The color orange: meaning and palettes to use it
Orange has red's energy and yellow's cheer, without red's aggression. It's the friendliest color on the palette. Here's what it means and how to use it.
Click a color to copy its code.
What the color orange means
It's linked to energy, enthusiasm, creativity, fun and warmth. It's the color of sunsets, of a fire in the fireplace and of ripe fruit.
Its downside is looking cheap or loud when overused.
What orange says about a brand
It works really well for friendly, active brands: food, sports, leisure, everyday services. As a button color it pops against blue or neutral backgrounds.
A burnt orange or terracotta feels more grown-up and warm; a bright orange, more youthful.
Not every shade of orange says the same thing
Bright orange
Energy and action. Buttons and accents.
Terracotta
Earth, crafts, Mediterranean.
Peach
Soft and friendly.
Marigold
The orange of the Day of the Dead flower.
Palettes with orange to copy
Each swatch shows the contrast of the text that reads best on top of it. From 4.5:1 it works for body text.
Terracotta
Interiors, ceramics, restaurants
Action
Sports, apps, buy buttons
Day of the Dead
Events, culture, fall campaigns
What goes with orange
- Goes well with
- Blue (its complement), dark teal, cream and black.
- Use with care
- Bright red and yellow at the same time: the result shouts.
Orange around the world
In Mexico, the orange of the cempasúchil (Mexican marigold) guides souls home on the Day of the Dead: it's one of the most recognizable colors of the celebration.
In Spain it evokes autumn, tangerines and Mediterranean light at sunset. In the US, it is the color of Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Design with this palette, for free
Copy the codes and take them to Polimake's design canvas: social posts, covers and thumbnails with your own photos, no subscription needed.
Frequently asked questions
- What goes with orange?
- Blue, which is its complement, plus dark teal, cream and black.
- What is cempasúchil orange?
- The bright orange of the Mexican marigold, the flower of the Day of the Dead. A close hex value is #FF9F1C.