As we prepare to decorate our front porches and windows for Halloween we may find ourselves falling in love with all things black and orange. Think you can’t celebrate this classic color combination all year long? These rooms prove that we can keep the spirit of Halloween alive through balancing these strong colors with soft neutrals.

1. Strong colors and patterns work best when paired with calm neutrals. This room balances modern botanical black-and-white wallpaper and pumpkin orange accents with cool greys, browns and creams. Using the wallpaper sparingly helps bring focus to the room without overwhelming the space.

 

2. Orange and black have never looked so sophisticated as it does in this room. Classic grey pieces, like the nailhead trim sofa and foo dog lamp, strike a traditional tone while the rebellious red skulls and bold patterns add a modern edge and keeps the room from feeling too conventional.

 

3. The persimmon wall color and shiny black granite are a color combination that works well for this bathroom all year long. The orange walls stop just above eye level, and by painting the rest of the walls off-white it prevents the space from feeling too small or overwhelming.

4. Shiny orange tiles provide a modern look to this white and grey kitchen. The strong color is restrained to a small portion of the kitchen, and kept in check with the dominant white cabinets and dark accents.

5. Pillow-topped black mosaic tiles add a geometrical punch to this orange powder room. The strong white horizontal line of the countertop balances the hues and makes for a clean and bright space.

Anne Reagan is the editor-in-chief at Eastlake-based Porch.com.