Decorating with.. Orange!

By Kate Riley September 5, 2013

September is my favorite month – not only because we celebrate our wedding anniversary (and my birthday!) but because when it comes to the weather, only October and May can compete. Sunny skies and turning leaves make me appreciate each day as the season changes from summer to autumn, and I can’t help but spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Today I’m continuing the Color Series with a hue we see so often this time of year, the color orange. I absolutely love this color in all shades from vivid citrus to earthier amber, especially paired with its complement blue (my favorite hue) or calming gray.

orange leaves blue vases bhg

better homes & gardens

One of my favorite spaces to spy orange is in kids’ rooms, it’s a gender neutral hue and makes a child’s space a happy one.

orange crib and changing table alice lane

 

orange nursery palette

blue and orange nursery

orange surfboard style headboards anne hepfer

orange and gray boys room lucy and co

orange and blue nursery

 alice lane / lilly bunn / finnian’s moon interiors / anne hepfer / lucy and co / new arrivals inc

  

Orange is certainly not just for kids’ rooms. Deeper or less saturated oranges add a masculine touch, while an orange that leans to the apricot side will feel more feminine, but again it’s gender neutral when balanced with soft furnishings, clean lines, and modern geometric textiles.

orange gray brown bedroom

orange wall and leopard bench jennifer flanders

orange tufted headboard marmalade interiors

architectajennifer flanders / marmalade interiors

  

Orange truly is one of the best accent colors. Whether it’s underfoot or up on a shelf, present in a fabric on the windows or a painted piece of furniture, or something as simple as a throw blanket, it always claims attention.

orange geo rug and accessories

bright orange stools bhg

orange desk marmalade interiors

orange window panels in gray room elle decor

orange throw and tray in living room bhg

orange accent pillows tracery interiors

decorpad / better homes & gardens / marmalade interiors / elle decor / better homes & gardens / tracery interiors

    

You know what’s yummy? Orange (or cognac) leather. Divine!

orange leather chairs nate berkus

orange chesterfield coconutsandlimes

 nate berkus / lime in the coconut

  

What colors pair well with orange?

Why blue of course, after all they’re perfect complements on the color wheel.

orange link wallpaper with blue accents

angie hranowski blue and orange living room

blue and orange bhg

blue and orange bedroom tracery interiors

mabley handler / angie hranowski / better homes & gardens / tracery interiors

 

Feeling earthy? Mix it with chocolate brown or lighter latte and balance with crisp white or pale gray tones.

chocolate and orange bedroom

orange and latte brown room

muse interiors / decorpad

 

Orange and gray are a no fail sophisticated partnership, wouldn’t you agree?

lucinda loya gray and orange bedroom

orange and gray spaces

gray and orange living room mary mcdonald

lucinda loya / diane bergeron / ron marvin / mary mcdonald

 

Get punchy combining orange with dark or lighter pink for a room that can’t help but lift your spirits.

orange and pink wallpaper mmrinteriors

pink and orange katie rosenfeld

orange and pink bedroom mona ross berman

 mmr interiors / katie rosenfeld / mona ross berman

   

Softer greens play a subtle role and allow orange to take the spotlight. 

orange and green katie rosenfeld

alice lane orange velvet headboard

 katie rosenfeld / alice lane home via decorpad

 

Here’s a combination for the bold: persimmon and purple, wow!

persimmon and purple

 lilly bunn

 

Have you chosen the shade of orange for any of the rooms in your home? If so, share them or link to them in the comments below!

 

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27 comments

  1. When I had to make a decision about the colour scheme of my craft room, I opted for turquoise and orange. I love that combination.
    And more in general, I love the warmth that comes from orange and fall colours.
    Have a nice day.
    Donatella (from Italy)

  2. Love, love, love all the orange decor pics!!! I’ve often thought of decorating with other bright colors, such as red or yellow, but much to my surprise, I have not even given orange a thought! The color really makes a room feel cheerful and cozy! Thank you for your post – enjoyed it very much! Take good care.

  3. Seriously having orange crush with all the rooms you’ve shown! I am definitely doing orange and black for fall!

  4. Wow. There are some spectacular things here. So interesting to see orange handled so many different ways. My room when I was in high school was “burnt orange and avocado green”. (Yes, you DO know how old I am. OLD!) I love them all here, but the green and orange made my heart go pitter-pat!

  5. I have a hard time being relaxed in rooms with super stimulating colors for some reason, but I LOVE me some orange as an accent color. That kitchen from BHG and that nursery from new arrivals = gorgeous!!

  6. loved the orange with brown, although is a little too much for me, I think I’m in a moment of pastel and brighter (white) colors. But loved all the pics !!! :)

  7. I never used to go for orange but now paired with a navy blue, I’m starting to see the light.

    Happy birthday and anniversary! We share the same birthday and anniversary month. We’re celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary today!

  8. love the color orange, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. It’s inviting, a little daring and adds sparks to a room. I’ve enjoyed it in my home paired with earth tones. Love the pics, pinned. Thanks

  9. Thanks for all the orange inspiration! It’s my husband’s favorite color so next time I ask him for a color choice on something and he says hopefully, “Orange?” I don’t have to say no!

  10. This is my husband’s favorite color too (and my second-favorite, next to green) so we do incorporate it into our home. But it’s tricky! I like a lot of these inspiration photos, great ways to use orange without becoming too circus-y.

  11. I painted our kitchen a dark rust orange a few months ago and I love how the faded turquoise of my mason jar collection looks with that. Gorgeous rooms!

  12. I love orange! Our large bed pillows, rug, picture frames, and other household items are orange! It works in any season, and I love it. We’ve paired ours with navy blue, white, and gray. Mmm mmm!

  13. Orange is the national color of The Netherlands, as it is the name of our royal family. Being Dutch, I associate orange with parties, such as national holidays, or at games where Dutch teams or athletes compete. Any world championship or international competition and our whole country turns orange! I would never choose it as a main accent color in my house, but it means party to me!

  14. Perfect timing! I am getting ready to chalk paint a huge dresser in burnt orange. The plan is to use it as storage under the flat screen TV in our great room. The oriental rug in that room has the same orange, sage greens and a deep aubergine. I’m excited about using this color with our two big ‘ole tufted leather chairs to end up with a warm, rich, almost ‘gentleman’s club’ feel. I heart deep orange tones.
    Love your Color Decorating series, Thank you.

  15. Orange is not one of the colors I usually like. However, you are changing my mind with these photos! I especially love the leaves instead of flowers!

  16. I love autumn colors. Would be cool to change curtains, sheets, pillow cases for the season. Hmm.. that just gave me a brilliant idea!

  17. Orange is not my most favorite color but when I see your decorations I suddenly love the color. You made orange cool to the eyes and the room so classy. Perfect!

  18. Orange is my most favorite color. I feel happy as soon as I see it. I use it in my wardrobe and handbags, but have not brought it into my decorating for the most part. I think I’m going to change that though. My den is a neutral beige palette which could easily be jazzed up with orange accessories!! :-D

    Thanks Kate!

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