Sunny kitchen: orange in the interior and its best combinations with other colors

The space around us directly affects the mood and atmosphere in the house. Orange color was specially created by nature to bring a “note” of warmth, comfort and cheerfulness to the interior. If the apartment does not have enough sunlight, then this shade will add it to the house, as well as improve the mood and tone of the body and have a beneficial effect on the health of all household members.

Pros and cons of orange in the kitchen interior

Orange is often called orange - and it organically combines the life-affirming energy of impulsive red with the captivating warmth of yellow:

• helps create a pleasant mood even on the most dreary autumn or winter day;
• invigorates and energizes you in the morning, increases appetite and optimism in life;
• perfectly plays “secondary roles” - harmoniously complements the main color scheme, helping the basic shades to better reveal themselves;
• suitable for creating a bright color spot - guarantees richness and expressiveness of the shade;
• there are many variations of orange, each of which is universal in genre and fits into both classic and modern high-tech interiors;
• Suitable for both a very modest room and a decent-sized kitchen - if the intensity of orange is minimal, objects do not visually increase in size, and the original proportionality is preserved.

However, any solution always has a downside:

• if there is a lot of it in the decoration, it can tire and even cause irritability;
• attracts attention, which is especially evident in small kitchens;
• requires increased attention and caution when combined with shades of other temperatures;
• can often seem bad taste - however, this pattern is applicable to all emphatically bright colors.

The disadvantages of using orange in kitchen design can be compensated by its obvious advantages. And if you show the necessary caution and an intuitive sense of harmony, then without any problems you can get an interior verified from a design point of view, in which everything will be in its place - and your eyes will be happy.

Classic interiors

Muted shades look optimal here: apricot and noble olive. It is in these colors that it is usually recommended to decorate the living room. For the kitchen, such a neighborhood will help create a cozy and relaxing interior as in the photo below. Usually the duet is diluted with a white palette, which will help make a favorable impression from such a design.

Orange shades for classic interiors:

• peach;
• apricot;
• bronze;
• copper;
• terracotta

Green shades for a classic design style:

• malachite;
• olive;
• green moss;
• marble color;
• pistachio;
• green tea;
• mustard.

It is not necessary to choose exclusively light colors. Nobility and aristocracy can be created with the help of relatively dark colors, for example, bronze and malachite. These colors are more common for decorating the living room, but you can also choose something special for the kitchen.

Variety of shades

If orange for you is exclusively the color of a ripe orange fruit, then get ready to break the pattern: there are more than a hundred (!) of its shades. They differ not only in color temperature, but also in their influence on the mood in the interior:

• apricot - bias towards pale yellow, zones the space well;
• aurora - lightened orange-pink;
• vermilion - bright scarlet with an orange tint;
• chestnut - reddish-brown;
• coral - pink-orange color, gentle and delicate, universal;
• tangerine - named after the fruit, creates an active, cheerful background;
• honey - between orange and brown, creates a peaceful atmosphere;
• carrot - a bright and joyful shade;
• peach - reddish light orange, better suited for wall decoration;
• orange - a burning and dynamic orange-red, for spacious rooms;
• rusty - dark, red-brown;
• tango - orange with a brown tint, optimal for ethnic interiors;
• amber is a mixture of orange and yellow, very rich and dark.

Variety of colors

Green and orange come in over 20 shades but are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Orange and its shades are warm colors that are perceived as joyful, positive, exciting, and anti-depressive. Green is a cool color. It calms, helps to rest, fall asleep, relaxes. Orange and green complement each other, so their combinations are considered beneficial for the eyes and well-being.

A kitchen in orange-green tones can be presented in the following shades:

• orange and tangerine;
• carrot;
• coral;
• ocher;
• amber;
• Red tree;
• rust color;
• light green;
• green apple;
• lime;
• herbal;
• olive;
• pistachio.

A kitchen in green and orange tones involves the use of three main colors, one primary and intense, and the other two calm background colors. The shades listed above are the most fashionable and in demand in modern and classic interiors. They are suitable for modern, ethno, country, retro and Japanese styles.

MDF kitchen. Colors: metallic orange light green

What can you make orange?

Everything. There is only one condition - it is extremely important to maintain the dosage of color in the space and take into account the nuances of the layout. In this case, orange will not aggressively dominate the interior, and your eyes will invariably contemplate strict harmony and a color scheme adjusted to the smallest detail.

