If there’s any color I might have an aversion to, it’s orange, and I don’t think I’m alone in that. There aren’t many people who declare orange as their favorite color, and we certainly don’t see it painted on very many walls. That being said, I bet if you look around your home, you’ll be able to spot more orange than you think, as you can see in the guest room image below. This is what we’ll be exploring in our “orange” lesson today.
Shop the guest room
Be sure to check out our past lessons if you want to feel more confident in your color-making decisions.
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What to know about the color orange
Similar to red, orange can overpower a room if you’re not careful. Or maybe you want to make a bold statement, in which case, orange could be your best friend. Since orange is a mix between red and yellow, it takes on many of the same personality traits, such as energetic, cheerful, enthusiastic, passionate, and extroverted. Pairing orange with a more soothing color like blue (its complementary friend) or neutrals can add balance to into your home.
Copper, and leather, and wood, oh my
My guess is that few of you are using the “literal” color orange in your homes. But if you look at the natural materials in your home, I bet you’ll be able to spot some orangey undertones. This is how I tend to incorporate orange into my home.
Shop this corner of the kitchen
The copper collection in my kitchen is one of my favorite corners in my whole house. I love how warm and bright it feels, but the natural patina gives it this charming, aged character.
Shop the Closet
Leather is a great use of orange, and it’s so versatile. This leather ottoman has lived in so many different rooms, and it brings every space to life.
Cutting Boards
There was a time when orangey wood was so “outdated.” People either wanted their woods to be whitewashed, gray-stained, or stained so dark it was nearly black. But how can the color of a raw, natural material go out of style?? It’s simply silly. Within the last few years, we’ve been seeing more colorful woods used and embraced, like woods with yellow, orange, and red undertones, and I’m here for it.
Here are some other excellent uses of orange in interiors!
Warm, on Warm, on Warm
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I used to think I could never paint a wall orange, but I’ll be honest; this rusty, earthy orange bedroom has me retracting that statement. I wish I could snuggle up in that bed with a cup of tea and a good book because it looks so cozy.
Warm vs. Cool
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The fact that Renovation Husbands perfectly balanced orange in the bottom half of their dining room and cool on the top doesn’t surprise me. The orangey wood tones and our Loloi rug make the perfect pair, don’t you think? And I spy my favorite cool-toned wallpaper up top. Bravo
Orange wood is still a classic
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I had to shout out Renovation Husbands yet again because there couldn’t be a more perfect example of how orange-toned wood can be so stunning. If they ever paint over this, I’ll cry.
A Colorful Sofa
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I simply cannot take my eyes off this rust-orange sofa. The balance of whites, blacks, and neutrals with the orange makes everything about this just WORK!
If you want to be able to evoke some energy into a room, it’s time to bring in some orange. I’ve put together some recommendations below, but also, take a look around and take an inventory of how much orange you already have!
Decorating with
1. Mauviel Copper 12-Piece Cookware Set $2,299
2. Nora Medium Table Lamp $999
3. Fitz Channeled Russet Velvet Swivel Chair (Set of 2)$2,119
4. Three Drawer Chest On Legs $2,882
5. Leather Armchair $1900
6. Artificial Mini Oranges $10
7. French Flax Linen Scalloped European Pillowcases $120
8. 18″ Classic Taper Candles $30
9. CLJ x Loloi Jules Tangerine/Mist $159
10. CITRUS STILL LIFE $285
11. Velvet Copper Curtain Panel $139
12. Round Leather Links $20
