Purple and orange are complementary colors on the color wheel, meaning they are directly opposite each other. This contrast is what makes the combination so visually striking. When placed side-by-side, the warm and cool tones of orange and purple make each color appear more vibrant. While purple and orange may seem like an unusual color pairing, they can work beautifully together under the right circumstances.
In this article, we’ll explore the meaning and symbolism behind the colors purple and orange, look at examples of how they are used together in art and design, and provide tips for stylishly combining these complementary shades in your own projects. Read on to learn all about what makes this colorful duo so eye-catching!
The Meaning of Purple
Purple is a regal, mysterious color associated with royalty, wealth, and spirituality. In color psychology, purple is linked to imagination and creativity. The color evokes feelings of luxury and ambition. Lighter shades of purple like lavender represent feminine energy, grace, and elegance. Darker purple tones are associated with sophistication, introspection, and wisdom.
Historically, purple dye was difficult to produce which made purple clothing expensive and exclusive to high status individuals. The rarity of the color imbued it with royal symbolism. Purple remains associated with extravagance today. It’s a popular color for branding luxury items from jewelry to cosmetics.
In art and design, purple can symbolize magic, fantasy, and the unconventional. It’s popular in mystic, futuristic, or psychedelic styles. Purple has inspirational effects and encourages creativity. The balance of red’s passion and blue’s calm makes purple a meditative, compassionate color.
The Meaning of Orange
Orange is a bold, energetic color that represents enthusiasm, determination, and warmth. In color psychology, orange promotes a sense of adventure and confidence. The sunny hue evokes feelings of excitement and joy. Bright orange tones are youthful, uplifting, and invigorating. Softer peach shades feel friendly and approachable.
As a mix of red and yellow, orange carries meanings associated with both colors. Like red, orange symbolizes passion, creativity, and appetite. From yellow, it inherits associations with happiness and optimism. Orange is the color of exploration and innovation. It inspires us to try new things without fear of failure.
In design, orange commands attention without being as overpowering as red. It’s often used to highlight important elements on a page. Orange conveys affordability compared to the luxury of gold. It’s a friendly, accessible color for brands that want to seem inviting and informal. Orange tempts our appetite, making it fitting for the food industry.
Complementary Color Schemes
On the traditional RYB color wheel, purple sits directly across from orange. This makes the two hues complementary colors. Complementary pairs contrast strongly in hue but create balanced, harmonious combinations. The vibrant energy of orange balances out the cool tranquility of purple.
When complementary colors are placed together, they intensify each other to their maximum brightness. This makes both colors feel more saturated. The strong visual contrast helps elements stand out distinctly. Complementary colors also help tie disparate elements together into a cohesive palette.
The high contrast of purple and orange makes them ideal for bold, striking designs. This color scheme makes each shade feel richer but can be jarring if not handled skillfully. Keep complementary colors balanced and use neutrals to provide separation. Avoid clashing tones by skewing purples cooler and oranges warmer.
Purple and Orange in Art
Many famous works showcase the dynamic interplay of purple and orange. Historical and contemporary artists have expertly combined these complementary hues to create eye-catching, thoughtful color palettes.
Impressionist Paintings
The Impressionists were masters of utilizing color theory and optical mixing. Claude Monet’s “Impression, Sunrise” gave the movement its name by capturing the intermingling of orange and blue-violet light.
Vincent van Gogh paired bright oranges with soft violets and deep indigos. In “The Starry Night,” the fluid brushwork makes the orange stars and purple sky swirl dynamically. The Post-Impressionists intensified color contrasts. In Paul Gauguin’s “Day of the God,” an orange idol glows against a mysterious purple jungle.
Modern Art
In modern art, purple and orange continued to be matched in innovative ways. Mark Rothko layered fields of floating purple and orange rectangles in moody minimalist compositions. The psychedelic art of the 1960s used fluorescent, complementary color combos. Op artists like Bridget Riley created disorienting optical illusions with alternating orange and purple patterns.
Pop artists incorporated bright consumer goods into their works. Andy Warhol’s iconic screenprints of orange oranges, purple eggplants, and other boldly colored still lifes exemplified his flattened, graphical style. David Hockney used contrasting hues like orange trees against purple landscape features.
