Red and orange are both warm, vibrant colors that look great together in many design applications. However, using these colors together requires some thoughtfulness to ensure enough contrast between them for text and other elements to remain legible. In this article, we’ll examine suitable color pairings with red and orange that provide enough contrast for functional use.
Understanding Color Contrast
Contrast refers to the degree of visual difference between two colors. High contrast makes elements like text stand out clearly against their background. Low contrast can cause elements to visually blend together. Contrast is important in design for legibility and accessibility.
The level of contrast required depends on the intended use. Text placed over backgrounds requires more contrast to remain readable, especially smaller text sizes. Information visualizations like charts and graphs also require sufficient contrast between elements. Decorative uses of color can get away with lower contrast levels.
Contrast Level Standards
Design standards provide numerical contrast ratios to aim for in interfaces.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend:
– At least 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal body text
– At least 3:1 contrast ratio for larger headings and elements
Other design recommendations suggest:
– 7:1 contrast ratio or higher for body text
– 4.5:1 contrast minimum between graphical elements
The contrast ratio measures the relative luminance between two colors. A higher ratio means more contrast.
Contrast with Red
Pure red is a very high contrast color. It reaches close to the maximum contrast against both light and dark shades.
Red works well for text and graphical elements against most light backgrounds. With dark backgrounds, lighter shades of red work better.
Some good color pairings with red:
| Red | White | 21:1 contrast ratio |
| Red | Light yellow | 12:1 contrast ratio |
| Pink | Navy blue | 12:1 contrast ratio |
| Burgundy | Light grey | 11:1 contrast ratio |
Red contrasts well with most shades of green, blue, purple, black, and neutral greys. Darker reds work better against lighter neutrals. Brighter reds stand out against darker neutrals.
Avoid pairing pure red with extremely light tints which can make it seem overly vibrant. Also avoid low-contrast shades like reddish-oranges, pinks, mauves, and browns.
Contrast with Orange
Orange is a bright, warm color that contrasts moderately with most other hues.
More saturated “traffic cone” orange provides stronger contrast than softer “peach” oranges. Deeper oranges verge closer to red and gain more contrast.
Some effective pairings with orange:
| Orange | Medium blue | 7:1 contrast ratio |
| Burnt orange | Greyish purple | 6:1 contrast ratio |
| Peach | Forest green | 5:1 contrast ratio |
Orange contrasts well with most shades of green, purple, blue, and neutral greys and tans. It generally requires darker, cooler color pairings to reach sufficient contrast levels.
Avoid pairing orange with yellows, light tans, peaches, light greens, and warm neutrals. These combinations won’t provide enough contrast.
Contrast Between Red and Orange
Pairing pure red and pure orange together results in fairly low contrast of about 3:1. This is insufficient for body text but may work for larger decorative elements.
Adjusting the shades can increase contrast between red and orange:
– Deeper shades of red like burgundy reach 5:1 contrast with bright orange.
– Lighter tints of red like cherry pink provide 5:1 contrast with deep burnt orange.
– Bright saturated red contrasts better with soft peachy oranges.
– Deeper oranges near red and lighter peach oranges contrast better.
Other ways to add contrast between red and orange:
– Use brighter shades against darker shades. A bright red pops against a burnt orange background.
– Add a lighter neutral between them like white, grey, or tan outlines. This separates the colors.
– Separate with a darker, cooling color like navy blue or dark green.
Text Legibility with Red and Orange
Red text on an orange background and vice versa does not provide enough contrast for body text. But larger text headings can work with careful shading.
For body text over orange, pair red shades light burgundy, rust, or terra cotta. For text over red backgrounds, pair soft peachy oranges or darker shades like burnt orange.
Increase text contrast further by making the background slightly darker and text lighter. White or black text provides maximum legibility over both red and orange backgrounds.
Accessible Color Combinations
For interfaces and content, ensure red-orange color combinations provide sufficient contrast for readability.
WCAG compliant contrast ratios are:
– At least 3:1 for 14pt+ bold text
– At least 4.5:1 for 18pt+ normal text
– At least 7:1 for 14pt normal text
– At least 10:1 for smaller body text
Pair red with light tints, blues, greens, purples, greys. For orange, use darker shades of blue, purple, green, grey. Avoid similar light warm colors with either.
Also check contrast levels with color blindness simulation tools. Protanopia vision (red blindness) will reduce contrast of red elements.
Uses of Red and Orange Color Combinations
Despite low inherent contrast, red and orange can make visually striking color combinations with smart shade selection:
– **Graphics**: A sunset gradient. A red/orange pie chart. A bright badge on a muted background.
– **Home decor**: Red walls with burnt orange and white accents. Southwest-style terra cotta pots with red flowers.
– **Fashion**: A peach blouse with a bold red skirt or scarf. Red shoes and purse that pop against a brick orange dress.
– **Events**: Red tablecloths with orange napkins and decor for a punchy yet coordinated look.
– **Branding**: A vibrant red logo over a burnt orange background. An orange icon button on a cherry red interface.
Final Tips for Combining Red and Orange
– Use lighter shades of red against darker oranges and vice versa for maximum contrast.
– Add white or black outlines and dividers if adjacent red and orange areas seem to visually blend together.
– Make red and orange accents over a cooler, darker background like navy blue or forest green.
– Test contrast levels to ensure text remains legible, especially for smaller sizes.
– Avoid pure red with pure orange unless using sparingly. Adjust shades instead for functional use.
Conclusion
Red and orange make for an energetic color pair with careful selection of shades and accents. For sufficient contrast, steer towards lighter reds against deeper oranges or brighter reds against softer peachy oranges. Verify text legibility, avoid placing pure red and orange side-by-side in large fields, and accent with cooler colors. With some thoughtful color mixing, red and orange can look bold, beautiful and accessible.
