Orange you happy to hear the news? (Sorry, couldn't resist a little pun.) Pantone has just announced Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Color of the Year! 

This warm and vibrant shade, full of optimism and energy, is set to make a big impact in the world of interior design. "There's the element of encouragement with orange", says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "It's building on the ideas of courage and action, that we want to move on to better things. I think it would be a disservice to go with a relaxed, soothing color now". 

A little orange goes a long way, and touches of orange are easy to incorporate into home decor. Be bold and add a pair of tangerine lamps in your living room; drape an orange throw over an armchair; swap out a neutral rug for a brightly colored shag; or toss a pair of orange printed pillows on your sofa. Eiseman suggests pairing tangerine tango with green and with distressed wood finishes.

For artists, designers, and color enthusiasts, the official Pantone tangerine tango color code is 17-1463 TCX or 17-1463 TPX. RGB colors are 221 (R), 65 (G), and 36 (B), and CMYK colors are 0 (C), 82 (M), 80 (Y), 0 (K). For more info, see the official 2012 Pantone Color of the Year page.

What do you think of the color of the year for 2012, Tangerine Tango? Love it or hate it? How will you be incorporating it into your own home?

PS. Take a look at Pantone's past two colors of the year to see the changing direction of color trends.