Either works. Personally, I like blues. You could even change pillows, etc with the season's or whenever you feel like it.

Also, art work and a rug. Oh, and plants and more books, and candles, etc.

I think you have a great start for a great room.

I love the reds!!! They really go well with the tones in your room.

Congratulations to you!

I think you're off to a great start. Use what you love and what makes you smile at the end of the day. I promise the decorating police won't come and take you away.

Sadly, those are the pictures I originally wanted to imitate, but I haven't been successful.

Well, how do you feel about this rug?

I agree, it can be intimidating when faced with a mostly empty room....The look you like comes from time spent at flea markets and travels and visits to mom's house....But that's part of the fun.

I think a good directions would be a rug. Sadly, given the sheer volume of choice, it can be mind boggling.

If you have a World Market near you, they have some fun rugs. Also Home Goods...

start small..or big..start somewhere with something you really love. then it'll be something else. then something else. go slow..you'll see more what works for you, for the room, and will become more confident. Confidence brings relaxation with it..:) Your room will become what you want it to be, will just take some time. Never happens overnight unless styled by a team of stylists with tons of props..

Begin with a rug, one that is quite large for the area (makes the room look bigger), and when you find one you really love (could be modern or tribal or one of the simpler Orientals without a middle field). I have a tribal in the dining room with tan, terracotta and a middle shade of blue which would work well for you since you can pick out terracotta red and blue tones for your accessories. With a beautiful rug a glass and metal coffee table makes a lot of sense. Perhaps a bookcase (which is actually filled with only books) does furnish a room. It could be painted gray or cream. Some large paintings, perhaps abstracts if you like them, with brilliant colors would really give life to your pretty room.

Ooh, the rugs have been a real sticking point. Unlike pillows you can't just throw them down and see if you like them easily, and getting it wrong means that you've thrown a hefty chunk of change down the drain. I feel like the rug really sets the tone of the rest of the decorating scheme, so if you have a rug with blues in it you have to go blue for the rest of the room, or gray-toned colors with gray, hence my hesitation.

esale rugs has nice, reasonably priced rug choices and free shipping and returns. I agree that lugging a huge rug to the post office to return is a pain. If available, order the smallest version of the rug. If you love it, order the big version. You can easily return the smaller one or use it in another part of the house.

esale rugs

I think the rug is a base for the room but you can easily pull any accent colors out of it to decorate the rest of the room. I don't think the main rug color has to dictate the whole room. The decorating just has to relate to the rug.

Ten thumbs up d_gw! I see that site has a sale on that ends tomorrow...

Belovedpoet, now's your chance!

And you don't have to choose the main color of the rug to use in your accessories, too. Especially with the bohemian style you're going for.

I can relate to your struggle because I often felt the same way starting out (especially trying to make my decorating tastes mesh with my husband's often very different tastes), but just want to say I think you can still get where you want to be with your current neutral palette.

Keep looking at your inspiration pictures and studying what it is they have in common, and add things you love bit by bit. April's advice is perfect.

The rug can be the star if you find one you love that has tons of color and personality, or it can just be a supporting cast member. Here's another recent thread about rugs that might have some advice in it that resonates with you:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4848996/rug-ideas-for-bohemian-vintage-mcm-living-room?n=29

A thought for you. Sometimes you can buy a rug in a really small size almost throw rug size that lets you bring it in the room and see how the colors work - THEN - order the larger size. Saves on sending back and forth if you are ordering on line. Otherwise I agree, try a local place that will let you return items.

The rugs I posted are all in the 100.00 range for a 5x8. You could try esalerugs (returnable but sometimes pricier than the identical rug on other sites), or order the smallest size and return the ones you don't like.

Re esalerugs, I've bought from them, but their "sale that ends tomorrow" is always on, so no rush.

Overstock or rugsusa will have real discount coupons and sales.