Decorating Your Home With Orange Accents

The color orange has a lot of nice qualities to it. It is feminine, youthful and is said to help cheer people up. It is good in rooms that require that you relax and focus at the same time. In 2011, orange is also a very haute color that has been seen making a comeback on the runways and in furniture and fabric design.
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ou do not have to paint your entire home orange in order to be fashionable however painting the occasional accent wall a bright juicy hue will help it be more in style. The key is to not overdue it as too much orange might look a bit too playful or immature.

One simple and effective way to use the color orange is to replace your bathroom or kitchen drawer knobs with orange ceramic or plastic drawer pulls. You can also get beautiful orange pulls that look like blossoms from anthropolgie.

You can also add orange accents by displaying food and collectibles on orange trays. You can buy plastic orange trays at any dollar store but sometimes you can also find orange painted wood trays on retro websites or at garage sales. Orange placemats and orange tablecloths also give your kitchen a bit of a citrus punch as do cutlery with clear or solid plastic orange handles.

It is quite easy to give your kitchen a splash of orange by getting a brand new flashy orange kettle from Le Cruyeset.This steel kettle is dark orange and the base and graduates up to a flowery tangerine color. Orange mixing bowls and plates made out of ceramic also can brighten up a kitchen.

A single orange vase placed in your room can make this color your focal point. The nicest vases are tall, elegant and made of glass. You can get great handmade orange single vases made out of milk glass at Pier 1. Bar that you can make your own orange vase by spray painting jars or bottles a bright orange.

For a burst of real orange try making a floral display out of a grouping of orange roses or orange bougainvillea. You can also make a lovely floral centerpiece out of oranges or blood oranges. Pile the oranges in pyramid shape and stick the flowers between the edges of the fruit to create a display.

Finally a single gold fish in a clear bowl can add a bright point of orange to a place devoid of color.

Remember that if you do not want to actually paint the walls you can always use lighting by replacing your white light bulbs with orange or red ones to create a citrus like glow.

How to Decorate in Maritime Style

Decorating in the Maritime style is a bit rustic, a bit whimsical but also very practical in an old-fashioned way. Any home can be decorated in this style but it really does suit homes that are on a waterfront the best.

Stripes say “nautical” as do anchors and any motif with whales, manatees, dolphins or other ocean life on it. Decorate your bedroom in striped white and blue fabrics. You can get beautiful natural blankets and linens with a lateral blue and white strap as well as sheets with anchor imagery on them.

Another interesting nautical theme is bluebirds. For years bluebird tattoos were boasted by sailors as each bluebird tattoo symbolized an ocean vogage. Bluebirds look great painted as motifs on door frames and other places. You can also buy curtains and pillows that have this theme.

Anything with an anchor on it will give the idea that you are expressing the Maritime theme. On your dining table be sure to have plates with crown and anchor motifs. You can also buy place mats made out of rattan and rope baskets to drive the point even further home.

A cute touch are photographic frames that look like life preservers. There is a company called Mariposa that is making these out of recycled aluminum. Also nothing says “Maritimes” more than the classic sailing ship trapped in a bottle sitting on your mantel. Model ships, both antique and modern, displayed on shelves or hanging from the ceiling also express a nautical theme.

In the kitchen hang a nice big chalkboard in a battered frame in a color like sea foam or a buttery yellow. Look for key holders, cork screws, tea towels and other accessories in aquatic colors with sailor or ocean motifs.

Anything made out of rope emphasizes the maritime theme. You can buy mats made out old recycled lobster rope that come in different brilliant colors. You can also buy doorstoppers made out of a classic monkey fist knot. A company called Uncommon Goods makes a very nice example of this.

A bronze outdoor lantern hanging from a chain helps keep the front porch looking friendly. These lights tend to be coal colored frames that hold bright white glass shades encasing a clear shade encasing a sheer bulb. Even in the thickest of fogs this type of touch will make your visitors feel welcome.
Finally anywhere in your home you see fit to put collections of sea shells or sea glass will help you achieve that nautical look.