Color Trends: Decorating With Orange

Warm colors like orange give off an energy and intensity unmatched by their cooler cousins. Use these hues in spaces where you anticipate and want activity, like an outdoor living room.

Contrary to popular belief, adding color to a room without a lot of natural light helps brighten the room and makes it feel larger. In this living room makeover, Kim Myles uses several colors, including a warm orange and lime green, to expand the space.

If you're taking your first foray into orange, start with a few furnishings in a muted shade. For this makeover, designer Candice Olson adds a chaise lounge and ottoman in a deep autumn hue. Pillows in a similar tone pull color into the neutral sectional.

One of the best ways to show off a color is to combine it with its complementary hue. In this media room design, designer Annie Lowengart uses orange and blue, which sit across from each other on the color wheel, to create a vibrant, energetic living space.