Orange is the Color of Happiness

Today, let's pause for a moment's meditation on the color Orange.  Orange can be a modern color, clean and bold.  Orange can sometimes be an exotic color, evoking visual images of dusty Moroccan bazaars, the vibrant geometric patterns of hand-woven kilims or the deep warm color of ground Indian spices.  Orange can be patriotic, as evidenced by the brightly-painted Dutch faces that appear at every European sporting event.  Orange can also be luscious in its natural form, pops of color against shiny green leaves on the tree, glistening slices of ripe fruit against a white plate, the deep aromatic orange of fresh-squeezed juice.

My personal love affair with the color started when I was 8 and my family brought home a brand new orange Volvo station wagon (yes, it was the 1970s for anyone wondering).  We loved that car almost like a member of the family and it accompanied us up, down and across the US as my parents showed us the wonders of the country we call home.  We drove it through 2 odometers and over 200,000 miles.  It went to college (in Boston) with me and to college (in Iowa) with my sister.  Finally, it passed to the Salvation Army, after which my father used to see it randomly driving around Mongomery County, Maryland.  I'm sure that old car is now long gone, but oh what great memories.  And what an awesomely bodacious color it was.  We used to get friendly beeps from other Volvos as they passed on the street, and one of my close friends in high school would park her vintage chartreuse green VW bug convertible right next to my bright orange Volvo just for the sheer pleasure of the outrageous color statement the two cars made together.

 

Frank Sinatra once said, "Orange is the happiest color."  I think he was onto something.  There are other colors that are prettier, more vibrant or sophisticated, easier to integrate into a decorating scheme.  But Orange... now that's a color that has energy and life.  It's inviting, it's friendly, it's fun.

There are those among us bold enough to surround themselves with Orange at home, some with big, bold statement rooms, others with bright pops of colors that bring life to an otherwise muted palette.  Decorating with Orange is an adventure, but what potential it brings.  When done well, Orange is fabulous.  Here are a few of my favorite Orange rooms -- what are yours?

Orange... funky and modern:

via Pinterest

Orange, bold and beautiful:

Source:  Schoener Wohnen Magazine

Orange, simply fabulous:

Jamie Bush & Co., designer

Orange, Haute Halloween:

Source:  Slim Paley

Orange, simply chic:

via Pinterest

Orange, subtle and earthy:

Source:  Better Homes & Garden

Orange, exquisitely elegant:

Source:  Hermes

Orange, vibrantly sophisticated:

via Pinterest

Orange, warm and inviting:

via Pinterest

Orange, sweetness itself:

Source:  Martha Stewart

 Orange, the color of happiness:

Source:  Dutchboy Paints

And, just because I think these women are the epitome of '70s British chic (love their style!), I'll share this photo as well:

via Pinterest

~Laura