Orange is a bright, warm color that evokes feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth. When thinking about color pairings that go well with orange, there are several options that create pleasing color harmonies.
Complementary Colors
The complement of orange is blue. Orange and blue are opposite each other on the color wheel, creating a striking visual contrast. This vibrant color pairing is often used in graphic design and illustrations. While true blue is the direct complement of orange, other shades of blue like turquoise, cobalt, and cerulean also make pleasing pairings.
Some examples of orange and blue color combinations include:
- Bright orange and royal blue
- Burnt orange and navy blue
- Peach orange and sky blue
- Coral orange and turquoise blue
The high contrast between warm orange tones and cool blue tones creates a complementary balance. This color scheme is energetic and eye-catching.
Analogous Colors
Analogous colors are located right next to each other on the color wheel. Analogous color schemes use colors that are adjacent to each other, creating a sense of harmony. For orange, this includes the colors on either side – red-orange and yellow-orange.
Some examples of analogous color pairings with orange include:
- Orange and amber
- Orange and gold
- Orange and ochre
- Orange and rust
- Orange and mustard
Using different shades of warm colors adjacent to orange creates palettes that feel joyful and celebratory. This color scheme has a cohesive, harmonious look. The analogous colors match well while still providing enough contrast when placed near orange.
Split Complementary Colors
The split complement of orange contains the two colors adjacent to orange’s complement. Since blue is the complement of orange, orange’s split complements are blue-violet and blue-green.
Some examples of orange and split complementary color pairings include:
- Orange, teal, and violet
- Orange, sea green, and purple
- Orange, turquoise, and lilac
- Orange, cerulean, and lavender
This color scheme creates a vibrant look with one dominant warm color balanced with two cooler accent colors. The split complementary colors provide visual interest while keeping a cohesive palette.
Triadic Colors
A triadic color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel. The triadic colors for orange are red and green. This creates a bold, eclectic color palette.
Some examples of orange triadic color combinations include:
- Orange, crimson red, and lime green
- Orange, burgundy, and forest green
- Orange, ruby red, and mint green
- Orange, vermilion, and sea green
The contrast between these three colors spaced evenly apart on the color wheel forms a vibrant triangular color scheme that inherently has a sense of visual balance. While the color combinations are bold, they complement each other well.
Tetradic/Rectangle Colors
Tetradic color schemes use four colors spaced evenly on the color wheel in the shape of a rectangle. For orange, this includes using its complement blue, along with the two colors directly across orange – purple and green.
Some examples of tetradic orange color combinations include:
- Burnt orange, periwinkle blue, plum purple, moss green
- Coral orange, sky blue, violet, chartreuse green
- Pumpkin orange, cobalt blue, lavender, lime green
Tetradic harmonies provide a visually balanced color palette while allowing for pops of contrast. This color scheme tends to have a vibrant, dynamic look.
Monochromatic Colors
A monochromatic color scheme uses different shades, tones, and tints of one color. For orange, this involves using orange as the dominant color and combining it with softer or deeper orange tones.
Some examples of monochromatic orange color palettes include:
- Bright orange, peach, and terra-cotta
- Pumpkin orange, copper, and ochre
- Tangerine orange, coral, and salmon
- Burnt orange, rust, and cinnamon
Varying the lightness, saturation, and brightness of the orange hue creates a cohesive and harmonious color palette. Monochromatic color schemes have a refined, soothing effect.
Neutral Colors
Pairing orange with neutral colors like white, black, gray, beige, or brown creates simple but stylish combinations. Crisp white accentuates the vibrancy of the orange while providing contrast. Charcoal gray and chocolate brown complement the earthiness of rich orange tones.
Some examples of orange and neutral color pairings include:
- Vibrant orange and clean white
- Burnt orange and charcoal gray
- Rust orange and chocolate brown
- Peach orange and sand beige
Neutral colors allow the orange hues to stand out and take center stage. They create sophisticated color combinations that work well in minimalist or modern settings.
Conclusion
Orange is an energetic, cheerful color that pairs well with many other shades. Complementary blue creates a high-contrast pairing. Analogous warm colors like yellow and red-orange create harmonious combinations. Cooler accent colors like violet, green and teal complement orange beautifully in triadic and tetradic schemes. Neutral and monochromatic colors allow orange to take the spotlight. With its vibrant energy and visual appeal, orange works with many color palettes.
