The Color You Need Now ... Tangerine

Orange tones have a rare quality that only a few warm colors have: Everyone looks good in the light they reflect. Painters, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Paul Cézanne, and Paul Gauguin, have long sought to capture the brilliance of the sunset. Now, decorators are capturing those same colors and using them in any space that needs a new look.

Tangerine, along with avocado green and mustard yellow, may have gotten a bad rap from overuse in the '70s, but don't let that discourage you from using it today. While orange hues are intrinsically bright and energetic, some of the newest textiles are showing orange in color combinations and patterns that are more sophisticated, such as tailored stripes that combine tangerine with charcoal gray and cream, or graphic prints that pair it with other citrusy colors to reflect a pop art style.

One no-fail trick when working with orange is to pair it with the colors found beside it in nature. In the spring, shades of orange used with fuchsia, persimmon, and lime green create stirring combinations. Other unexpected duos, such as tangerine paired with baby blue or jade green, are just as delicious. Come fall, leaves light up in oranges, reds, browns, and golds. Naturally, fall colors also work well together in interiors.

As with any bold color, the key is to use the right amount in the right intensity. Too much can easily overpower a room. If allover orange is too extreme for your taste, consider introducing small accents. Trim the cushions on a chair with orange piping, or arrange a grouping of coral-colored vases on a mantel for an eye-catching focal point. Cover bedroom windows with linen sheers in a deep mandarin hue, or add melon-colored throw pillows for splashes of color. Your home will still be classic and timeless, but with a little flavor to make it feel fresh.

RESOURCES:Interiors by Barry Dixon, 540/341-8501, www.barrydixon.com.