Orange and Burnt Orange Bedroom Ideas
Orange works in a bedroom when you choose an earthy shade such as burnt orange, rust or terracotta rather than bright tangerine, and give it plenty of cream and wood to rest against. Add a cool contrast such as teal or navy in small amounts and the room will feel warm but balanced.
Below: colours that go with burnt orange, how to pick the right orange, ways to use it without overwhelming the room, and how to choose art.
Prints for this look
The colour palette
Colours that go with burnt orange in a bedroom
- Cream and oatmeal are the calmest partners. They let the orange glow without competing.
- Teal and navy are the complementary colours. Blues sit opposite orange on the colour wheel, so a teal throw or a navy cushion makes burnt orange look richer.
- Chocolate brown and walnut suit the earthy side of orange and feel very cosy in the evening.
- Mustard and ochre make a warm, sunny tonal scheme.
- Olive and sage give a softer, natural contrast.
The 60-30-10 rule helps keep orange in check: about 60% cream or neutral, 30% wood and brown, and 10% orange in the bedding, art or a single wall.
Burnt orange, rust or terracotta?
Most bedroom oranges are earthy, but they still lean warm or cool. Burnt orange and rust have more brown and red in them. They suit walnut, leather and brass, and feel autumnal. Terracotta has a pinker, clay-like tone. It suits pale oak, linen and blush. Peach and apricot are lighter and softer, good for a small bedroom that gets little sun.
Hold your paint or fabric next to white paper. If it looks pink, pair it with blush and sage. If it looks brown, pair it with teal, navy and chocolate.
Using orange without overwhelming the room
- One wall: paint the wall behind the bed burnt orange and keep the others cream.
- Bedding: white or oatmeal sheets with a rust, mustard or burnt orange throw and cushions give you the colour in a way that is easy to change.
- Headboard: cane, rattan or tan leather suit orange schemes. A wide timber headboard adds warmth without more colour.
- Rug and lamps: a round rust rug or an amber glass lamp repeats the colour at a different height.
Choosing art for an orange bedroom
Look for prints that share the warmth of your orange and add a touch of blue or deep brown. Sunsets, desert and coastal scenes, Japanese-style landscapes and bold abstract shapes all suit burnt orange. On orange walls, art with a cream background stands out best. On cream walls with orange bedding, a print with plenty of orange ties the room together.
Above the bed, aim for art about two thirds the width of the headboard: one A1 above a double, or a pair of A2 prints above a king size. Hang the bottom of the frame 15 to 25 cm above the headboard.
Browse our burnt orange wall art, or look at orange and blue prints for a ready-made complementary pairing.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
