When it comes to design and color theory, choosing colors that work well together is crucial for creating an appealing and harmonious look. Some colors naturally complement each other, while others can clash or overwhelm. Orange is a bold, energetic shade that commands attention. But if used improperly, its vibrancy can overpower a design. So what colors go best with orange and help reign in its intensity? Here’s an overview of the color combinations that work well with orange, as well as which shades overpower it.
Colors That Complement Orange
There are several colors that complement and balance out the brightness of orange:
Blue
Blue is orange’s complementary color on the color wheel, meaning it sits directly across from orange. When paired together, these two shades create a striking visual contrast that allows both hues to stand out. The richness of blue also helps temper orange’s acidity. Different shades of blue that work well with orange include navy, royal blue, and teal.
Green
Analogous colors like green and orange are located right next to each other on the color wheel and create a vibrant, yet harmonious pairing. Greens like lime, emerald, and olive mesh well with different shades of orange. Light green paired with peach is a fresh, spring-like combo.
Brown
Earth tones like brown, tan, and beige offer a subtle, grounded contrast to bright orange. Browns have a neutralizing effect that tones down the vibrancy of orange. Rich browns work well with burnt orange, terra cotta, and pumpkin shades.
Yellow
Yellow and orange are both warm, invigorating tones. Lighter yellows like lemon, buttercream, and gold complement darker oranges without overwhelming them. Avoid pairing neon or very saturated yellows with orange though, as they can compete.
Purple
Purple offers a nice balance of warm and cool that works with lively orange shades. Try pairing orange with lilac, lavender, plum, or light pinkish purples. This combination is bold without being overwhelming. Avoid darker purples like eggplant, which can make orange seem muted.
Colors That Overpower Orange
While many colors complement orange nicely, there are a few shades that tend to clash with and overpower its bold presence:
Other Warm Colors
While analogous colors work well together, if their saturation levels are too similar, they can compete for attention, which dilutes their visual impact. For example, pairing bright persimmon orange with similarly bold yellows like banana or mustard can make the orange appear muted and overwhelming.
Bright Pink
Vibrant hot pinks and deep fuchsias are so saturated that they make even bright orange seem dull and faded in comparison. Hot pink commands so much attention that orange simply can’t hold its own. Opt for softer roses, corals, or berries instead.
Red
Like pink, many shades of red also overpower orange. Crimson, fire engine, cherry – these assertive reds are so intense that orange ends up feeling meek and diminished beside them. Stick to softer reds or orangey corals. Avoid primary red.
Lime Green
Even though green generally complements orange, pure, saturated lime greens are just too vibrant. Paired with orange, limes tend to dominate and make orange look faded, greenish, and sickly. Deeper greens work much better.
Royal Purple
While lighter purples pair nicely with orange, darker shades like royal purple overwhelm it. The rich hue sucks up all the available color oxygen and makes orange appear weaker and unremarkable beside it.
Tips for Combining Colors with Orange
Here are some handy tips for pairing colors with orange successfully:
– Stick to 1-3 complementary colors in a palette. Avoid overwhelming orange with too many competing shades.
– Consider saturation levels. Both colors should be equally vivid to balance the eye.
– Add neutrals like white, black, gray, tan, and brown to soften and ground bright orange tones.
– Use less saturated shades of complementary colors (like navy blue instead of primary blue).
– Add orange strategically as an accent color to lift more neutral palettes.
– Use orange as a dominant color and add small touches of complementary shades.
With the right color combinations, orange can be stylish, energizing, and inviting. Just remember to avoid matching it with equally loud, saturated hues or very vibrant shades like hot pink or lime green, which tend to overtake and overpower orange.
Examples of Color Palettes Featuring Orange
Here are some examples of color palettes built around orange that use complementary shades in balanced, harmonious ways:
Orange and Blue
| Burnt Orange | Royal Blue |
| Peach | Navy |
| Terracotta | Baby Blue |
Orange and Green
| Tangerine | Olive Green |
| Pumpkin | Emerald |
| Amber | Mint |
Orange and Purple
| Peach | Lavender |
| Coral | Lilac |
| Apricot | Orchid |
Orange, Teal and Brown
| Pumpkin | Teal | Tan |
| Persimmon | Seafoam | Beige |
As you can see, choosing the right complements in balanced amounts allows orange to shine.
Using Color Theory to Choose Flattering Colors
Understanding color theory principles helps you choose palettes where no one color overwhelms or fades into the background. Some guidelines include:
– Complementary colors like blue-orange and purple-orange create vibrancy through contrast. But use complements sparingly to avoid clashing.
– Analogous colors like orange and yellow or orange and red work well but shouldn’t have the same saturation or value.
– Adding white, black, gray, or brown creates breathing room between vibrant shades.
– Limiting a palette to 2-4 colors keeps things cohesive without competition.
– Bright warm colors advance visually, so balance with receding cool shades like blue or purple.
Following these color theory tips results in balanced, harmonious palettes where all colors get a chance to shine!
Conclusion
While orange is a fun, invigorating color, its vibrancy can be overpowering if paired with the wrong shades. Colors like blue, green, yellow, and purple complement orange beautifully and create unified palettes. But very saturated warm hues like hot pink, fire engine red, and lime green tend to overwhelm orange. Understanding color theory principles like complements and saturation allows you to choose colors that let orange take center stage. With balanced combinations, orange’s energy and enthusiasm can transform any design.
