What I would do is head back to IKEA and pick up an inexpensive big area rug and cover up as much as you can of the red rug, and then you're free to do what you want without the restriction of the carpet!

I agree, getting a big rug is a good idea (or a lot of smaller rugs, or perhaps FLOR tiles if you can afford them) and go with that. If you don't mind the red carpet, then there are a few colors that go well with it. gold, grey, white, black, chocolate brown, deep purple, burnt orange, etc.

I would go with a relaxing large scale white and grey print of some kind on the windows and the comforter, then pull in the red of the carpet in throw pillows on the bed. I would go with a fairly limited color scheme to make the carpet seem like it makes sense. As long as you reference the color again you should be fine.

Something like the "Marimekko ® Lehtimaja Mist Bed Linens" at Crate and Barrel might work!

how about a moderate 8 X 10 sisal, rest of furniture black, off white bedding with hot pink and black accents pillows, silver lamps, tray, and frames. Paint the walls swiss coffee.

Is that indoor/outdoor carpeting? Oh my!

You said that this carpeting is "all over" the apartment. So, what are you doing with the rest of the decor?

Large area rugs can get pricey, even at IKEA, and if you don't have the budget, there's hope. And you don't want to "have" to buy something because it's cheap and will almost work. So here is my advice...hope it helps:

You can work with the berry colored carpet by toning the rest of the apartment down with a monochromatic scheme of either whites, warm cremes and chocolate-milk browns or white, cremes and warm grays. This takes the focus off your feet and throws it up to the walls, windows, furniture, art, etc.

Then play up the berry color, because you can't escape it, with some accent pieces here and there in either the same family of colors. The berry colored carpet won't be such an eyesore with a light, but warm, color on the walls, and the combo of cremes, white and grays really add some glam to a space.

As for the bedding, I would keep it tone on tone, no colored pattern to try and bring in the carpet. A throw pillow or two could help marry the carpet to the bed, and art would help balance it all too.

Spend some money on switching out a ceiling fixture with a large drum pendant. Helps in bringing your eye up, rather than down to a "almost matches" area rug that you don't really love, but feel forced to put down.

Lastly, I too have a large white radiator, and I just made a wood plank shelf for it. More surface space for lamps, photos, and your favorite things. Well watered, tropical plants love the warmth of that shelf.

I agree about getting a large rug to cover as much. What about solid sisal rug and then you can do and bedding and window treatments you like. Also, sisal is so versatile you can use it again at your next place.

Pottery Barn makes a nice one and they are on sale
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/solid-sisal-rug-tweed/?pkey=csale-rugs

OR

Play up the red by exposing a border with this blue and white small striped and go with all white bedding and maybe some blue and white drapes, think summer beach house, clean and crisp and mix and match patterned pillows on all white bed.
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/reversible-striped-outdoor-rug-blue/?pkey=csale-rugs

Ikea has two nice solid white duvet cover and pillow cases options.

Then maybe some patterned curtains-
http://www.saffronmarigold.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=447

or this pattern for drapes with white bedding and maybe a pillow or two
See KALAH Blue
http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer fabrics for the home/shop fabrics by color/blue/kalah blue.do?search=basic&keyword=kalah&sortby=priceAscend&page=1

If you don't want all white bedding then something like this -
http://www.saffronmarigold.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_35&products_id=435

with simple white curtains.

I'd head to Lowes and buy a big azz carpet remnant in a better color is what I'd do.

The link does not work- go to http://www.calicocorners.com
and see this pattern, I saw this pattern as draperies in this months Lonny Magazine they looked great.

000253843
KALAH BLUE

I agree with the suggestion by D A Cooke about the rug. But if you don't opt for that, here are my suggestions:

I was in LOVE with that blue-red for years and I think it looks terrific with Asian-inspired decor. Chinese foo dogs and other porcelain in a blue-and-white scheme make wonderful accessories. On the wall, I hung a glass reverse-painted Emperor painting in blue-reds, blues, and golds.

On the bed were gold silk chinoiserie throw pillows, and in a corner (you can put this in front of a window, the radiator, behind the bed, or wherever), I had an ornate metal screen that I had spray-painted antique gold.

Other accessories that would play up the deep red would be rosewood carvings, such as Buddhas, pagodas, etc. Happy decorating!

I agree w/ Tampabound: Make everything else in the room White and Navy with Red and Gold/Brass accents.

I think I'd stay with white bedding and I'd get some FLOR carpet tiles to coverup some of the rug.

I moved into an apartment with mauve/pink carpeting, tried to work with it, and wish I hadn't, because the things I purchased didn't look good once I moved out and was in a place without a pink rug. I agree with covering it up with sisal or another inexpensive rug. Try homedecorators -- their prices are way lower than pottery barn, and they have a much larger size range. They sell chenille rugs that are cozy and inexpensive.

The rug looks fairly worn; if you think your landlord would be receptive, ask if the rug could be replaced at some point. A friend did that after living in a place for two years, and wishes she hadn't waited so long to ask.

Robin's egg blue or turquoise blue, depending on the white on the walls.

I'd get a large rug that you like the colors and pattern of to cover the red - which luckily can read as just "floor" when taken is smaller doses. Overstock.com often has a good selection of large rugs for decent prices. You can use small nails to tap it into place so it won't move. Then you can decorate as you see fit. For the windows, I'm thinking simple blinds that can fit inside the windows might look nice. Ikea has a few varieties, and a couple can be cut to custom width.

I agree with mlhdrain's suggestion if you are on a budget. home depot, lowes, or a carpet store have huge carpet remnants cheap. much cheaper than pottery barn, overstock.com, or even ikea.

It looks like a fairly battered, shambolic sort of place. Embrace this; the apartment is never going to look terribly cohesive or "designer". Decorate with flea market finds and interesting oddities.

That said, it'd be hard to go wrong with white bedding and white curtains with a small, old fashioned red and green floral pattern, with discreet elements of red, green and duck egg blue throughout the room.

my suggestion: go to Home Depot and purchase carpet remnants. You can get them for significantly less than an area rug, and they act as a "wall-to-wall" area rug. Using a sharp-edged knife, you can notch them into the threshold so it stays in place and virtually "replace" your carpet without violating the terms of your lease.

To help with the look of the carpet, you may want to purchase some rugs for the bedrooms to help with the plain red look of your carpet.

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