Rich shades of pumpkin, squash and cinnamon are everywhere at this time of year, including our homes (who doesn’t love a vase filled with sunset-hued foliage?). But autumn isn’t the only time that fiery tones find their way indoors. Orange is a time-tested favorite, and a popular accent color in H&H. Looking to bring a little warmth and life to your home? Here are 25 ways to decorate with orange, from small touches to grand gestures.
Start small with vibrant accessories. If you’re new to bright color, begin by accenting a room with a single decorative bowl, tray or tea set in a saturated shade of orange.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home June 2012
Products: Artwork, David Hockney.
Designer: Karen Cole
…or set out a pair of pumpkin pillows. A couple of orange cushions brightens up this formal sitting room without overwhelming it.
Layering with throws is quick and commitment-free. Switch up your blankets with the seasons. Autumn is the perfect time to lay out a deep orange throw.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home May 2014
Products: Sofa, pillows, throws, Les Ensembliers; coffee table, Atelier Midavaine Paris; fabrics, Telio and Kravet; plate, Peter E. Baker Antiques; rug by Ralph Lauren Home, Tapis Lalonde; artwork above sofa, Nadia Myre; artwork at far right, Holly King.
Designer: Richard Ouellette, Maxime Vandal
Weathered metals deliver subdued color. Embrace the earthy hue of oxidized iron and display a small vignette of vintage vases and candlesticks.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home December 2012
Products: Console, Sharon O’Dowd; ceiling tile, Post & Beam Reclamation; book, Abraham’s Antiques; large vase, Kantelberg + Co; wall colour, Shoreline (SR27), Para Paints.
Designer: Joel Bray
An apricot lampshade is another subtle touch. Wrap a shade in brightly colored fabric to bring life to a reading nook or den.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home November 2013
Products: Lamp, Kantelberg + Co; red bowl, The Gardiner Museum; vases, Cynthia Findlay Antiques.
Designer: Stacey Smithers, Sarah Hartill
A Moroccan pouf adds a dash of warmth. To invigorate a neutral room, source a Moroccan-style stool or ottoman with an orange-based weave.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home April 2014
Products: Pouf, Of Things Past; chest, Kantelberg + Co.
Designer: Kimberley Seldon
Go bold with a burnt orangedoor. This attention-grabbing color is a foolproof way to update a sedate grey façade.
Photographer: Eric Striffler
Source: House & Home July 2013
Products: Door colour, Charlotte’s Locks (268), Farrow & Ball.
Designer: Colleen DeCourcy
Large-scale art is another daring option. The bigger the canvas, the bigger the impact. Hang it in whichever room could use a boost.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2011
Products: Artwork, Mostafa Keyhani; bench, Made.
Designer: Maryam Keyhani
Add richness with ocher leather seating. Warm caramel-hued armchairs offset the potentially stark quality of bright white walls.
…or re-upholster a statement sofa. Going for an intense orange fabric like this is a bigger commitment, but one you won’t soon regret if you love a focal-point piece.
Deep orange barstools are another eye-catching pick. Pair them with warm wood and glossy copper accents to intensify the effect.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home March 2016
Products: Bar stools, Sarah Richardson Design; ceiling colour, Hague Blue (30), Farrow & Ball; floral upholstery, Schumacher; blue chair upsholstery, drapery fabric, Kravet; rug, Elte; pendant, Rejuvenation.
Designer: Natalie Hodgins, Kate Stuart
… as are orange-veined countertops. Orange- and pink-veined Nacarado quartzite is a unique choice — perfect for kitchens with character.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home October 2015
Products: Panelling colour, Sandy Hook Gray (HC-108), wall colour, White Dove (OC-17), Benjamin Moore.
Designer: Philippe Beauparlant
A coat of paint lends new life to sideboards and fallen branches. Why not update that tired console with a slick of eye-popping color?
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home January 2014
Products: Trim colour, Black (2132-10), buffet colour, Outrageous Orange (2013-10), Benjamin Moore; ball stool, art print, Atomic; chair, Zig Zag.
Designer: Stephane Chamard
…not to mention lackluster shelving. Take your cue from designer Luc Beauvais and upgrade to bright orange storage.
Photographer: Monic Richard
Source: House & Home October 2013
Designer: Luc Beauvais
Ready to go all-in? Splash orange everywhere. Keep patterns in the same tonal family for a cohesive look. Here, designers Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal stuck to earthy, elegant shades.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home June 2016
Products: Rug, The Red Carpet & Rug; wall colour, Oxford White (CC-30), Benjamin Moore; sofas, club chairs, Celadon; armchairs (far left), Barbara Barry; black coffee table, Lars Bolander; stone coffee table, Les Ensembliers.
Designer: Richard Ouellette, Maxime Vandal
…or layer your table with pumpkin and gold. While fall is the perfect time to play with orange-based table settings, warm hues look inviting year-round.
And what better hue for a kids’ space? Lively orange is just right for a youthful bedroom. Try it on linens, throw pillows, storage bins and accessories.
