Red and Rust Rugs – Ask any psychologist and they will tell you that our environment places a significant role in our emotional well being. Color is a major part of this. Warm colors, such as red and rust, have a stimulating effect.
According to color psychology, the color red represents love, romance, gentleness, warmth, comfort, energy, and excitement. Rust colors, such as oranges and browns, represent happiness, energy, warmth, enthusiasm, prosperity, sophistication, reliability, stability, friendship, security, and nature.
When it comes to textiles, colors are achieved through the use of dyes. Red and rusty colors have been sourced from nature for thousands of years to create pigments for dyes. Interestingly, avocados can be used to create red dyes. Beyond this, red dyes can be sourced from a wide variety of plants and minerals in nature.
Red leaves, for example, will create a rusty looking reddish-brown. Madder is another plant that is commonly used to create red dyes. In all, there are more than 40 different plants and insects which can be used to create red dye. Brazil-wood, cochineal, buck-thorn bark, and safflower are all common sources of red and rusty colored carpet dyes.
When selecting antique rugs for your home, red and rust colored rugs can really enhance the feel of a room, depending on the shade you go for. Not all reds and rusts are equal how they are perceived, so there are a lot of different options to consider when selecting rugs and carpets in these hues. Bright red Oriental rugs pair well with white, black, and other vibrant colors, while rust colored rugs can look nice against greens, browns, and oranges.
A bright red carpet can add a pop of color and eye-catching contrast to an otherwise neutral area. Brightly colored rugs bring a sense of vibrancy and energy to a room. A rug featuring a dark, deep red will add some drama and richness to the decor and make the space feel more intimate; while a reddish-orange antique carpet elicits a modern feeling. Moving towards the rusty-brown end of this color spectrum, a rug in this hue can make a room interior decor feel casual and and make the space feel grounded.
“The Red that Colored the World” Cochineal Red Works Of Art Museum of International Folk Art
Cochineal — Since the beginning of modern history, the color red has had a special place in art, decoration, fashion and foods. Red is one of the primary colors and one of the most universally used colors. Warm and attractive, it has the power to instantly draw attention and make people excited, which is why you can see it in everything from foods and fabrics to the logos of multinational companies like McDonald’s and Coca Cola.
Red Navajo Serape Dyed with Cochineal
But do you know the most prolific and enduring source of this king of colors? You would be forgiven for not having the slightest idea, because very few people do. The exhibition titled “The Red that Colored the World,” which opened at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico on May 17, 2015, is designed to explore the fascinating story behind its discovery and its explosive global spread during the last four centuries.
When the Spanish conquistadors set foot in Mexico in the 16th century, they discovered something else besides the Aztecs and their fabulous pyramids – a tiny scaled insect called cochineal, from which the native people extracted a kind of acid. When mixed with aluminum or calcium salts, the acid changed into carmine dye, which was used to color foods and fabric different hues of red.
Today, the acid is known as carminic acid. It is produced by the cochineal, found in much of subtropical Mexico and South America, to deter predators. The amount of acid that can be extracted from each insect is equal to 17 to 24% of its dried body weight. Once the Spanish learned how to extract the acid and turn it into dye from the native people, they quickly spread it all over the world, making it an important source of income.
The dried bodies of cochineal bugs are used to make vibrant red dye
Even after synthetic dyes and pigments were invented in the 19th century, carminic acid extracted from cochineal continued to be used to produce the color red. Besides foods and fabrics, it was widely used to color furniture, paintings and sculptures. It is still used today to color processed foods and textiles. In fact, the increased demand for natural dye has made cultivation of the insects profitable once again. Today, Peru is the largest exporter of carminic dye.
Once the dye was discovered, there was no looking back. It revolutionized the food and textile industries. It changed the way artists and painters used the color red and put it at the pinnacle of the color spectrum. There is no doubt that synthetic dye would have been eventually invented, but without the carminic dye, the world would have to wait for a few centuries to see the effects of the color red.
The exhibition explores the discovery and spread of the color red through folk art, paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, furniture and textile from pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial Mexico, Peru and New Mexico. But it is not restricted to that. It also includes paintings, textiles and clothing from Europe, India, the Middle East and other parts of Asia.
