Orange You Glad It Is 2012?

Last month Pantone, the company that is responsible for all things having to do with color, announced what it believed would be the 2012 color of the year. And Pantone said that color was something called "Tangerine Tango." Pantone describes Tangerine Tango as "spirited reddish orange" that is "reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset."

Orange is a color that has been growing in popularity among fashion designers and the clothing they create. Pantone says that some of the designers that have been featuring more orange in their collections include Tommy Hilfiger, Elie Tahari, and Adrienne Vittadini. Interestingly, I've been wearing a bright orange winter coat for the past 10 years—primarily so that, during hunting season, my dog and I are not mistaken for deer. (The dog has a bright orange harness and leash as well.)

Though orange has been adding pop to fashion for awhile, now it is trickling down to home fashions, home decorating, home furnishings, and home decor. Experts suggest that soft lines, such as pillows and bedspreads, in a bright orange will add spice to a room. As far as tabletop accessories, appliances, and personal electronics, expect to see them in high-voltage orange in the coming year. KitchenAid, for example, already has its best-selling standing mixer available in tangerine.

Even paint companies are getting into the orange act. BEHR Paint is highlighting its contribution to the tangerine trend by promoting the colors it offers in that color family. So if you wanted to paint a room something with an orange hue, you would choose from BEHR's firecracker, wet coral, or fiery red colors—perhaps a touch of Crimson Tide? Even better, like many paint companies, BEHR will suggest complementary colors to use as well. So when it comes to orange and tangerine, you would want to pair them with lime green, aqua, or lavender, so says Erika Woelfel, Director of Color at BEHR Paints.

I wonder how many "color of the year" from years gone by eventually made it into your home or your home decor? Just for kicks, here is a list of the color for the year from the past 5 years, courtesy of Pantone:

• Honeysuckle (2011)
• Turquoise (2010)
• Mimosa (2009)
• Blue Iris (2008)
• Chili Pepper (2007)