One Color, Five Ways: Orange

Orange you glad you decided to read ShelterPop today? OK, that was a bad joke. But, besides purple and teal (which are totally in this year), orange is a fantastic fall color that brightens up and brings warmth to any room. In fact, orange is so versatile that different shades of orange work at different times of the year. So, in the fall, I like to "spice" things up with spicy or pumpkin oranges or perhaps even a yam.

According to color theory, orange is a combination of the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It stimulates your mind and your appetite (it's great for kitchens)! Let's take a look at a few different ways in which you can use orange that might stimulate your mind and hunger for color!
Try: Bright orange with blue. Blue complements orange, and you can see why from these two bedrooms from House Beautiful. The orange accent pieces are perfect alongside the blue accents. For example, the bright orange and blue in the quilt on the left provide the right amount of color and graphic pop to the pale blue and white room. On the right, the orange is matched with bright blue and white without any competition. I think working with bright orange and blue accents works well when everything else in the room is understated.

Try: Warm orange hues. In a completely different vein of decor is this beautiful wall found over on Apartment Therapy. Not only do I love the warm orangey colors used in the faux paint finish, but that deep spice of the cactus painting makes it the perfect accent piece. Perhaps instead you'd pair it with a fresco to get a more Tuscan feel. Either way, you can have fun with your paint: Try mixing orange tones in a faux finish or paint stripes in different shades of orange. This way, the walls won't feel overpowered with one bold color.

Try: Orange accents. Not feeling bold enough to do a whole wall? How about accenting with orange in unexpected places? For instance, take the stair runner and the bookshelf above. Originally, both were white and bland. However, adding a bright, bold orange completely transforms them into fun, lively pieces.


Try: Orange textiles. So, if you're still not sold on orange, and you feel that it's too much of a commitment to paint anything, then how about adding orange in a totally different way -- with textiles. Pillows and throw rugs are items that you can change out every season without feeling guilty or committed. If you don't like them after some time, it's super easy to just exchange them for something else. This is also a great way to bring pattern to your room. Paired with neutrals, like the beige sectional above, the pillows and rug really pop out.


Try: Orange walls that calm and inspire. Now, if you're really bold, here's an inspiration room. In this home office, the designer created an orange space that doesn't feel overwhelming, even though the walls, accessories and artwork are primarily orange. The walls are a soft, more toned down orange, so that the office accessories and the curtains, vase, art and chair pillow could bring in a more bold, deep orange that still pops out from the wall.

No matter how you use orange this fall, it's bound to make an impact on your mood every time you step into the room! Not feeling orange? Check out our recent post on finding your color personality.