Unique Color Combination: Orange and Blue

I was watching Project Runway recently when one of the designers was chastised for making the mistake of putting blue and orange together in a single outfit. The judges felt like these colors just were not complimentary. While I understand their point of view, I have to confess that there was something wildly appealing to me about this odd color combination.

Would I go out on the town wearing blue and orange together? I'm not sure that I could pull it off without looking ridiculous. However, I do think I could easily combine these colors in my home to make a really unique feeling for the house.

The thing about using such bold colors is that you have to take some time to get it right. Play around with it. Figure out which other colors should be introduced into the mix to tone down the brashness or highlight the potential softness in this color combination.

Kathryn

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If it's too much to think about painting a whole room in these colors then definitely think about the power of the accent wall. Use the other color to decorate the rest of the room.

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Consider changing the color of your walls to match this new color combination. Of course, you don't want garish bold walls but a tinge of either color into a white wall would make a big difference in pulling the whole room together.

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That faded blue antique cabinet is a wonderful statement piece. It's pulled into the room with a matching blue rug. The orange chair in between them makes this space a more interesting one to look at.

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The pale, almost grey-ish blue, of the wall here is a perfect choice for showing off the bolder orange coloring of the framed art and the side table.

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You can use little collections to put these colors together. Books with blue and orange covers could be paired together on a shelf, for example.

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Here's another example of using pillows to pull off this color combination. I love how the pillow design is replicated in the rug, even though the coloring is not, helping to streamline the whole look. The curtains really finish the room off nicely.

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This is probably the best example yet of how these two colors can truly compliment each other. If you can find an upholstery or curtain that works both colors into a single design then you have a great starting point for decorating the room.

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Orange and blue combined together alone can be a bit too bold for many people. Add in black and you get a little bit of a Halloween feeling. However, add in white as well and you get a really modern interesting feeling. The unique headboard is an added bonus to the great color selection on this bed!

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Alternatively, one of the colors could make up the bulk of a room's design while the other color provides the accents. In this case, a peach-toned orange is the main color and it makes those blue lamps really pop.

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A great way of introducing such bold colors into a room is to make them your statement pieces. The orange fire stove and the blue globe really stand out in a pleasant way in this mostly white room.