United in Orange: Bronco colors, window treatments, and how to keep it real

curvy table leg

Orange. Between the ages of 15 and 40, I thought orange was, well… unacceptable somehow. As a clothing color, a home design color, a car color, you name it. I’m not exactly sure why I thought this, but in secret, I really liked the warm, sunny hue. My grandmother used orange a lot in her home, in solids and prints, but I always thought it was just that orange had been popular during those “retro” eras when my granny bought her stuff. Once, I asked her about it, saying orange wasn’t for homes, for goodness’ sake. She just shrugged with an unapologetic smile and said: “Well, I LIKE orange!”. From that day forward, it was like the floodgates opened and I too could unabashedly like orange.

Now, it may seem that I wax dramatic. Probably. But as our Denver Broncos count the days until their seventh appearance in the Super Bowl, we’re seeing orange EVERYWHERE. When the cameras scanned the crowd at last weekend’s playoff game, it was a SEA of Bronco fan orange. Now we’re all ‘United in Orange!’, wearing orange to work, painting our nails orange, etc.

You may say “yes, I’m a fan, but I CAN’T go overboard with orange. I don’t want my home to look like an orange explosion, or Bronco headquarters”. Well, I say, you can most definitely show your fan support in your home, all year round even, with style and grace. Orange really is a remarkably versatile color- it can fit right in to your scheme, if the shade is right, in small, medium or large doses. Here’s a few possibilities for you.

Orange in accessories

orange calla lily arrangement

Here’s where most people will find their comfort zone with orange… home accessories. Lower investment of money and real estate, but you can really get great pops of color from accessories, and then change them out seasonally, or whenever the spirit moves you. Pillows, vases, artwork, and don’t forget about simple flowers, like these calla lilies from First Come Flowers. One of nature’s simplest, most elegant examples of orange!

orange art glass vase

I happen to be a lover of orange glass- made with silver compounds to color the glass, it can have very intense, saturated color, and light passes through it. Here’s a gorgeous, shapely art glass vase made with various shades of orange, from Wolf Art Glass. Don’t forget to move the orange around the room a little, drawing the eye along. A single piece will look stranded and out of place, so reference it in a couple other spots for rhythm in your design.

Orange walls… too bold or not too bold? That is the question…

As I’ve said, orange is versatile. Depending on the shade you choose, orange can deliver as much or as little energetic pop as you desire, fitting into palettes with white, black, cream, gray, brown, blue, and more. If you want whimsy, cheer, and brightness, go for a lighter, citrusy and saturated orange like this HGTV featured dining area.

bright orange walls

If you’re after more sophistication, maybe a darker, rusty shade is for you, like this accent wall in this transitional living area from

Accent walls are a great way to experiment with color because their commitment level is lower… it’s relatively easy to repaint a single wall, rather than your whole room.

Orange in furnishings

Painted or upholstered furniture pieces offer another opportunity to bring orange into your room’s design scheme. It can be a small accent piece, or an investment piece like a sofa, depending on how you feel about keeping a piece for a while, or replacing it if you get tired of it. Only you can answer that question, but there are some wonderful furnishings out there, like this curvaceous beauty against a warm gray wall.

 

Orange underfoot

turkish rug with orange

Recently, an antique Turkish Rug with intricate patterns dominated by orange sold for a record 2.4 million dollars. You don’t have to spend that much, and a rug is an excellent way to tie a room’s palette together and give you a jumping off point for orange. Here’s a nice example of a turkish rug from Nomad Rugs with orange in the design… just enough to either build on or remain subdued depending on where you go with it.

 
Duette architella honeycomb shades
Duette architella honeycomb shades in a warm golden orange tone. See more Duette honeycomb shades.

Shades of orange for window treatments

If you are a committed orange lover, orange window treatments could be for you! A translucent or even transparent shade will bring an orange glow to your space, soft or dramatic based on the saturation level of the material.

Solera shades office in terra cotta
Hunter Douglas’ NEW Solera Soft Shades in a deep terra cotta shade.

So where do you stand? Maybe this will help you see orange with fresh eyes, like my granny’s comment did for me many years ago. Maybe you’ll decide that Bronco colors have a place in your home!

At Innovative Openings, we can help you freshen up and coordinate your window treatments… orange or not, so call or visit today. Busy? Click the link below to request information.

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