Color Cues – Decorating With Orange

Orange is a confident color. So why do people tend to shy away from this upbeat hue when it comes to decorating their homes? If you think that the only place for orange is a sports-themed room, think again. We’ll show you how this complex color can be used all over your home to set the perfect mood.
Orange & The Color Wheel
Think of the color wheel as your guide to a world of pleasing color combinations. It’s an invaluable tool that teaches you how hues relate to each other and how they can be combined to create harmonious, cohesive schemes. Since color has the ability to influence our mood and evoke emotions, it’s important to understand how to use the color wheel when choosing a scheme.
Monochromatic:
This sophisticated and soothing scheme lends itself well to modern spaces. It uses tints and shades of one color, staying within the same column on the color wheel. A monochromatic scheme for orange might include a range of tones from soft apricot to burnt orange.
Complementary:
Opposites attract, as proven by this scheme, which pairs two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. These colors add interest and energy to a room. Looking at the color wheel, you can see that the complement of orange is blue.
Split Complementary:
Harmonious and interesting, split- complementary colors will give your room just enough contrast. To find the split complement of orange, look to the left and right of its complement, blue. In the case of orange, the split-complementary scheme would include blue-purple and blue-green.
Analogous:
Perhaps one of the most pleasing palettes, analogous colors reside right next to each other on the color wheel. For example, an orange analogous color scheme includes yellow-orange and orange-red. Since they share a common component, these hues always look good together.
See design examples of the monochromatic, complementary, split complementary, and analogous palettes at http://www.raymourflanigan.com/Design-Center/. For more tips on how to incorporate bold orange hues into your home’s interior design, contact Raymour & Flanigan Furniture of Egg Harbor Township at (609) 675-8266 and speak with their experienced Home Furnishing Consultant Shirley Turner.