7 Bright Ways With Yellow and Orange
Yellow and orange are, hands down, the happiest hues of all. They
remind us of glowing sunshine, pretty spring flowers and refreshing
citrus fruits. They’re attention-grabbing hues best reserved for
elements in a room that you want to stand out.
If you lack ample lighting, I’d suggest using the bolder shades sparingly, as they can easily overwhelm a space, especially a small one. I’ve gathered seven examples of how to decorate with orange and yellow, and created paint color palettes inspired by each room so you can add some bold, warm color to your own home.
If you lack ample lighting, I’d suggest using the bolder shades sparingly, as they can easily overwhelm a space, especially a small one. I’ve gathered seven examples of how to decorate with orange and yellow, and created paint color palettes inspired by each room so you can add some bold, warm color to your own home.
My favorite colors for ceilings
are blue or yellow. Blue mimics the sky and gives a room a calm,
expansive feeling. Yellow creates a sunny glow that warms up the entire
room, as shown here. If you live in a hot and sunny climate, you
probably want to stick to cooler colors, such as blue. But those of you
in a cold or overcast climate can bring warmth and brightness into your
home with hot yellow and orange hues. The orange used here is quite
vibrant and works best as a small accent color — on the headboard and in
the bedding.
Example palette: Torchlight and Flame, from Behr
Note: Due to differences in how interiors are lit and photographed, as well as how computer monitors are calibrated, the colors you see in these swatches and photographs may differ slightly from the actual colors. It’s always a good idea to view actual paint swatches from the manufacturer, or better yet, evaluate a large paint sample of the color you are considering, before finalizing your selection.
Note: Due to differences in how interiors are lit and photographed, as well as how computer monitors are calibrated, the colors you see in these swatches and photographs may differ slightly from the actual colors. It’s always a good idea to view actual paint swatches from the manufacturer, or better yet, evaluate a large paint sample of the color you are considering, before finalizing your selection.
I love this happy-hued bathroom.
How could you not start your day on the right foot stepping into this
space first thing in the morning? The walls are the perfect shade of
yellow — neither too soft nor too bright. A nice punchy orange is
brought in through the tile and the shower curtain. If you want a
low-commitment option using this palette, just stick to paint and
accessories in the featured hues — they are relatively easy and
affordable to change down the road.
Example palette: Outgoing Orange and Jonquil, from Sherwin-Williams
This is a lot of bold color, but
it works here because there is nothing else competing with the hues.
Bright colors are best paired with toned-down and neutral furniture,
textiles and accessories. This is also a great example of using
assertive color to call attention to desirable architectural elements,
such as a fireplace.
Example palette: Coconut Scent and Autumn Blaze, from Valspar
These fun colors work well in a kid’s or teen’s room. I like how the juicy orange color was used to set off the desk niche.
Example palette: New Dawn and Golden Groves, from Benjamin Moore
We tend to associate bold color
with modern and contemporary spaces, but you can also inject big color
into more traditional rooms. The rich reddish-orange wall color here
pairs well with the lighter yellow-orange hue as well as the deep wood
tones used throughout the room. What a gorgeous space — perfect for
curling up in front of the fire on a cold evening.
Example palette: Crowne Hill Yellow and Fireball Orange, from Benjamin Moore
Neon yellow and orange hues are
best used sparingly, and adjacent to windows where plenty of natural
light can help ease the intensity. I like the small swaths of color here
that punch up the otherwise white kitchen.
Example palette: Yarborough Yellow and Fireworks, from Glidden
Here’s another colorful sun-filled
space with a bold orange on the wall. This is a rather saturated orange,
but the beautiful oversize windows cut into the painted area, so it
doesn’t feel overwhelming. The muted orange-yellow on the ceiling offers
a soft contrast to the wall color. A white ceiling here could have
looked too cold and jarring against the orange.
Example palette: Navel and Cherish Cream, from Sherwin-Williams
Tell us: Are you a fan of these hot orange and yellow color combos, or do they leave you cold?
Tell us: Are you a fan of these hot orange and yellow color combos, or do they leave you cold?