The 1 Color That’s Blowing Up For 2017, and It’s Not What You Think

By Amber Kemp-Gerstel

When I was 8 years old, all I wanted was a New Kids on the Block T-shirt and an orange room. Yes, I wanted to paint my room a shade of orange. The entire room, walls and doors, and I wanted a light orange canopy bed to top it off. It will come as no surprise to you that my mother quickly vetoed this proposition. She did cave on the canopy bed, although I'm still waiting on my New Kids T-shirt. The days of preteen neon bedrooms are long behind me, but there's still something very appealing about the perfect shade of orange and how it can add a subtle yet meaningful moment of color in any room or to any piece of decor.

Fortunately, I no longer have to convince my mother about the utility of orange — the design world has my back because colors in the same family are having their time in the spotlight. And it's not just for 8-year-olds anymore.

When it comes time to choose how you'll use this hue in your home, it's probably best to avoid going four-walls-full-speed-ahead, and when selecting a shade, go a touch lighter than you think you want. No need to worry about stressing over the perfect color either, because BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint comes in over 1,000 one-coat shades that will pair with whatever vibe you're going for. To live out our light-orange obsession for this DIY, we're using Balcony Sunset to show how to add the perfect dose of color to any home decor project you have in mind. Follow these easy tips for three creative ways to celebrate 2017's chicest shade.

Gather your supplies

Gather your supplies

Here’s everything you need for these DIY projects:

  • BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint, Matte, Satin or Semi-Gloss in Balcony Sunset
  • Assorted paint brushes (foam, angled, standard)
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Painter’s Canvas
  • Paint trays for working with small amounts of paint at a time
  • Medium-Grit Sandpaper
Try a pop of light orange on your baseboards

Try a pop of light orange on your baseboards

For a subtle yet impactful look, try painting your baseboards. It’s totally unexpected and so, so chic. Simply tape off the floor and wall to make sure you get crisp edges. Next, use an angled brush to add paint. Remove the tape, then allow the paint to fully dry.

Give new life to wooden furniture

Give new life to wooden furniture

For something slightly larger in scale, BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paint works fabulously to make old, drab furniture your new favorite pieces. Select something you already own or pick up a piece from a thrift shop. Use painter’s tape to cover any pulls, handles, or embellishments, lightly sand the surface, wipe any dust off with a cloth, and then use an angled brush and a standard brush to paint the entire piece. It’s sure to add instant personality to any room.

Channel your inner Picasso

Channel your inner Picasso

It may have been a while, but it’s easier than you think to create a stunning, monochromatic piece of art! My favorite way to create simple statement art is to apply painter’s tape across a blank canvas in a random pattern. Then paint the canvas and remove the tape. So easy!