Why We Should All Give Orange Paint a Second Chance

orange peachy pink kitchen by farrow and ball — (Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

While a striking highlighter-orange might not be for everyone (hats off to you if it is), in its more nuanced forms – faded terracotta, burnt rust, and pale apricot – it can be a chic, almost neutral that adds warmth and depth to a room.

It's time to give decorating with orange a second chance. While it might come as a surprise to some, orange can be sophisticated, warm, and deeply grounding, and interior designers are embracing the underestimated paint color in 2026.

Entryway with orange painted walls, black and white tiled floor, a large wooden round table with books and vases of flowers on top, a large white front door with a heavy floral curtain beside it — Edward Bulmer's Dutch Orange is the color of choice in this characterful entryway designed by Nels Crosthwaite Eyre of Eyre Interiors.

While orange can sometimes dominate, it can also gently brighten and warm simultaneously. 'This is a very dark back hall with no natural light, so we wanted to lift it up with a joyful color,' explains Nels Crosthwaite Eyre of Eyre Interiors regarding the pictured entryway.

'My clients are always very scared of orange,' Nels adds. 'They take some convincing! I think it very much has to be the right shade, too bright, and you are in Orangina territory, and it feels childlike. A historical lean, such as Edward Bulmer Dutch Orange here, lends a certain gravitas to the color, and it automatically feels more grown-up.'

When braving the saturated hue, Nels advises, 'The orange has to be allowed to shine and be the main focus of the room – keep everything else around it muted. Here, the black and white chequered marble feels fresh and clean against the strong color, and the door curtain is soft and paired back, providing a tapestry-like texture more than a dominant palette.'

Bedroom with pale pink wallpapered walls, a mahogany desk and bobbin chair, and built-in wardrobes painted deep orange, with wooden floors and a blue, cream and orange Persian style rug — Tess MacGeachy of Amber Yard painted this bedroom wardrobe in Edward Bulmer's Malahide and paired it with pale pink wallpaper.

'I think a lot of the more vibrant, rich colors are making a comeback,' explains interior designer Tess MacGeachy of Amber Yard. 'We like to call them the sunset hues because they do provide a lovely glow to any space. In the right context, whether on an accessory or shown here on a large piece of joinery (pictured above), it makes the beholder smile.'

In the bedroom above, Tess opted for clashing colors, orange and pink, as the two hero choices. Despite being an unexpected color combination, pink and orange feel similar in tone, gently working together to inject warmth into the bedroom. 'We used Edward Bulmer Malahide on the joinery, as it worked beautifully with the Rapture and Wright May Tree Coral wallpaper. The client adored the color orange, and I think it is a color that works very well as an accent in a room, providing a joyful warmth to any space.'

When decorating with orange, Tess advises, 'Layer it within the room, allowing the beholder's eye to travel around the space fluidly. Place a hint of it on your rug, then on a cushion, and then (as shown here) on joinery. On large-scale items, the orange will pop, so it is important to create flow and position it on other elements around the room, too!'

warm orange kitchen color drenched to match the cabinets with a rust red cabinet skirt and terracotta kitchen counter decor — Farrow & Ball's Fake Tan saturates every wall of this charming kitchen, a warm backdrop that allows the colorful ceramics and furnishings to pop.

An orange kitchen sounds intense, but this kitchen bathed in warm terracotta may convince you to give the saturated hue a try. Color-drenched in Farrow & Ball's Fake Tan, the paint color feels noticeable yet not overwhelming.

While colors that go with orange are typically warm neutrals, in this eclectic kitchen, playful pops of color dance beautifully against the grounding hue. 'Apricot pinks and faded terracottas can be seen as a tricky color family to work with, but they are brilliant for adding warmth,' explains Patrick O’Donnell, Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball.

'These shades were used widely in the middle of the 20^th century and had a mini revival in the 1980s,' Patrick continues. 'When used wisely, they can warm up an unpromising space and look great when flooded with natural light, where the apricot notes get knocked back and create a sunny glow. One of my favourites is Fake Tan from our Archive.'

Orange Shopping Picks

Want to give orange a try but not quite ready to brave paint? Try these playful picks put together by Homes & Gardens instead.

'To style orange in a timeless way, balance is key,' advises Emily. 'A terracotta orange or a deeper rust orange pairs seamlessly with warmer neutrals and biophilic elements like natural wood, stone, and greenery, grounding the color and softening its impact. Within the home, it works best in spaces centered on comfort and connection such as living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and entryways, used in smaller doses within upholstery, floor tile, applied to a front door or used as a kitchen island color.'

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