Burnt orange is a rich, warm shade that sits between red and brown on the color wheel. It gets its name from the burnt umber pigment made by heating raw umber, and it’s commonly associated with autumn leaves, pumpkins, and fall foliage. But is burnt orange actually an attractive and appealing color choice for things like clothing, interior design, logos, and branding? There are arguments on both sides. Some find burnt orange to be a fun, bold color that stands out. Others feel it’s drab or dull. Let’s explore the pros and cons of burnt orange and look at examples of how this earthy tone is used in fashion, decor, sports teams, and more. This can help you decide if burnt orange is a “nice” color or not for your own purposes.
The Appeal of Burnt Orange
So what makes burnt orange an appealing color choice for many people and brands? Here are some of the positive attributes of burnt orange that draw people to this shade:
– Warm and inviting. Burnt orange has red-orange undertones that give it a cozy, welcoming vibe. It’s fiery but more subtle than a bright orange. This makes it work well for fall decor, restaurants, hospitality branding, and anywhere that wants to feel homey and relaxed.
– Earthy and natural. As a mix of red and brown, burnt orange has an organic, earthy look. It’s reminiscent of clay, autumn leaves, harvest fruits and vegetables, and other natural elements. This rustic, grounded feeling makes burnt orange a popular choice for farmhouse style homes, botanical prints, nature photography, and brands that want an outdoorsy feel.
– Energetic yet subtle. While vivid oranges grab attention, burnt orange offers a more mellow but still lively energy. Its richness makes it stand out without being overwhelming. This allows burnt orange to be an eye-catching accent color that still pairs well with neutrals in fashion, decor, and graphic design.
– Distinct and memorable. Burnt orange is much less common than primary colors like red and blue or even brighter oranges and yellows. This makes it unique and distinctive for sports team colors, logos, branding, marketing materials, and anything else that wants to stand out from the crowd. The University of Texas, UPS, Reese’s, Arizona Iced Tea, Netflix’s “Ozark,” and others have made burnt orange their signature shade.
– Vintage vibe. As a traditional pigment color with an antiqued look, burnt orange brings to mind retro aesthetics like the 1970s, summer camp, old novels and textbooks, classic fall fashion, and more. It has a nostalgic feel that’s currently on-trend.
Potential Downsides of Burnt Orange
However, burnt orange also has some drawbacks that can make people view it less positively in certain contexts. Here are some potential negatives of burnt orange to consider:
– Dull or dreary. While burnt orange is warm, some may find it dull and muddy compared to brighter, more luminous shades of orange. Without enough contrasting colors, burnt orange can look dreary and dark.
– Dated or overdone. Burnt orange rose to popularity in the 1970s and had a resurgence in the 2000s. For those who associate it with outdated trends and aesthetics, burnt orange may seem tired and overdone at this point. It runs the risk of coming off dated if not used carefully.
– Difficult pairing. With its brown undertones, burnt orange can be tricky to pair with other colors in an appealing way. It may clash with cool blues and greens and overwhelm softer pastels. Finding the right color palette requires thoughtful coordination.
– Limited versatility. While burnt orange works for some industries like outdoor brands and fall products, it may not suit more conservative or high-end brands. Its versatility across sectors is limited compared to more neutral colors.
– Childish or cheap. In fashion and decor, burnt orange sometimes reads as juvenile or inexpensive looking. It’s essential to use high-quality burnt orange textiles and paint colors to avoid seeming unsophisticated or cheap.
– Overpowering. In large doses, burnt orange can feel overwhelming and heavy due to its darkness and intensity. It’s usually best used as an accent pop of color instead of the main event.
Use Cases for Burnt Orange
Despite its potential drawbacks, burnt orange remains a popular color in many contexts when used strategically. Here are some of the most common and effective ways burnt orange is utilized:
– Fall decor and apparel. Burnt orange is ubiquitous in home decor, apparel, and marketing from August through November. Paired with browns, greens, yellows, and neutrals, it’s the quintessential autumnal shade.
– Rustic furniture and decor. In farmhouse, lodge, and Southwestern style homes, burnt orange looks right at home on furniture, rugs, blankets, pillows, and accessories. It brings warmth to rustic wood elements.
– Packaging for food and beauty. Cosmetics, candy, chocolate, coffee, tea, and other food and self-care brands leverage burnt orange packaging to seem inviting, appetite-inducing, and natural.
– University and sports team colors. From the Texas Longhorns to the Denver Broncos to Syracuse University, burnt orange makes a distinctive jersey, logo, and branding color.
– Children’s products. For toys, clothes, baby blankets, and nursery decor, burnt orange brings a retro, gender-neutral vibe. It’s playful yet soothing.
