BURNT ORANGE
Our columnist Sophie Robinson knows all about the power of a hue, and each month she shows you how to make a shade work in your home
If you’re in need of a mood boost, this shade is all set to cheer things up and give your home a ‘shot in the arm’. It’s such a hearty, warm and jubilant colour, it’s no surprise that I love to use it in decorating schemes. Harnessing some of the intensity of red and with a dash of positivity from yellow, orange is the perfect blend, bringing a feeling of gaiety, enthusiasm and excitement into a space. As a decorating colour, it wraps the walls in a cosy hue, and its richness and depth bring plenty of drama.
The colour of companionship, and claiming to aid digestion and stimulate appetite, orange is a great choice for dining and kitchen spaces. And if you’re looking to up the party vibe, it’s stimulating, fun and optimistic, so it works well in living areas, too.
But it can also feel nostalgic and retro. My mother can’t go near it as she’s still traumatised by 1970s interiors awash with the more Tango-esque extremes of this shade. For a new generation of colour lovers, though, it has lots of potential. It’s rarely heralded as an on-trend colour, but that’s what makes it all the more exciting to use. Think more Birkin bag and less budget airline. It does, however, need to be approached with a little caution. Matching it with orange-toned woods and brown shagpile is not the way to go. Instead, balance it with cooler shades, such as china blue or forest green, or team it with a crisp white or soot black for a more sophisticated look.
And if you can’t bear to go full attack on all four walls, keep it to the accessories. Pop an orange lamp or vase into your room and watch while, with all the health benefits of an effervescent vitamin C tablet, it fizzes with feelgood vibes.