Orange A-'peel'

Think orange is only fitting as the colour for your Jack-O-Lantern during Halloween? Think again. Orange hues are making a fast comeback for decorating. Whether you are going for a fresh retro look or a spanking new decor, orange jazzes up spaces faster than you can say "juice". Citrus, tangerine, or shades from the orange family convey a touch of warm and optimistic feeling into spaces, giving them the extra oomph.

HERE'S HOW TO USE ORANGE

You want an orange room, but you have been warned of post-painting qualms and possibly a heart attack if you overdid it. Yes, orange can be a scary colour to paint an entire room with. But it's still possible to make it work.

Use orange in rooms where the walls are broken up with oversized windows. These windows are able to bring in not only light, but also colours from the exterior (ie. green of the leaves outside and the white of the building next door, etc); hence balancing out the powerful colour.

Also, have lots of accent pieces of another colour (especially white) in the room. For instance paint the trim at the top of the walls a pristine white to make a nice counterpoint for your orange walls.

White ceiling also provides a neutral balance.

Second thoughts about painting all four walls orange?

Then just paint one and make that your feature wall. Pick a wall with a focal point (ie. an unusually shaped wall, walls holding dramatic artwork, or the wall behind a bed's headboard) as this is where your eye goes first.

An orange feature wall with an interesting artwork on it will also provide a sense of liveliness in rooms, adding visual excitement to your space.

If you are still sticking to your 'better safe than sorry' decorating principle, all is not lost and you don't have to give up using orange altogether. It's as simple finding accent pieces in that colour to go with your decor. Rest assured, you'll have no trouble finding the many shades of orange from lively mango to watered-down peach at any price.

Just use the colour in smaller doses - in a small stool or table, fabrics, pillows and throws, bedding, tableware or accessories such as frames and boxes.