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

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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January 12, 2015

By: Liz Gray

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Photo By: Carlos Domenech

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.

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.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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

Go Monochromatic

This eye-catching room layers tangerine upon tangerine. Designer

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

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: Andreas Charalambous

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

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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

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

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.

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.

From: Deborah Wecselman

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.

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

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

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

Related To:

Shop This Look

Go Bold

Get the Sophisticated Look

Try Red and Green Year Round

Go Monochromatic

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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