Orange is the hottest homeware color for 2022 - how to use it

White dining table with orange cups and terrazzo plates

(Image credit: Habitat)

published 14 April 2022

The last two years have seen 70s-inspired interiors return with a bang. Recently we've seen one particular retro color creeping back into our homes - orange.

This isn't the Tango or Fanta style orange you often find splashed across the walls of a youth hostel. The new color trend of 2022 is all about burnt oranges and bursts of rich terracotta.

The bold color can be tricky to work with, but that hasn't stopped it from filtering into our home accessories and furniture choices. eBay has revealed that searches for burnt orange chairs were up by 93 percent on the website this spring.

The appeal of the best armchair dressed in burnt orange velvet is easy to see. It summons up the best of the 70s without overpowering a space.

'A nostalgic ‘70s classic – burnt orange and earthy terracotta accents are trending as shoppers look to create interiors using items that have transcended through various style eras,' says Alex Hiatt, Head of eBay Home & Garden.

However, as well as evoking a retro palette, many designers are seeing the shift to bold colors as a way of adding a note of optimism to homes after countless lockdowns.

'As we navigate away from the pandemic, our society is feeling more optimistic, which then translates into our home interior color choices,' says Grace Baena, Interiors Curator of Kaiyo. 'Pink and orange are also trending as a pair since they work so well together. Choosing duller shades of both creates a calm and elegant aesthetic.'

How to use orange accents in a home

To avoid a home that looks like an easyJet lounge it is best to not go too overboard with bright pops of orange. For a more elegant look often for softer hues of the color.

Orange living room with painted window shutters

Alex points out that while orange is a bold color, orange hues are a great way to add warmth to a space without clashing with existing living room ideas. She also suggests scaling up the color in places.

'If you feel comfortable, why not go big with terracotta furniture - armchairs are a great piece to start off with,' she adds. 'If you’d rather easily bring warmth to your room without committing a lot of money to the new 2022 color.

'Experiment with burnt orange rugs, mugs, and abstract wall art, which will do an equally good job at bringing the rich earthiness to your home.'

Rebecca Knight is the News Editor on Real Homes. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She moved into digital journalism and developed an interest in homes and interiors when she joined the Ideal Home website team in 2019. Since then she has written for a range of gardening and interior websites including Town and Country, Homes and Gardens and Living etc. As a flat renter, she is always looking for smart DIY hacks that can be easily removed without annoying her landlord, whilst also helping her save money towards her first home.