Inspiration in the color orange.
Learn the history and meaning of the color orange from its namesake to its flavorful psychology.
How to use the color orange.
How to pair orange with other colors.
The color orange in nature.
Orange color might make you hungry.
The color orange is highly visible.
Information about orange color.
The orange HEX code picker is #FFA500. Orange color carries a strong psychological effect. It encourages creativity, thought, and hunger.
Orange color can be achieved in a RGB space with 255 red, 165 green, and 0 blue. The color orange can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 41% magenta, 100% yellow, and 0% black
What is the meaning of the color orange?
Between a plate of succulent orange slices and a freshly-opened bag of Doritos, the color orange represents deliciousness. The color orange can also be seen on the wings of Monarch butterflies, and it can take your breath away in autumn leaves. Orange color is considered fresh, youthful, and creative.
Orange is the balanced mix of colors yellow and red. The color orange gets instant attention. It exudes positivity and vibrates happiness.
The history of the color orange.
In English, the word “orange” was the fruit before it was the color.
From carrots to pumpkins to autumn leaves and, of course, oranges, the color orange surrounds us. In language, though, words develop over time to become increasingly specific. Before the word “orange” was used as a color in English (named after the bright orange fruit), orange color was seen as a hue of red.
In Ancient Egypt and India, orange color pigments were popular in art and textiles.
A mineral-based orange color pigment was used in Ancient Egypt and India for tombs. Later, it was also used for the coloring of manuscripts. Orange pigment was also used in China as a medicine, however the mineral used at the time to create orange contained traces of arsenic. Orange pigment was also used in fly poison and in lethal arrows. Once alchemy grew in popularity, the minerals used to make orange color pigment were common in the quest to manufacture gold.
Fruitful abundance and the importation of oranges.
Pomona, the Roman deity of fruitful abundance, was often depicted in the color orange. This was the first tie between the color orange and tasty things. By the 17th century when the heated greenhouse was invented in Europe, citrus oranges could be cultivated there. From there, the name “orange” came to mean the color as well as the fruit. The invention of new orange pigments in the 19th century made orange color an important element of Impressionist artwork as well.
The color orange across different cultures.
The reason behind orange things often described as “red.”
Before the word orange was adopted in English, most orange things were described as “yellow-red.” There were also words for burnt red (“saffron,” “crog”) that were sometimes used to describe orange. Orange color things were sometimes just called “red,” too, which is why we say “red head” for many people whose hair is actually orange. The common Robin Redbreast is another example.
The color orange has added meaning in Confucianism.
Confucianism is both a religion and philosophy from Ancient China that is still followed today. Orange color represents transformation in Confucianism. Yellow color represents perfection and nobility, and red represents happiness and power. The perfect mix of these colors is what leads to transformation. In China and India, for centuries the color orange was considered one of the finest dyes.
Orange color has many other meanings.
In most parts of the West, orange color sparks creativity and positive thinking. Include orange in a wardrobe and it looks edgy. The Netherlands offers one exception to this association because orange color is tied to the Dutch Royal family. Confucianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism all see orange as a color of enlightenment. In the Middle East, orange color is associated with mourning.