Color Diary: Orange

My love affair with orange does not begin and end with Halloween.

I could have chosen any other color for the mini casserole dishes I recently bought: blue, red, green, basic black or white. Instead, I went with orange.

And now the twin set of dishes are a burst of color underneath a window sill in my walk-in pantry -- a ray of light in a kitchen that is decorated in neutrals.

I should admit upfront -- I've long despised the color orange. Fashion magazine spreads told me that the color never looked good against my fair skin, not even during the 80s Pop-Art phase where shades like neon green were kosher. But I found myself drawn to it recently; I just bought an orange V-neck sweater from Target convinced that I could suddenly wear the shade. (I returned it a few days later after realizing that my love of orange should be limited to items in the kitchen.)

Retailers are also digging the color, finding creative names for the different shades, like pumpkin brown (thanks to Crate and Barrel), squash (props to Room & Board), tangerine (Fiesta dinnerware's orange) and pumpernickel (what Design Within Reach terms orange). CB2 calls its knitted pouf "blood orange," while JCPenney, in describing a set of orange and white striped sheets, used the name "cabana orange."

Now those are color names that inspire the imagination. They evoke images of pumpkin pie or a hike through the woods when the fall color is brilliant. Or in the case of "cabana orange," a far-flung tropical vacation.

It makes me think I could actually take a decorating plunge...and outfit a room with orange as the primary color. In the two rooms shown above, orange is indeed the star. The spaces are colorful and vibrant, and capture just how happy orange can make any room in the house. With winter upon us, and the sun setting early, who wouldn't want to waltz into a house that's partly awash with citrus tones after a long day at work?

If I could buy anything right now, here are some of the products I'd swoop up and arrange in my home this fall. Who knew that orange could be so lovely and multi-dimensional?

Bertoia Bird chair, Design Within Reach, $2,494
Wall clock, Lamps Plus, $50
Two-piece bath mat set, Walmart, $15
Bath towel, Greenfeet.com, $30
Loaf pan, Crate and Barrel, $15