Coral is, first and foremost, a color of warmth and welcome. The color coral inspires positivity and adventure. Picture sunlit corners of the world where coral waves at you through clear ocean waters. You’ll feel what the color coral inspires. Use coral color to inspire optimism, excitement, and adventure.

Learn about the shades of coral.

The color coral can be lightened — simply add white. Clearer shades of coral remain optimistic, but are less energetic. Combine black with the color coral to give it a more mysterious appeal. Coral can also describe varying shades of coral colors along the spectrum of reds, pinks, and oranges that make up a coral reef.

Coral is a color to experiment with.

Few hues are as evocative as the color coral. Try playing with coral in projects to see what vibe it brings. Coral was selected as the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year to enliven and energize our surroundings. Coral is also lighthearted, making its energy inviting instead of overly intense.

Combine coral with other colors.

The color coral is as versatile as it is vibrant. Combine coral color with light blue or white to enhance its energy. Paired with a darker blue, coral is tamed and becomes an appealing accent color. Next to gray, the color coral is given an understated and modern feel.

Information about coral color.

The coral HEX code picker is #FF7F50. This is the jewel-toned classic coral that sits right between red, orange, and pink.

The color coral can be achieved in a RGB space with 255 red, 127 green, and 80 blue. Coral color can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 63% magenta, 72% yellow, and 0% black.

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What is the meaning of the color coral?

Coral color adds instant energy and intrigue. Would you call coral a shade of orange or pink? The color coral plays with the flirtation of pink and the appetite of orange. It even borrows from the passion of red. Combine it and the color coral becomes a balmy balance that draws you instantly in.

Coral color is as alluring as its namesake. Waving in cheerful shades on the ocean floor, it’s an invitation to see the best in life.

The history of coral.

Coral was first a precious substance used as a talisman.

The color coral existed long before it was given that name. The warm spectrum of colors in coral reefs attracted divers as far back as the Mesopotamian period. Civilizations 5000 years ago harvested coral as a precious substance that they formed into jewelry. The Ancient Egyptian and Roman civilizations considered coral jewelry a talisman to protect wearers from evil.

A coral talisman turned into a fashion statement.

Coral jewelry was used to protect wearers from evil up until the Renaissance. As recently as the painting Brera Madonna by Piero Della Francesca, the baby Jesus was depicted wearing a coral pendant talisman. Coral was adopted as the name of the color shortly after, first recorded in 1513. Coral jewelry remained popular into the Victorian era, but only as a fashion piece.

The popularity of coral color rose through other industries.

In the postwar era when pastels and neutral colors were favored at home, coral was a bright alternative that still worked with the palettes of the day. Coral color was adopted in cosmetics, too, especially for nails and eyes. By the 1970s, bright colors were popular again. Coral continued to “play nice” with popular palettes since it’s a bright color itself. Coral gained more popularity in the digital era as an upbeat and attractive hue. In 2019, coral was named the Pantone Color of the Year.

The color coral across different cultures.

The color coral as a symbol in the chakra system.

The color coral is not only a happy hue, it’s also a spiritual one. Coral color is associated with the Kundalini stem, a chakra focal point at the base of the spine. In China, the color coral is thought to promote longevity and prosperity. Coral color is seldom hostile, making it a positive tool in spiritual settings.

When the color coral fell off its track.

Coral color invites vacation visions of the tropics. Warm beaches lie adjacent to clear waters where colorful coral can be seen swaying below the surface. There was a time, though, when the color coral was used to exoticize a whole population. In the colonial era of the Americas, many invaders portrayed indigenous people in coral color in art and literature. Coral was seen as an “exciting” color that depicted the so-called New World and the existing civilizations living there.

The color coral through artists’ eyes.

Coral color was increasingly used in Renaissance-era artwork. By the Impressionist era (starting around 1860), the color coral became popular for nature scenes (not just in the tropics). Artists like Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro used coral color to warm the canvas. Coral became a popular pigment to make a scene lighter, brighter, and warmer.

Design with coral

Inspiration in the color coral.

How to use the color coral.

Tap into the psychology of the color coral.