Kitchen set

Both the lower facades and the upper cabinets can be decorated in the same color. Orange will look best on a glossy surface. It is good if the facades have characteristic roundings. This smooth geometry better correlates with the orange mood and helps to optimally fit it into the kitchen space.

When there is a lot of usable area, it is advisable to divide the set by color into a darker shade at the bottom - and any of the neutral colors like gray or white at the top. This will make the room seem taller and, accordingly, more spacious. It is better to choose cream or light beige wallpaper for such an orange kitchen, without any pattern.

Designer tips

Irina

founder of the interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of ​​work is kitchen design

A very winning combination with an orange set - especially if you are building an interior according to the principles of high-tech and contemporary - is a floor with imitation wood. Usually 15x60 cm dies are used, but if you want more organicity, purchase rectified porcelain tiles. All elements will be laid close to each other, so there will be no annoying seams.

Ceiling

An infrequent decision, especially in the context of the currently popular Scandi and hi-tech. Nevertheless, it looks unconventional and interesting in combination with a snow-white kitchen.

It’s good if you can organize a roll call of such a cheerful ceiling with furniture or decorative elements integrated into the interior.

Choose curtains or curtains that are lighter or darker so that you don’t end up with too many variegated shades.

Orange curtains for appetite

Bright and hot colors are a common design for restaurant halls. This phenomenon can be explained quite simply.

• From the point of view of psychologists, it is the orange palette that has a beneficial effect on appetite, significantly enhancing it.
• Therefore, if your appetite is already excellent, then you should not use orange decorative elements in the kitchen interior.
• They will be unnecessary and to some extent harmful for someone who prefers some restriction in the consumption of “goodies”.

Curtains with bright orange colors are a great way to cheer up someone who has a difficult and sluggish breakfast in the morning.

In this case, it is simply necessary to try this method of “influence”.

You should also not waste your time and nerves trying to persuade your baby to eat “at least a spoonful.” Just add an “orange” mood to your interior. The child will reciprocate with gratitude.

What does it go with?

This question always appears after choosing the main color to decorate a particular room. In the case of orange, the space of options is outlined, if not very broadly, then at least with a good margin for your imagination.

With white

The case when it is impossible to lose. Indeed, the neutrality of white combines well with the fervent enthusiasm of orange in all its many manifestations. It is no coincidence that one of the most common combinations in the kitchen is a flashy orange set against the backdrop of restrained white walls.

You can do it differently: decorate one accent wall in orange, and accompany it with the remaining three white ones.

Don't forget about proportions. In small kitchens, the ratio of white to orange should be 3 to 1, especially if we are talking about dark and rich shades like terracotta or pumpkin.

With black

This vigorous combination guarantees your kitchen a special sophistication and gives every centimeter of its area a unique thick and viscous atmosphere. But only if an experienced and talented designer actually worked on the project: here there is a subtle game on the verge of a foul, a step to the left or to the right - and now you are already dealing with suffocating bad taste.

Therefore, some third companion color is often used as a saving straw. For example, white or beige.

Possible options:

1. black and orange set against a background of light beige walls;
2. black ceiling and walls with orange furniture;
3. orange kitchen with black countertop.

With brown

Most often, orange is friends with brown in rooms decorated in a classic style. Since both colors are warm, they are great for creating a homely atmosphere in neat pastel colors.

There are a lot of compilation options. For example, make the base brown and paint 3 walls with it, and decorate the 4th as an accent wall. Accordingly, the remaining elements are selected in calmer shades to avoid possible color confusion.

Another winning way to interact is with brown furniture. This includes not only the kitchen set, but also the entire dining set. You can use orange to decorate the apron, add the floor to it, and also place bright accents around the perimeter. Give preference to red or peach - they are not so intense and will help create the right interior harmony.

Finally, don’t forget about the richest brown options - dark coffee and chocolate. In the right proportions, they perfectly balance bright orange tones and bring homeliness to the room.

With gray

Everything is logical: the variegated orange color is muted by a neutral gray background. This way the atmosphere in the room becomes calmer and even peaceful.

Orange goes well with the entire gray group: from classic light to deep anthracite.

You can often find a kitchen set with this combination. It looks especially impressive if it is finished with chrome elements and contains glass inserts.

With beige

Be careful with this mix: if you indiscriminately combine beige with orange, you end up with a completely gloomy and boring kitchen in which you are unlikely to want to spend much time.

It is ideal to use light beige walls and bright orange furniture. Additionally, you can again scatter colorful spots in the form of decor or kitchen utensils. Or, as an option, use orange to decorate your dining room. In any case, the situation is extremely clear: beige is the main color, and orange comes into play, creating a cheerful orange mood on the peaceful beige base.

