Which colour will light up your life?

Introduce orange to a room and the effect is immediate. Warm, welcoming and cheerful, orange brings up memories of sunny days, fresh fruit, old-world Italian villas and walks through the mountains. Paint your walls orange and you may find that the room becomes instantly more comfortable. This is because orange is an active colour, which makes it the perfect hue for brightening north-facing rooms that don’t get much natural light.

Combine bright orange shades like pumpkin, tangerine and carrot with a cool crisp neutral scheme to create a bold yet sophisticated look. Pale, soft shades like apricot, coral and peach are better for large areas with good natural light such as a large living room or kids’ rooms. After all, orange is a touch of sunshine that you can bring indoors.