Through the use of a variety of interactive, visitor-friendly features and didactic materials, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the central role of the color red in art, paintings, sculptures, furniture and textiles. The exhibition is scheduled to close on September 13, 2015.
Using Red and Rust Rugs in Modern Interiors
Red and rust are in the same color family, but they are almost opposites when it comes to styling a room. When you think of a red rug, the first thing that comes to mind is drama. Rust, on the other hand, has an earthy feel that is calming and soothing. Red is one of the most common colors in traditional Persian rugs. The mood of the rug depends on the amount of red in the rug and the other colors that are paired with it.
Interior Design with Red Rug
A touch of red can brighten the piece and give it a spirited and lively feel. Depending on the design, this can give it a tribal feel that is perfect for a Boho chic room. A rug with bold swatches of saturated red has an eclectic look that is perfect for a Parisian style or for a boudoir sanctuary. A bright red rug with a fine knot count and high level of detail is regal and brings an elegance to the room in any style of decor.
When it comes to rust, you immediately think of earth tones. One of the major trends this year is using spicy colors that reflect the natural world. A rust rug blends perfectly with other earthy hues, such as browns, ivories, greys, or subdued greens. Rust and slate blue are another popular color combination to give the room an organic feel. Rust tends to create a calming effect for the perfect escape from the world. A rust rug calls for other accessories and elements that use natural materials and colors, or maybe a few plants throughout the space.
Bedroom Decorated with Red Rust Rugs
Red and rust are both on the warm end of the color spectrum. From an interior design perspective, red is the more playful and charismatic of the two, while rust is a bit softer and cozier. Both complement blues in matching hues. Red easily stands out among black and white to create intensity in the design. Rust is the perfect match for a room that is primarily in neutral colors.
In today’s interior design trends, the rug is one of the most important elements in the design. The rug is often used to set the tone of the room, and the rest of the room is styled around it. Persian carpets are a classic that never goes out of style, and they are being featured in popular media as the center of the room design. Whether you want a room that is contemporary and fresh or one that is a bit more on the traditional side, you have a wide selection of red and rust rugs from which to choose.
Use these links below to find the perfect carpets by their rug colors:
Twenty or so years ago my father gave me a beautiful antique Persian rug - after so many years (and kids and pets) it needed some TLC, so I brought it to Nazmiyal. I just picked it up today and - wow! They got the stains out entirely and the entire rug is brighter; they also made some repairs - it's back in my living room and looks fantastic, and the bill was lower than I'd expected. Overall it was a great experience - the people are wonderful, the work was perfect, and I saw so many beautiful rugs at their store that I found myself wishing for a larger apartment. Next time I need any work done on a rug, or find an open bit of floor I know where I'll be heading.
It is always a delight going to the Nazmiyal showroom. This Qashqai is one of several purchases made over the years, and mom is truly enjoying it. Jason and the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. They listen to the customeru2019s needs. When I go to the showroom, it is like visiting my family because we have the same appreciation for the textile arts.nnOriental carpets are a rare discipline to be educated in, because you canu2019t go to a university to have certain types of training and experience, such as knowing the cultures and processes of carpet weaving. Jason has such a refined eye that he can distinguish a good rug from a great rug, and that knowledge is offered to the customer to elevate their point of view.nnComing here has been an initiation into a world of culture, art, and beauty which has sustained me, and for that I am grateful.
Loved my runner rug purchase from Nazmiyal. Love the ability to purchase, try and return if it didn't work out! I had it shipped to California and everything worked out beautifully!
NAZMIYAL is the best source for antique and vintage rugs and carpets. Staff is extremely knowledgeable, Jason himself is an amazing dealer who handpicks each and every piece in his stunning collection and is happy to educate the consumer, not just make a sale. I always trust his experience and great eye for all my spaces!
I had an absolutely wonderful experience working with Nazmiyal. I was very impressed by their selection, the quality of their beautiful carpets, and their extremely reasonable prices. Really I cannot say enough about how helpful everyone at the gallery was - especially Omri, work with him if you can! - and how happy I am with my new antique rug. Five stars, highly, highly recommended!
