Why: With the continuing retro love-in, lemon yellow has made a comeback while warming tangerine is this seasons on-trend tone. It may be fashion, but it looks set to stay.
How:
- Boldly go where Art Nouveau and Art Deco style went before, and add touches of turquoise, glossy black and silver to add zing to an orange base.
- Liven up a living area (but never a bedroom) by teaming clementine with crisp white and cool apple green. Energising and revitalising? Tick!
- Channel Sixties style by blending warm bronze with full-on citrus orange its easier on the eye than you might think. Alternatively, pack a punch by adding a hit magenta or fresh ultramarine.
Top tip: In a kitchen, vibrant orange and shiny stainless steel are a match made in culinary heaven. Keep the look streamlined for a super-modern space, though.
Kitchen, from £17,000, Harvey Jones
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Bright oranges
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Muted yellows
Why: Earthy and easy to live with, these versatile colours – used the world over – are made using natural clay-based pigments so they dont overpower small rooms.
How:
- Like muted green, muted yellow works well in tone-on-tone decorating add definition with dark wood and silky, tactile furnishings.
- Create a cocooning feel by mixing olive, mid-grey and dull-ochre which, when used together, bring notes of the exotic.
- Subdued mustard is a current must have when used with off-white and tough graphite shades. It works especially well with simple, linear furniture.
Top tip: Gloss and lacquered finishes bring out the depth and warmth of these shades. Layer away!
Illuminate wallpaper, £35 per roll, Harlequin
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Pastel yellows
Why: This shade can be used to revitalise almost any room, and can help to pull off everything from Regency romance to French farmhouse chic.
How:
- Pastel yellows work well with similarly cool tones such as pale blue, soft grey or even leafy greens especially on small-scale check or floral sprig fabrics.
- Fifties staple, buttery yellow, is surprisingly well-matched with brick red, muted green and black. Just check out prints by the likes of Lucienne Day for proof.
- Paint a sunny room in the palest vanilla shade it will create warmth while avoiding glare by day or citric tones sometimes caused by artificial lights at night.
Top tip: Choose the same statement yellow pattern for walls, and windows. With neutral floors and plain upholstery, it will look more fabulous than fussy.
Yellow floral print: wallpaper, £38 per roll; fabric, from £29 per m; all Jane Churchill
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Dark oranges
Why: Make a statement with rich autumnal hues that cover all interior styles, from heritage to heavenly.
How:
- When combined with blue-based greys, plums and greens, deep orange looks rich and warm think of dramatic and charming Moroccan blends.
- Burnt colours from orange to umber are instantly cosy, but add brown leather furniture and soft suede upholstery to gain instant gentlemens club comfort.
- Dark green (no inkier than racing green) and deep orange cant be said to be true complementary colours, but they do look smart together and are nothing if not bold.
Top tip: Rethink your feature wall: hang a single panel of floor-to-ceiling striped paper but keep the rest of the room regimented with wallpaper beneath the dado rail only.
Hampton Garden wallpaper, £67 per roll, Casamance
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Accent yellows
Why: Used with the right contrasting shades, yellow adds energy to any space, and fans of neutrals will love its impact on earthy tones.
How:
- Sandy or buttercup yellow notes will strike the right chord with cool blue-greys. All it takes is a curvy lamp or an oversized vase.
- White and lemon yellow make a zingy, intense couple. Reduce the sharpness, and add warmth and texture, with a neutral oatmeal carpet.
- Saffron and ochre hues can be used to good effect lightening a deep-red room. Enhance the luxurious theme with Persian rugs and/or patterned throws.
Top tip: For a bold, elegant look, choose a palette with off-white at the base, black and concrete grey in the middle ground, and a greeny chartreuse yellow to make the whole thing pop!
Patterned fabrics, from £12 per m, Clarke & Clarke
