Decorating with orange paint can be a little scary. But, with some careful planning, and plenty of paint samples, you can choose an orange-based color scheme that will carry throughout your kitchen. Keeping the color in small doses increases the pleasure factor and reduces the scariness of decorating with such a vibrant color.
1 Paint an accent wall in your kitchen with a semi-glossy orange color to reflect the available light. Make sure to get paint specifically for the kitchen and bath, for easy cleaning. Apply the paint and allow to dry at least four hours before applying a second coat.
2 Checkerboard your floor. Use a pale shade of peach and an antique white to create the pattern. For the easiest application, opt for laminate squares. For the more artistically inclined, stencil a checkerboard pattern on the floor and paint the squares in with a high-quality paintbrush. Stenciling your floor can be done by measuring your floor carefully and then dividing it into equal squares, working from the center. Use a chalk line to mark the lines you measured out, and use those as guides. An alternative would be to purchase a checkerboard stencil from an arts and craft store, spray the back of it with stencil adhesive, stick it to the floor and paint accordingly.
3 Give new life to a chandelier. Obtain a brass chandelier–often available from yard sales and consignment shops–and remove the fixtures. Spray paint the chandelier with a deep copper color. Allow the paint to dry for four hours and replace the light fixtures.
4 Spruce up wooden kitchen chairs with a coat of mandarin orange paint. Sand the chairs thoroughly with fine grit sandpaper, wipe them down with a damp cloth, then spray them with an ample coat of paint. Allow the paint to dry at least four hours before sitting in the chairs.
5 Add brightness to the window sills. Choose a vibrant orange for this project. Sand inside the window frame, wipe it down, and brush the paint on in an even coat. Allow the paint to dry for at least four hours. Use sheer curtains to show off this treatment to its full effect.
