Zest for Orange Stays Strong in Fall 2012
From pumpkin to tangerine, this hue is still hot stuff on walls, rugs, furniture and accessories
Several color trend forecasters declared bright orange the color of the year for 2012, and fashion designers are definitely showcasing it, along with burnt orange, in their fall clothing lines. Bold orange hues have been popular in home accessories for a couple of years now, and there seems to be no letting up in the demand for this eye-popping color. The nice thing about intense orange is that a little goes a long way in the home, and a lot of it will give you a major wow factor.
Just in time for fall, when the natural world is also displaying lots of gorgeous orange hues, here's a selection of inspirational images and home accessories to spice up your home with orange.
Read about fall 2012's hottest greens
Just in time for fall, when the natural world is also displaying lots of gorgeous orange hues, here's a selection of inspirational images and home accessories to spice up your home with orange.
Read about fall 2012's hottest greens
A small sampling of hot orange paint hues for fall, clockwise from top left: Flame 6-14, from Pratt & Lambert; Deep Spice KM3608-5, from Kelly-Moore; Rumba Orange 2014-20, from Benjamin Moore; and Yam SW6643, from Sherwin-Williams.
Orange and teal is a great color combo. Together these colors have a midcentury modern vibe that works well in contemporary interiors, such as this fantastic dining space. The high-energy duo is sure to stimulate interesting dinner conversation.
Bright orange is, well, bright, which is why it works best in small doses on interior walls. If you are fortunate to have a space with abundant natural light, you can utilize this intense hue without as much worry about overwhelming those in the room.
This is a brilliant use of color. The vibrant orange hue livens up the cool gray and black, and the fabric softens all the hard surfaces. The best part, though, is that it would be supereasy and affordable to change out the orange — no paintbrush needed.
If this image inspires you to paint an accent wall in your home, try also adding a few small accessories in a similar hue around the space. It will help the eye move through the room and balance out the intensity of the accent wall.
Another gorgeous accent wall. Notice how everything else in the space is a light or neutral color. The bold wall color serves as a piece of artwork — as the background canvas for the bird sculptures. Simple yet stunning.
Not a fan of bold accent walls? Install a few wall niches and paint the insides a vibrant hue. These make great display shelves for any interesting items you happen to collect.
I love the trend of swapping out upper wall cabinets for windows in a kitchen. It makes a space so gloriously open and filled with light. What a pleasure it must be to cook and entertain in here! With such abundant natural light bouncing through the room, you can also introduce darker and bolder colors — such as electric orange — without worrying that the space will appear cave-like or too technicolor.
Warm wood floors, such as the one pictured here, tend to read as orange. The bold orange carpet tiles appear more nuanced — almost textural — against the background of the "orange" floor. It's a nice effect and allows the beautiful furniture, in soothing gray hues, to stand out.
I would advise most folks to avoid bright orange as an exterior color, but clearly it can work on contemporary architecture. The clean lines and minimal adornment actually beg for vibrant color; the bright orange hue is a great choice.
Coral Area Rug, Orange
For those of you not about to paint the inside — or outside — of your home bright orange, there are other options for bringing this fun color into your home, such as with this coral-print area rug from Grandin Road.
Armless Upholstered Sofa
This space-saving sofa in burnt orange would look terrific paired with soft gray hues and wood tones in a modern loft.
Knitted Blood Orange Pouf
If you love the brightest of oranges but are wary about bringing them into your space, try starting out small, with a piece such as this pouf from CB2.
Malm Occasional Table, Orange
Generally I recommend sticking to neutrals for large, expensive pieces of furniture, but you can always perk up your space with color via relatively affordable pieces, such as this occasional table from Ikea.
Galeras Vase
Vases such as these can stand on their own, no fresh flowers needed. And they're a great way to inject some color into a room without a major commitment. You can easily move or replace this accessory as you desire.
Samantha Side Chair
I love this modern take on a Louis XVI-–style dining chair. Adding to its appeal is that it is made of aluminum and therefore suitable for outdoor use, making it a great multitasker.
Stacking Chair, Orange (Set of 2)
Here's another well-priced set of fun orange dining chairs. These stack, so they are great for a smaller space.
1-Light Pendant, Orange
Look to lighting as another source for color. Orange pendants have the added benefit of casting a pleasing warm light into your space.
Varaluz Urchin Orange Mini Pendant
You wouldn't need much else to dress up a room with this pendant installed as the centerpiece. It's perfect for a small eat-in kitchen or a powder room.
Tell us: How have you used orange to spice up your space?
More: When to Paint Your Door Orange
Tell us: How have you used orange to spice up your space?
More: When to Paint Your Door Orange