Contemporary Art
Contemporary artists continue to explore new ways of combining purple and orange. Lisa Frank used these colors in her rainbow-hued kitschy pieces. In murals and graffiti art, purple and orange make dynamic accents and shadows. Artists like Patrick Hartl incorporate purple and orange in surreal, digitally manipulated dreamscapes.
James Turrell uses colored light installations to trick the eye. His Ganzfeld pieces immerse viewers in a disorienting optical field of projected purple. The complementary color orange then floods the space, intensifying the afterimage left by the purple. Turrell manipulates the interaction between colors and perception.
Purple and Orange in Design
Complementary purple and orange color schemes translate seamlessly into graphic and product design. This bold color pairing adds visual appeal to interfaces, commercial goods, clothing lines, and more.
User Interfaces
On webpages and mobile apps, purple and orange make ideal accent colors for call-to-action buttons. Purple text stands out clearly against an orange background, and vice versa. Flat, minimalist interface designs can use these colors sparingly to add liveliness without clutter.
Gradients that transition from orange to purple or mix the two create intriguing loading animations and morphing backgrounds. Pairing purple header text with orange body text provides sufficient contrast for easy reading. For accessibility, purple/orange should be used with other high contrast color combos.
Product Design
Packaging and commercial goods incorporate purple and orange to grab consumer attention. In product lines ranging from children’s toys to fitness gear, purple and orange add fun without gendered associations. Sneaker brands like Nike and Converse use purple and orange accents that pop against white or black.
The lush purple of wine and aurora oranges are appetizing color references for food and beverage packaging. Restaurants may use one as an accent color against their main branding shade. Cafes create inviting atmospheres with orange furniture and purple textiles.
Fashion Design
In the fashion world, purple and orange offer ways to put together exciting combinations. Pairing an orange top with purple bottoms or vice versa lets each piece stand out. Gradient ombre fabrics that fade between the two colors make dynamic dresses and scarves.
Cosmetics like eye shadows, lipsticks, and nail polishes allow easy experimentation with purple and orange shades. Makeup artists combine complementary colors for theatrical, artistic beauty looks. For events like Halloween or music festivals, face paint and hair dyes in purple and orange up the visual impact.
| Industry | Examples of Purple and Orange Use |
|---|---|
| User Interfaces | – Call-to-action buttons – Loading animations – Background gradients – Header and body text |
| Product Design | – Toys and gear – Food packaging – Cafe decor |
| Fashion | – Outfit pairings – Ombre fabrics – Cosmetics – Face paint |
Tips for Decorating with Purple and Orange
If you want to energize your home or office with vibrant purple and orange accents, keep these tips in mind:
– Use orange as your starting point. The fiery hue works well as a primary wall color. Orange makes small spaces feel more lively and welcoming.
– Add in purple accents with textiles like pillows, rugs, and curtains. Soft textiles help tone down bright orange walls.
– Incorporate metallic silvers and golds to glamorize the look. Metallics complement both purple and orange.
– Paint one wall purple for a bold accent wall. This balances out orange furnishings.
– Display fresh purple flowers like orchids, pansies, and hydrangeas. Their organic shapes soften the strong colors.
– Set a striking tablescape with purple table runner, orange plates, and complementary candlesticks.
– Stick to 3 colors maximum so the purple and orange remain focal points. Black, white, and gray make clean neutrals.
Avoid going overboard with too many purple and orange pieces competing for attention. When used together in moderation, these energetic colors make a seriously stylish statement.
Conclusion
While at first glance purple and orange may seem to clash, when skillfully combined these complementary colors create mesmerizing, sophisticated palettes. The balance of warm and cool tones allows each shade to stand out beautifully. Throughout art and design history, creative minds have tapped into the visual power of matching purple with orange.
From the Impressionists’ light experiments to psychedelic concert posters, purple and orange attract the viewer’s eye and stimulate the senses. User interfaces rely on color contrast for visibility and branding. Product and fashion designers use purple and orange accents for instant visual appeal. In interior decorating, purple and orange add a lively pop of color.
So don’t be afraid to add a dash of orange to your favorite purple pieces or vice versa. Thoughtfully blended, these dynamic complementary colors can grant your creative projects a boost of energy and imagination. Explore different shades and combinations to see how purple and orange can harmonize in your own unique style.
