Plum and burnt orange are both rich, jewel-toned colors that can make a striking combination when used together in fashion, interior decorating, or graphic design. However, combining these shades requires some forethought to ensure the palette doesn’t become overly autumnal or dated. With the right balance, plum and burnt orange can create an eye-catching and sophisticated color story.
The Color Psychology of Plum and Burnt Orange
To understand if plum and burnt orange work well together, it helps to look at the color psychology behind each shade.
Plum represents luxury, wisdom, and creativity. It’s a regal purple tone that connotes exclusivity. In color psychology, plum promotes introspection and spirituality. It’s an elegant hue linked to nobility, ambition, and dignity.
Burnt orange is associated with autumn, harvest, and fire. It’s a warm, earthy shade that provokes feelings of adventure and enthusiasm. The bold orange undertones tap into cheerful, social energy while the brownish depth adds a natural, rustic vibe. Burnt orange boosts rejuvenation and conversations.
With plum’s mystical depth and burnt orange’s fiery vibrancy, the two shades complement each other. Plum tempers burnt orange’s brashness with introspection. Burnt orange injects plum with sociability and verve. The mix of cool purple and warm orange brings balance. Used together, these rich jewel tones create an engaging, sophisticated mood.
Combining Plum and Burnt Orange in Fashion
In fashion, plum and burnt orange can create chic, eye-catching looks. The key is balancing the shades to avoid appearing too autumn-themed.
For a plum and burnt orange outfit, pair a top in one hue with bottoms in the other. A plum blouse with burnt orange pants or skirt makes a striking but balanced duo. Switching the shades, burnt orange top and plum bottom, gives a more casual vibe. Layer plum and burnt orange pieces over neutrals like white, black, gray, or denim for extra versatility.
Add pops of plum accessories like shoes, handbag, or jewelry to a burnt orange dress or top. Do the reverse with burnt orange accessories with a plum outfit. This allows the accent shade to shine against the base color.
Cool plum outerwear like a wool coat, moto jacket, or raincoat brings balance over warm burnt orange dresses or lightweight knits. For formal occasions, a plum gown with burnt orange shawl or clutch exudes sophisticated glamour.
Plum and burnt orange patterns like florals, paisleys, and abstract prints fuse the hues in an organic, artful way. Watercolor-style combinations keep the palette from skewing too fall-foliage. Go for moody, mixed media patterns rather than traditional harvest themes.
Decorating with Plum and Burnt Orange
Used thoughtfully in home decor, plum and burnt orange create an inviting, personal space. The key is playing with different textures and tones to build depth and interest.
In living spaces, use plum on larger items like sofas, lounge chairs, or curtains paired with burnt orange accents like pillows, throws, and decorative objects. The plum base anchors the scheme while burnt orange adds warmth. Flip the formula in dens, offices, or bedrooms with burnt orange seating and plum accents for a cozy, productive feel.
Layer plum and burnt orange paint colors across walls, trim, ceilings, and front doors to define different zones. For example, paint an entryway or dining room in burnt orange with plum wainscoting. Use plum walls in a bedroom with burnt orange molding and ceiling. This color blocking technique crafts an inviting, cocooning effect.
Alternate plum and burnt orange shades in area rugs. Use plum rugs to ground burnt orange furnishings. Set burnt orange rugs beneath plum seating or beds. The rug adds pattern and color without overwhelming the scheme.
Incorporate plum and burnt orange home accents like throw pillows, vases, flowers, ceramics, and art. Cluster items in vignettes so shades complement each other. This injection of color animates neutral backdrops.
The sample color palette below shows some potential plum and burnt orange hues to decorate with:
| Plum Shades | Burnt Orange Tones |
|---|---|
| Amethyst | Tiger’s Eye |
| Byzantium | Rust |
| Eggplant | Terra Cotta |
| Wine | Fire Opal |
Using Plum and Burnt Orange in Graphic Design
In graphic design, website design, and marketing materials, plum and burnt orange make a bold, eye-catching palette. The colors pop on screen and print with visual energy.
Use plum as the main background color with burnt orange for headings, subheadings, and call-to-action elements like buttons or logos. This helps burnt orange stand out while plum recedes into an elegant backdrop.
Flip the formula with burnt orange as the dominant background and plum for key text and graphics. This conveys the vibrant autumnal mood while maintaining enough contrast between the shades.
Incorporate plum and burnt orange into data visualizations like charts, graphs, or infographics. Differentiate data sets and categories using the two tones. This injects energy into factual content.
Pair plum and burnt orange with clean white space and black typography as needed to prevent visual clutter. Cream, beige, or light gray make harmonious neutral complements when the jewel tones need tempering.
Use plum and burnt orange together in geometric patterns, abstract prints, or watercolor textures. This unifies the palette for a cohesive, custom graphic identity. Just avoid overusing autumn motifs like leaves, gourds, etc.
Finding the Right Balance of Plum and Burnt Orange
The most important guideline when combining plum and burnt orange is achieving balance. Use the 60-30-10 rule as a helpful formula:
- 60% plum
- 30% burnt orange
- 10% neutral tones like white, black, gray
Or reverse the ratio:
- 60% burnt orange
- 30% plum
- 10% neutrals
This ensures one shade takes center stage while the other plays a strong supporting role. Neutrals act as a canvas preventing the jewel tones from becoming muddy or overwhelming.
Aim for contrast between the plum and burnt orange. Don’t use hues that are too similar or muted. Go for intensities that pop but also balance each other out.
Incorporate other accent shades like violet, magenta, teal, or mint green to lift plum and burnt orange when needed. This introduces extra vibrancy in small doses.
Keep autumn motifs minimal. While burnt orange has a harvest feel, use abstract patterns or modern shapes rather than obvious fall references.
Pay attention to light and application. Matte, muted, or warmer-toned burnt oranges pair best with rich plums. But glossy, saturated, cooler burnt oranges can make the combination feel dated or retro.
Conclusion
With their regal elegance and autumnal warmth, plum and burnt orange are captivating counterparts. Blending these jewel-toned shades requires thoughtful balance to avoid skewing too seasonal. Keep the look sophisticated by:
- Using one hue as the dominant base and the other as accent
- Incorporating neutral tones as needed
- Seeking contrast between the shades
- Including other accent colors for pops of vibrancy
- Minimizing autumn motifs
- Playing with light and application
With the right mix, plum and burnt orange create a stylish, eye-catching color palette with timeless appeal.
