Starring… teal and orange

Next time you watch modern Hollywood movie, be on the lookout for excessive amounts of orange and teal. Why? Because flesh tones are in the orange spectrum, and one of orange’s complementary shades just happens to be teal. The theory is that by using a blue-based colour for the background, the actors’ faces will ‘pop’ out of the screen.

This effect is easy to emulate in your own home. Simply choose your base wall colour (it’s best to choose a subdued colour of teal or orange, such as terracotta or a light peacock shade) and add pops of highlight colours in your complementary colour. Just be sure to keep the floor a light, neutral colour to ensure the space feels crisp and tidy.