With blue

An unusual combination typical for ethnic interiors. In particular, for the Mediterranean style, which welcomes bright colors and a non-trivial color oxymoron.

This mix greatly refreshes the interior, adds maximum light to the room and, moreover, makes small kitchens more spacious. An illusion, of course, but from a visual point of view everything is in perfect order.

Pumpkin or carrot shades go best with blue. Which of the pair to choose as dominant is up to you to decide. Remember that if there is still more orange, the room will sound warm and homely.

The apron is usually decorated in blue. It is especially advantageous if decors are used to decorate it.

With green

This combination is best used in cases where there is no need to calculate the usable area. In a spacious kitchen, green and orange tones create a beautiful and unobtrusive mood.

The intensity is adjusted by choosing the desired shade. Want pastel colors? Take classic green as a decoration for the set, and use a paler apricot as a background.

If you prefer a brighter range, then the light green-tangerine combination will enliven the space, but will require the introduction of a companion in order to muffle the overly flashy tones in some places.

The green apron looks very advantageous against the background of the orange facades of the kitchen set.

Selection of furniture and equipment

For a bright and unique design, install a modular set with a matte or glossy facade in tangerine or pumpkin colors. Models with gray or white doors and orange side walls look less flashy, but at the same time quite attractive. You can further emphasize the beauty of the orange palette with wenge-colored furniture elements, complemented with metal fittings or aluminum edges.

An excellent solution is a table and transparent chairs made of plastic. Depending on the interior style, the dining group can also be made of natural wood.

The photo shows an orange kitchen with an island complemented by transparent bar stools.

As an accent, you can choose a sofa with bright upholstery or install custom appliances in the form of a carrot refrigerator, complementing a bright apron or dining area.

In what style is orange appropriate?

We have already noted above that there are no style restrictions here: orange fits perfectly into strict classical interiors, and is perfectly revealed in expressive Mediterranean designs, and even harmoniously integrates into ascetic Scandi and hi-tech.

But under one condition - the correct intensity of the shade and its moderate dosage in space.

Let's take, for starters, modern popular design styles. For example, Scandinavian minimalism. Orange is introduced here in portions as bright color spots.

Or as a color for facades. It’s great if the headset has chrome parts and glass elements - this combination guarantees an original appearance, while the philosophy of modern high-tech style does not suffer at all from such a mix.

But for Provence and country, choose calmer shades of orange. Chestnut, mustard or honey shades are welcome - they look great against the background of the wooden texture characteristic of these design styles.

It is best to add not flashy orange to the good old classics, but a version of it with some shares of brown. This is a proven design technique that allows you to combine an expressive shade with the warmth and tranquility of a natural wooden surface.

In ethnic designs, bright orange is a frequent guest. This is characteristic of both the Mediterranean style, which has recently been gaining momentum, and African interiors, which are still rare among us.

Organic color combinations

• A classic option is a duet of white and pumpkin shades. Everything here is quite clear: if the furniture is orange, then the walls are white, if the wallpaper is orange, then the kitchen set is snow-white. This combination is used in different styles.

• Shades of beige are combined with sunny tones in a similar way. They often act as a backdrop for orange accents. But cream tones can be used both in furniture and in the decoration of both the working wall and the rest of the room, which can be seen in the next photo.

• A more contrasting but elegant combination is orange and black. This color will emphasize the rich depth of orange tone, highlighting the shapes and lines of the design. But such a solution is applicable only in spacious rooms. For a small kitchen, you can choose only a few details in black - the edging of the facades to match the household appliances, the countertop or the pattern on the kitchen apron. White wallpaper is usually chosen as a background for a black and orange work area. And, of course, such a contrasting combination is never used in wall decoration.

• A harmonious solution would be to complement an orange kitchen with natural wood surfaces in their natural tones. A darker chocolate shade or wenge with its golden threads will add nobility to the interior, while light wooden surfaces will make the atmosphere warm and airy.

• The duo of orange and blue looks life-affirming. The photo shows that even in saturated versions these colors are harmonious. Their combination makes the interior energetic, so this environment is suitable for active people.

• A natural option is the green-pumpkin combination. When using a bright grass color, the design looks quite cheerful and cheerful. And muted olive or pistachio shades calm the rich sunny tone, calming the atmosphere in the kitchen.

• The gray-orange duet can also be called common. Gray is usually used in modern interiors, as it is the natural color of steel - facades of household appliances, functional structures.

