Orange is a fun, exciting and vibrant color! It’s a combination of hot red and sunshine yellow; having energy, and warmth, like the sun, but less less intensity or aggression than red.
Orange promotes a sense of general wellness and emotional energy that should be shared, such as compassion, passion, and warmth. Orange will help a person recover from disappointments, a wounded heart, or a blow to one’s pride.
Jennifer Bourn states, “Studies show that the color orange can create physical effects such as increased hunger, heightened sense of activity, increased socialization, boost in aspiration, stimulated mental activity, increased oxygen supply to the brain, increased contentment, and enhanced assurance. Orange also helps aid decision making, and enhances happiness, confidence, and understanding.”
While orange does stimulate the appetite, it is a common color found in citrus fruit and is often associated with Vitamin C and a healthy diet. Orange is a popular color in restaurants to encourage the feeling of hunger and contentment. Too much orange causes self-centered and self-serving qualities, including pride, arrogance, and lack of care for others. Too little orange causes loss of motivation, lower self-esteem, and loneliness.
Different shades, tints, and hues of orange have different meanings. For example, red-orange relates to passion, pleasure, desire, aggression, domination, and action. A golden orange often stands for prestige, wisdom, illumination, wealth, and quality. A light orange or peach color tend to be more friendly and soothing.
Adding the color orange to your home decor can have the same energizing result. Common areas such as dining spaces, game rooms, kitchens, powder rooms, and laundry rooms are well suited to the energy of the color orange. Whereas bedrooms, offices, libraries and study areas are too peaceful for the energy of fire. A soft peach would be a better choice for a quiet space.
When adding orange, remember a little goes a long way. If you would like to add energy or drama to a space, try painting a dining room or kitchen wall a shade of Burnt Orange or Terra Cotta. Orange color tones will liven up the conversation and increase the appetites of your table guests. As for living areas, adding a few throw pillows, an area rug or an orange drapery will warm up the space and add some spunk. If your looking for a quick way to warm a cold room, a few orange accessories will do the trick. Try looking to nature for an inexpensive way to bring the outdoors in. Leaves, pumpkins, gourds and fall flowers are great indoor additions this time of year!
Photo Attribute: www.potterybarn.com