– Accent walls and furniture. One burnt orange focal wall or chair pops against lighter neutrals without overwhelming a room. This eclectic look is trendy in modern farmhouse spaces.
Interior Design with Burnt Orange
One of the most popular ways to use burnt orange is in interior decor. When combined thoughtfully with other colors and textures, burnt orange can create warm, welcoming spaces with personality. Here are some interior design tips for working with burnt orange at home:
– Pair with navy blue and cream. A classic color combination, navy and burnt orange have enough contrast to make each one pop while still feeling cohesive. Add in off-white walls, furniture, and accents to keep the space light and airy.
– Combine with gray and wood tones. Charcoal grays help ground burnt orange’s intensity. Natural wood furniture and finishes warm up the space. Use burnt orange in textiles alongside these materials.
– Add metallics for glamour. Polished gold, rose gold, brass, and copper accents bring a touch of glamour to burnt orange’s earthiness. Metallic coffee tables, lamps, candlesticks, and other decor catches the light beautifully against this rich backdrop.
– Contrast with jewel tones. Burnt orange has enough brightness to pair with rich emerald greens, sapphire blues, and amethyst purples. These jewel tones make vibrant accent colors to burnt orange sofas, chairs, ottomans, drapes, and area rugs.
– Go for a Tuscan scheme. Echoing the colors of Italian villas, burnt orange, terracotta, olive green, and cream make a warm, Old World palette. Distressed wood furniture suits this look.
– Include natural textures. Rough wood, woven blankets, clay vases, jute rugs, wicker baskets, and rattan furniture balance out burnt orange’s intensity with organic texture. Avoid sleek metallics and plastics.
Fashion Looks with Burnt Orange
Beyond home decor, burnt orange can make a stylish, eye-catching color in apparel and fashion when worn with colors that complement it well. Here are some chic burnt orange outfit ideas:
| Outfit | Pairings |
|---|---|
| Burnt orange sweater | Gray wool trousers, camel peacoat, black boots |
| Burnt orange dress | Brown leather belt, navy tights, black ankle boots |
| Burnt orange maxi skirt | Off-white blouse, jean jacket, nude heels |
| Burnt orange suit | White button-down, gray tie, brown oxfords |
| Burnt orange coat | Blue jeans, cream sweater, cognac leather bag |
– Sweaters and lighter knits. A burnt orange sweater or cardigan pops against neutral trousers, skirts, and jackets for the office or weekend wear.
– Dresses and skirts. Solid burnt orange dresses and skirts make statements paired with tights, boots, belts, and blazers in fall-friendly shades.
– Jackets and coats. A burnt orange jacket layered over cool-toned denim, sweaters, and blouses balances out an outfit.
– Suits and separates. Burnt orange blazers, trousers, and suit sets make bold professional looks with light or white button-downs and polished shoes.
– Bags and shoes. Small touches like a burnt orange purse or high-heeled booties turn neutrals into stand-out outfits.
Logo Design with Burnt Orange
For business branding, burnt orange can be a smart choice when you want to stand out while maintaining an earthy, natural aesthetic. Here are some tips for incorporating burnt orange into logos:
– Use as an accent. A small burnt orange graphic element or logo mark pops against a neutral backdrop without overwhelming.
– Showcase craftsmanship. Burnt orange reflects materials like leather, timber, clay, and iron. It suits brands of handmade goods, workshops, breweries, and craft foods.
– Convey the great outdoors. With its autumnal look, burnt orange works for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, or any outdoor recreation companies.
– Stay retro and nostalgic. Combining burnt orange with vintage typography and graphics creates throwback logo styles perfect for artisan bakeries, soda fountains, classic diners, barbershops, and more.
– Illustrate with botanicals. Drawn branches, leaves, berries, flowers, mushrooms, and other botanical elements pair beautifully with burnt orange backgrounds. This suits garden centers, nurseries, florists, and farms.
– Add a touch of whimsy. Burnt orange brings out the playfulness in illustrated animal logos, children’s brands, toy companies, eccentric boutiques, confectioners, and entertaining services.
Conclusion
While burnt orange won’t appeal to everyone, its earthy authenticity and nostalgic warmth have cemented it as a popular color in fashion, decor, branding, and design. This versatile shade can lend businesses a friendly and distinctive look when used creatively and sparingly to accentuate other tones. From cozy sweaters to eye-catching logos, burnt orange strikes the right balance between lively color and grounded neutral when combined thoughtfully. So don’t be afraid to add a touch of burnt orange into your own aesthetic if you’re drawn to its rich, retro charm. With the right complementary colors and textures, burnt orange can transition beautifully from summer to fall and give any project a wholesome, harvest-inspired feel.
