Orange Observations... and Questions

by Charlotte
(Website Editor)

All about orange - is orange really the best color to use? You ask, we answer...

Read some real life orange color questions...

...and ask your own, here...

Curtain Color

What color curtains would be good for a kitchen painted tangerine color?

.........

Comment
By Charlotte

1 August 2011

Many apologies for any delay in reply to your question - I've just returned from a week's vacation.

What sort of 'feel' are you looking for in your kitchen?

What colors and types of things do you have in there already?

If you'd like to 'cool' down the orange a bit, choose whites, creams, pale yellows and apricots.

Mid and deep toned yellows, golds and rust colors can create a warmer and more cozy feel in your kitchen.

You might want to choose a deep blue-violet, or a lilac as a striking and interesting contrast. A mid or cobalt blue could also provide this interest for you.

Bright yellow, and/or hot pink could provide a sizzling, spicy feel.

Lime green gives a refreshing citrus feel to a tangerine orange.

Deep browns bring a richer and more autumnal feel.

As you see, you really have plenty of options to go with a kitchen painted in tangerine orange.

Which one do you think suits your look and style the best?

Hope some of these ideas help.

Good luck with your kitchen curtain makeover...

Best wishes

Charlotte :o)

---

Interior Design Advice - Should I paint my room orange?

by Jan
(London, UK)

Should I paint my room orange?

I want to paint my room a really bright orange on the bed's wall, (in a square room).

I think it will look happy, but lots of people disagree and tell me it is a really bad color to choose.

Any advice?

What does everyone think?

Reply:


Generally I would say orange is a very bad color for bedrooms - it is very stimulating, which means that a lot of people may find it difficult to sleep in an orange room.

Having said that, I have actually painted my own bedroom totally in orange - but I would never do it again! I loved it all through winter and it was great to be so cosy and warm-feeling, but as soon as it got to Spring and the sunlight started coming into the room it literally pulsated and glowed and was totally unbearable!

If you just paint the wall behind the bed, like you said, you may be able to live with it more easily - and it won't be the first thing you set eyes on in the morning (which can be a bit of a rude awakening, I can tell you!).

But your bedroom is totally your room, and you should be able to use the colors you really love in it - so if you are sure you love orange first thing in the morning, give it a try ... after all if you hate it, it is only a pot of paint and a few hours work!

Good luck with your decorating, and have fun!

---

Living room - orange ceiling quandry...

I wanted a tile ceiling that I couldn't afford, so I used wallpaper and painted it with metallic paint.

The color is supposed to be copper but it really just looks orange.

That was 4 years ago and I'm ready for a change. I won't change the ceiling since it took 80 hours to complete but I'm stuck on what color to put on the walls.

There is dark brown trim and my furniture has shades of greens, tans, burgundy and oranges!!!!!

Help...

Comments:

Orange inspiration...
by: Charlotte

Hi

Firstly, well done on getting so creative with your decorating...

If you don't want to change the ceiling color or the furniture you do have a slightly limited palette...

The obvious color choice would be stick with shades and tones within the palette of greens, tans, oranges and bugundy that you already have - this is a wide-ranging and harmonious scheme that encompasses many color options.

You could stretch this a bit more with expanding your color choices to red-violets, or blue-greens...

...or go for a complete contrast to all the orangey tones with a blue - this will give a very dynamic scheme.

Or you could stick to neutrals for walls, and let the ceiling and furniture do the talking - whites, creams, beiges or greys could all work well.

To keep your room feeling light and bright, lighter tones of any color will help - while dark tones and red-orange tones help to create a cozy feel.

Hope this helps you make your decorating choices.

Good luck with your room makeover

Best wishes

Charlotte

---