Why orange is the new red

The unexpected red trend has dominated designers' notebooks for the past year – a vibrant pop of colour running from room to room, a daring colour thread cleverly uniting an interior.

First coined on TikTok, designers have been drawn to playful ruby-red statements on everything from pendant lights to lacquered tables, objets d'art to paintings and even wardrobes. Exciting and dramatic in equal measure, a bold dash of rich red works in contemporary and traditional spaces alike.

This season, unsurprisingly, red has taken a warmer twist. And orange, in all its forms, is slowly taking over. From vibrant flame hues to warm chestnuts, russets to rich terracottas, pinky corals and every shade in between, orange is the new watchword in interior decoration.

Here's how to introduce it to your home, one room at a time, to create a warm, vibrant welcoming space for all seasons.

Dining rooms

Dining rooms come into their own at night – low lighting, flickering candles, bold wall colours and rich upholstery combine to create a room full of drama and intrigue. These spaces lend themselves to pops of fiery orange on anything from upholstered dining chairs in tactile velvets and textured tweeds, to bold rugs and modern art.

Orange sits opposite blue on the colour wheel, and so works well with inky blues, while terracotta and russet shades create a cocooning feel paired with rich, verdant greens. Teamed with black, it's bold and contemporary. 

We love these Kenilworth dining chairs, above, custom-painted in Chestnut eggshell – one of 40 paint shades by Neptune, all available in our store-in-store.

On the walls, try this blood-red Sang De Boeuf, by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Dramatic and intense, it's the perfect backdrop for elegant dinner parties and winter weekend lunches alike and works perfectly with the metallic finish of our Lava extendable dining table. 

You can see the whole collection of planet-friendly Edward Bulmer Natural Paint in our Interior Design Studio, plus hundreds of fabric books from the Warwick to Romo to complete your perfect pairing.

Sitting rooms

As the season moves from summer into autumn, adding earthy shades of russet and terracotta to a neutral sitting room brings instant warmth and comfort to a space. On a neutral or grey sofa, try scatter cushions in soft wool or tweed and drape with richly textured throws. 

Go bold with an accent chair upholstered in a vibrant fabric, while a textured rug with warm notes of russet and terracotta will bring your whole scheme together.

Not just for autumn and winter schemes, a pinky-orange coral works across all seasons, bringing personality and joy to an interor. Think coral linens, florals and stripes paired with subtle neutrals and pale oak furniture.

Bedrooms

As the days shorten and the nights get longer, shades of orange bring warmth, comfort and a sense of the changing landscape outside to a bedroom scheme. Cosy throws, quilted or in chunky wool knits, make an inviting space to retreat to. Velvet cushions lend an air of opulence paired with either dark wood or oak. And neutral linen curtains can be transformed with a richly-coloured trim.

Home offices

Styling a home office can be one of the most difficult design tasks in the home – creating a practical, calming space that works for the nine-to-five isn't always the most glamorous job. But adding a deep chestnut to shelving, or introducing a pop of coral on cushions or blinds makes your workspace instantly more inviting.

Conservatories and garden rooms

For 35 years, we've been the UK's leading garden room and conservatory furniture specialists, and our expert design team is always on hand to help you choose the right designs, fabrics and finishes to suit your lifestyle.

While conservatories have historically been seen as summer spaces, they really are a room for all seasons. Dress yours for the slower autumn months, embracing the colours of the natural world outside, with russet accessories, textured throws and soft lighting.