When you think of the color orange what usually comes to mind?  A bright orange piece of fruit?  A Halloween jack-o-lantern?  Perhaps the color orange makes you think of your mother’s Thanksgiving sweet potato pie.  Whatever image you have,  you can see that there are many variations of this color.

When asked, most people would quickly say that they would never use orange in their interior decorating.  But take a look around your home.  You probably already have some bits and pieces of this unusual color somewhere. Orange can range from a soft and sweet peach color to the  childlike color of pumpkins to the deep, rusty hue found in fall leaves.  Because of this range, orange mixes well with many other colors in your home.  However, the vibrancy of this color requires you use the proper shade to produce the look and feel you desire.

True orange is said to induce socializing and conversation but can be overwhelming and unsettling.  For this reason, bright orange decor may work well in a child’s playroom or a classroom where conversation is preferred.  Depending on the setting, this color mixes well with other bright colors such as green and purple.

Orange mixed with black will produce a browner tone.  This color has rust undertones and is reminiscent of fall leaves or pumpkin pie filling.  When combined with shades of red and brown it creates a warm and restful look.

Add white to orange and you get a soft peach color.  Combining it with other pastels such as soft yellow or celery  green gives your room a serene feel.  Consider peach and gray for a very sophisticated  master bedroom.

If the color orange intimidates you try adding just a pop of color in your throw pillows, candles or fresh flowers.  It may just grow on you!