The Colors You Need Now

Tangerine

Tangerine, along with avocado green and mustard yellow, may have gotten a bad rap from overuse in the '70s, but that shouldn't discourage you from using it today. Orange tones have a rare quality that only a few warm colors can match -- everyone looks good in the light they reflect.

One no-fail trick is to pair tangerine with colors found beside it in nature. In spring, orange meshes with fuchsia, persimmon, and lime green. In the fall, it's teamed with red, brown, and gold. Unexpected pairings, such as tangerine with baby blue or jade green, can be equally appealing. If allover orange seems extreme, consider accents -- cushions trimmed with orange piping, or a grouping of citrus-colored vases on a mantel.