Which apron to choose?

Since orange itself, even in versions with minimal shade intensity, perfectly attracts attention, the apron should be finished in any neutral shade:

• classic snow-white;
• soft cream;
• light gray;
• creamy;
• light beige, etc.

This is provided that the fronts of your kitchen unit are painted in the typical bright orange color.

There is another way, not so common and more risky - choosing a darker and deeper shade. In this case, you can get a non-standard combination that gives your interior special expressiveness and individuality. For example, black or brown. The result is a bright combination that greatly emphasizes the extraordinary taste of the apartment owner.

What about texture? The ubiquitous marble stains do not go well with catchy orange facades, so it is better to opt for segmented tiles or skins with a thematic pattern.

If you want it to look “expensive and rich,” try glass mosaic. It is sold in construction stores in fragments of 30 by 30 cm and can be easily torn off along the grid. It will turn out really impressive, but be prepared for difficult care: washing such small pixels from grease, soot and dirt is not much fun.

Choosing an apron and countertop

If the kitchen set is partially made in orange tones, you can decorate the apron area in orange. To add a glamorous and luxurious touch to the interior, a contrasting black apron is preferred. The cooking area, lined with multi-colored mosaics, has a very original look. A glass apron decorated with photo printing will allow you to bring lightness to the atmosphere.

In the photo there is a white and orange kitchen set in the letter U with an apron decorated with glass skins with photo printing.

A black tabletop is perfect for an orange set, which will give the design an elegant and more noticeable look. Also popular colors for the base are grey, white and olive shades.

Small kitchen in orange

If every square meter counts, you should be extremely careful when incorporating orange into the interior. By itself, it is excessively intense - and even the most modest excess of it will invariably cause ripples in the eyes. In addition, in its most striking manifestations, it tends to increase objects in size.

What to do if you really want to see this cheerful and optimistic shade in your kitchen?

As an option, decorate only one wall in orange. For others, classic beige or white is perfect. Color harmony is guaranteed, and as a bonus, the ceilings will appear higher.

Find more interesting ideas for decorating a small kitchen here.

You can also try partially painting the walls. For example, up to the level of the apron or dining table. Again, give the top a white, gray or any other calm shade. As a result, even a very cramped room will seem more spacious - and the orange color will not interfere with this at all.

Finally, you can simply introduce orange in the form of decoration or minor details. Thanks to their intensity, even the smallest accessories will be noticeable - and the overall color scheme of the kitchen will become much more interesting and multifaceted.

What wallpaper is suitable?

The choice primarily depends on the color of the furniture, for example, it is better to choose wallpaper to match the orange color of the kitchen set in white, pistachio, beige, sand or blue tones. Canvases in milky shades significantly soften the orange color.

The photo shows the interior of an orange and white kitchen with plain yellow wallpaper.

To create a modern and fashionable design with a cozy atmosphere, wallpaper in gray tones is appropriate. For those who appreciate luxurious, expensive and chic design, ivory-colored products are suitable.

In a small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, it is better to cover the walls with light wallpaper or canvases printed with thin orange lines. This way you can create a harmonious environment and a laconic design.

The photo shows an orange island kitchen with an accent wall covered in black patterned wallpaper.

Orange kitchen-living room

The combination of two functional rooms into one most often occurs in the case of a lack of usable space - or, conversely, when there is a complete excess of it.

In the first option, this is typical for small studio apartments in a combined layout format. In the second - for private houses, made according to an individual plan in strict accordance with the wishes of the owners.

One way or another, both formats are characterized by the use of orange color for finishing the furniture group. This includes a kitchen set, a seating area with a soft corner, and dining sets with a table and chairs in a single concept.

Another way to play up orange is to use it to decorate your backsplash. It will be a bright spot of color in the room, but it will be properly dosed, so it will never get boring.

Take a unique approach to the design of curtains. If the room is large, then choose duller shades of orange, otherwise your eyes will get tired quickly.

Curtains (how to choose color)

The energy of orange curtains in the kitchen is similar to red or yellow. Brings brightness and cheerfulness to the design. However, not everyone will like such an original solution.

