Starring… teal and orange

Next time you watch a modern Hollywood movie, look out for lots of orange and teal. Why? Because skin tones belong to the orange spectrum, and one of orange’s complementary shades is teal. The theory is that using a blue-based colour for the background will make the actors’ faces will ‘pop’ out of the screen.

This effect is easy to create in your own home. Simply choose your base wall colour (it’s best to choose a muted shade of teal or orange, such as terracotta or a pale peacock hue) and add pops of accent hues in your complementary shade. Just be sure to keep the floor a light, neutral color so that the space feels crisp and neat.