniture placement correct.