Humans have had a love affair with this classic, metallic hue for millennia. In fact, it was first used to fashion decorative objects in 4,000 B.C.! It was then used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and every great civilization since then. And now it’s making a modern day comeback in home interiors.

Long a symbol of wealth, luxury and success, the use of gold accents in interiors is timeless and elegant. The key to its successful use is the right tone–it varies from bright yellow to a darker, burnished hue–place and combination.

Its placement can easily become excessive, so I always take a less is more approach. A little bit of gold goes a long way.

Gold is a perfect complement to all colors in the spectrum, especially when toned down against a white or black background. My personal favorite is turquoise.

Another of my personal favorites is a metallic mix of gold and silver (no, you no longer have to choose one or the other). The juxtaposition of these warm and cool metals is stunning! The key to a successful combination of the two is in the balance. For example:

In smaller spaces, I use gold on the top and bottom of the room and silver in the middle (or vice versa), giving the combination a sense of equilibrium.

In large rooms, I divide up the space by making gold more dominant in one area and silver in the other.

And for a more subtle approach, I translate the metallic hues into paint on the walls and ceiling.

Click here to view my “Gold Is On Trend Again” Pinterest board, featuring a selection of my favorite gold home accents.

Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike, and Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, provides the energy boost we all need to recharge and move forward.

A provocative attention-getter, energize your interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories such as pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue. Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics also add an unexpected pop of color. Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a cost-effective and dynamic burst of energy.

The color of the year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

So be bold and add a Tangerine Tango (or any other shade of orange) accent to your home today! For an even more dynamic contrast, try pairing it with Aquamarine (PANTONE 14-4313X), another trendy color this year, as they are total opposites on the color wheel and will enhance each other when paired together.

Source and Images Courtesy of Pantone