To begin with, you still need to become better acquainted with specific interior solutions where such an idea looks like the most successful:

• If the room already has a furniture set in orange plus pumpkin color, then the same curtains will be a good solution for the room. In this case, the main thing is the correct ratio of these two components in color;
• Snow-white walls are the perfect backdrop for a range of sunny orange tones. In this case, the combination looks absolutely harmonious;
• One accessory or several, selected in accordance with the style of the space, will help to dilute the somewhat boring beige palette. The orange palette plays an important role in this;
• You should not try a rather harsh combination of thick “greenery” on the walls and orange curtains. It is better to decorate the walls with the color of the pistachio palette, then a wonderful compositional solution will be created. You will always be pleased with the freshness of such an interior, along with its excellent toning and expressiveness.

Photo gallery

If the walls are orange

Orange wallpaper in the kitchen requires careful selection of kitchen furniture, because the rich orange color requires a harmonious composition. As a rule, one of the walls or an area around the perimeter is painted in such bright colors. A pumpkin shade can serve as a background for the open shelves of the work area. Then the furniture should be less bright:

• white;
• cream or beige;
• pastel green;
• pale blue;
• light woody.

When choosing wall decoration in peach tones, you can give preference to a more saturated set. It is appropriate here to use chocolate or wenge facades, black surfaces, bright green and blue solutions. The white color still remains harmonious, which can be noted in the photo.

Implementation

So, we undertake to do the repairs ourselves. What materials can be used? In addition to harmony with the color scheme we have chosen, practicality is also important.

Ceiling

Let's remember how the kitchen differs from other rooms in terms of requirements for finishing materials.

• Constant fluctuations in humidity and temperature.
• Spray. If you think it's difficult to splatter walls and ceilings, you've probably never fried pies or meat in an open cast-iron frying pan.
• High probability of flooding. A rag floating down the drain of the upstairs neighbors’ sink, a sewer line covered in grease from dishes, and simply an open tap will lead to streams from the ceiling.

What materials will be practical and fit into the color scheme we need?

• A glossy stretch ceiling made of PVC film is not afraid of moisture, is easy to clean with soapy water, and in the event of a flood, not only will it not suffer, it will also retain a fair amount of water. When you return home, you will have to drain it through any hole for the lamp - and the incident will be over.
• A slatted aluminum ceiling is another practical solution. It is durable and not afraid of moisture.
• Finally, a ceiling made of polyvinyl chloride wall panels is a popular option, the main advantage of which is the low price of the material.

Wide (37 centimeters) PVC wall panels were used to create the ceiling.

The optimal colors for the ceiling are white, yellow-orange and light green.

Floor

Light tiles in the same colors as the ceiling are a very practical solution. Unlimited service life will be combined with resistance to moisture and temperature.

Important: unpolished porcelain tiles or tiles with a grooved surface will be the best choice. But glazed tiles or polished artificial stone are a bad option. What is the reason for such a strange instruction? Because the floor in the kitchen, where water often spills, should not be slippery.

A very interesting combination of colors and materials - light tiles near the sink, stove and work area are separated from the dining table area by an aluminum threshold, behind which laminate flooring is laid. Of course, light, a color as close to orange as possible.

Here the color of the laminate is in harmony with the rest of the decor.

Walls

Taking into account the specifics of the premises, there are few options.

• To paint walls, use acrylic or silicone-based water-based paint. It provides coverage that is washable an unlimited number of times.
• If your choice of wallpaper is strictly washable. Optimally - vinyl: washing will be absolutely safe for the walls.
• An excellent material for an apron is thick glass, painted on the back or tinted with film in the color you need. Preferably hardened. Then there will be much less chance of breaking it.

An example of such a solution.

Association game

No matter how Orthodox culture defends the dogma of the instantaneous creation of man in the image and likeness, a lot in the human psyche is inherited from our ancestors. Basic, primitive instincts clearly reveal both the origin and lifestyle of previous generations.

Remember the reaction to fear, for example, of a cat or any person. The cat jumps away. The man freezes. Instincts operate regardless of character, courage and upbringing.

Why? Yes, simply because our distant ancestors lived in trees, and jumping to the side would mean falling from a great height.

The perception of colors and the emotional reaction to them are also part of the baggage that every representative of the current human civilization has inherited along with other unconditioned reflexes. Red – the color of blood – causes fear and/or aggression. Black is fear, because many predators hunt at night.

Well, what about the color scheme that interests us?

Not hard to guess. Green is the color of grass and greenery, the color of food and shelter. The color of peace and tranquility. Orange is closest to the main part of the solar visible spectrum.

It is clear that bright sunny color is associated with joy, warmth, relaxes and puts you in a positive mood.

Thus, the choice of colors can be safely called successful without any reservations.

The colors of this kitchen infect the viewer with their mood.

Read also the article “Orange kitchen - a style that lifts your spirits.”