Move Over Black and White – This is the New High-Contrast Color Pairing to Watch, and it Gives Jennifer Aniston's Dark Living Room a Vibrant Twist
Orange and blue might feel outside of your color comfort zone, but with the right textures and tones they can add depth and sophistication to your space
We often shy away from using bright colors at home for fear they might look garish or clash with our chic interior schemes. But in Jennifer Aniston's former Beverley Hills home, designed by Stephen Shadley, being brave with brights really pays off. The pairing of orange and blue brings a wonderful energy to her rich and cozy living room.
While it might seem like an unexpected color combination, orange and blue sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning they naturally complement each other. In Jennifer Aniston's Hawaiian-inspired estate, Ohana (meaning 'family'), this choice of colors further complements the deep tones in the wood, lifts the natural stone, and is elevated by contrasting textures, from the sumptuous velvet seating to the high-gloss yellow lacquered piano (Target has a yellow digital piano if you want to try this look).
Article continues belowBlue and Orange Buys Inspired by Jennifer Aniston's High-Contrast Decor
Orange dominates this piece by Carol C Young, for a striking impact, however both colors here lean into earthy, natural tones, which bring a more sophisticated, rather than artificial look.
Texture can really elevate a bold color choice. Whilst navy is somewhat of a muted version of blue, it feels even more luxe thanks to the soft sheen of the velvet, which varies in tone with the light.
Using a strong shade like orange for a central piece of furniture, like a coffee table, is a bold move, but the translucency of this piece tones it down, and the softly curved edges feel less harsh than sharp corners.
Adding a few throw pillows combining both shades is an easy and affordable way to tie the look together. The Airforce blue and more muted terracotta combination in this abstract patter looks especially chic.
A blue area rug like this can be really grounding in a high-contrast color scheme. We love the multi-tonal effect of this one, as it brings added depth and interest whilst keeping the palette calm.
One or two carefully chosen accent pieces in a bright and energetic shade create a consistent thread. Opt for sheer glass or textural pieces in sculptural shapes, rather flat, matte finishes for a more refined look.
Whilst orange and blue may feel very overt in a light or neutral room, in a darker space like Jennifer Aniston's living room, they look more considered. 'Orange and blue work especially well in a dark interior because they create balance,' explains Meisna Yousuph, Interior Designer at Design Concepts. 'Blue brings depth, calm, and a sense of continuity, while orange adds warmth, energy, and contrast. In a room with dark wood, rich textiles, or low-light conditions, that combination keeps the space from feeling flat or overly heavy.'
Balance really is everything when it comes to decorating with high-contrast colors. 'The key is to use the colors with different visual weights,' advises Meisna. 'I usually recommend letting blue carry the larger, grounding elements, such as upholstery, drapery, or a rug, and bringing in orange through smaller accents like cushions, artwork or ceramics. That keeps the room feeling layered rather than loud.'
If you want to tone down the contrast for a more sophisticated scheme, Joelle Uzyel, residential interior designer based in Beverly Hills, advises: 'Forget saturated. The combination that actually holds up in a moody interior is aged, mineral, and historically rooted. I approach it less like decorating with color and more like restoring an old European palette.'
For decorating with orange, Joelle recommends 'Pompeian rust, not pumpkin. The kind of orange in 18th-century Dutch still-life paintings, where the color reads warm but never announces itself.' And the same applies to blue, she says. 'Deep, complex blues, like Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue read almost like neutrals in low light and register as depth, not decoration.'
Texture is another crucial element when using a high-contrast color palette. Note the deep blue velvet chair (CB2 has a similar piece) in Jennifer Aniston's living room, bringing a layered look. A thick-pile blue rug or some slubbed linen or velvet curtains could create the same effect.
Meanwhile, choosing the right art for your home is also important. In Jennifer Aniston's home, the oversized wall art is where the contrast dominates. 'Art is where both colors speak at once,' says Joelle. 'In a recent project, we hung one large-scale abstract with muted terracotta and slate blue against dark built-in panels. There was no other orange or blue in the room. The painting did all the work, and the space went from oppressive to cinematic.'
The power of a contrasting color pairing is so evident in Jennifer Aniston's dark living room. It might be bold, but it's also somehow restrained, keeping the look chic and rich as opposed to gaudy. Meisna summarises: 'What makes the pairing successful is that it creates tension in a very controlled way: blue recedes, orange advances, and together they give a dark room more life, dimension, and warmth.'
A high-contrast palette like orange and blue, doesn't have to look childish, it can be really sophisticated if you choose more natural tones and balance it in the right way. Try the 60-30-10 rule, using your dark wood or neutral tone as the 60%, your grounding shade (in this case, blue) as the 30% and your boldest color, (orange), as the 10%.
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