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Tangerine Tango: Decorate With Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year

January 12, 2015

By: Liz Gray

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It's easy to see why color forecaster Pantone named Tangerine Tango its 2012 color of the year: This hot red-orange hue instantly recharges a room. Here's how to use it all year long.

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Contemporary Living Room With Zebra Ottoman

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Go Bold

How do you get this look-at-me color to stand out even more? Try swapping the usual brown hues of animal print for bright Tangerine Tango, like designer Lauren Guarcello of Porter Design Company did here. Brown and white floral wallpaper featuring a similarly scaled pattern balances the bright accent pieces against the neutral sofa.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Get the Sophisticated Look

Charcoal and red-orange is a color combination often found in modern interiors; however, it works just as well in transitional and traditional spaces. Here, designer Brian Patrick Flynn uses charcoal drapery and bedding as a backdrop for tangerine, red and white accent pieces.

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Try Red and Green Year Round

Traditional shades of red and green scream "Christmas," but this kitchen's modern twist on the color wheel opposites tangerine and emerald green gives the combination year-round life. Design by Jaymes Richardson

Mid-Century Modern Wall Art with white sofa and colorful pillows

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Go Monochromatic

This eye-catching room layers tangerine upon tangerine. Designer Caitlyn Wilson paired floral wallpaper in a creamy orange hue with red-orange and blue pillows. Not ready to scream your love for orange from the rooftops? Make a quieter statement with a pillow or two.

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Create Contrast

Don't confine tangerine to the walls — bring it to your nearest bookcase. Arranging books by color adds visual punch, and placing contrasting shades together makes the arrangement even more impactful. Vintage finds and fabric swatches atop the bookcase echo the color combination.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Add Orange Outside

Warmer weather is a great excuse to spruce up your patio with a cheap and chic painted rug. Juicy tangerine will bring vibrancy throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.

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In Doubt? Try Opposites

The old saying "opposites attract" holds true when it comes to color: Blue and orange are a classic combination. In this bedroom, an orangey coral headboard stands out against steely blue walls. Design by Meredith Heron

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Turn Up the Volume

For a bolder take on the classic blue-and-orange pairing, try deep indigo paired with electric red-orange. Image courtesy of CB2

From: Andreas Charalambous

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Go Natural

Natural hues are an equally good partner for bold Tangerine Tango. The neutral color palette of this bedroom's bed linens and pillows contrasts with the richness of the red-orange wall. Design by Andreas Charalambous

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Make It Pop

Any color looks more vibrant when juxtaposed against a bright, glossy white. Introduce a crisp white dresser, pitcher or canvas to instantly amp up the volume on tangerine accents. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn

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Find Vintage Pieces

Juicy tangerine was a popular shade in the 1960s and '70s, making it relatively easy to score a unique accent chair at a vintage or thrift store. This red-orange Eames chair looks reading-ready with a brown throw, a black-and-white side table and a cheerful vase of Gerber daisies. Design by nydesignguy

Contemporary Dining Space With Orange Accents

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Paint One Wall

This intense hue doesn't need to cover all four walls to be impactful. Add it to an accent wall in a neutral room, like this contemporary dining space, for an instant shot of vibrancy. Bonus: Orange hues stimulate the appetite, which makes them ideal for dining rooms. Design by Marie Burgos

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Try Beach-Chic

The soft colors of the sea — sandy neutrals, watery blues and bright whites — are ideal complements to Tangerine Tango's bold personality. Designer Natalie Umbert used tangerine fabric for the window seat, but kept the accent pillows and drapery neutral to give the oceanfront view center stage.

Bedroom With Multicolored Polka Dot Wallpaper

Photo: Carlos Domenech. From: Deborah Wecselman

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Go Graphic

Tangerine plays well with other colors, making it a great candidate for graphic patterns, like this whimsical polka-dot wallpaper. To ground the space and keep it from becoming too busy, designer Deborah Wecselman used a solid-hued headboard and duvet.

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Add Accent Furniture

A small dose of Tangerine Tango can add spice to virtually any palette. Try a piece of red-orange accent furniture, like the nail head-trimmed cocktail table designer Elaine Williamson used here, to add color without the commitment (or price) of a larger furniture piece.

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Hang Vibrant Artwork

There's no quicker, easier way to brighten a room than with a piece of artwork. Create a focal point in an all-white room with a framed or unframed print, like this tangerine-hued duo from CB2. Image courtesy of CB2

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Add Accessories

For a five-minute update, introduce a tangerine tray to a room's existing color scheme. In this Asian-inspired vignette, an orange Hermes tray adds an element of surprise. Design by Burnham Design Group

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Commit to Color

Feeling bold? Try a room full of Tangerine Tango. Layered hues on the floor and furniture bring colorful comfort to this modern nest, while the walls feature a sandy hue that lets the furnishings (and the San Francisco view) be the star. Design By Susan Diana Harris

Tangerine Tango: Decorate With Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year

Go Bold

Get the Sophisticated Look

Try Red and Green Year Round

Go Monochromatic

Create Contrast

Add Orange Outside

In Doubt? Try Opposites

Turn Up the Volume

Go Natural

Make It Pop

Find Vintage Pieces

Paint One Wall

Try Beach-Chic

Go Graphic

Add Accent Furniture

Hang Vibrant Artwork

Add Accessories

Commit to Color

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