Citrus Splash: What Colours Go With Orange The Best?
Beautiful bright citrus orange is a surprisingly versatile colour to use. There’s no need to shy away from this vibrant happy colour. It can work in so many colour combinations as a feature or a highlight. Whether you are decorating your home, planning a party or your wardrobe, find out what colours go with orange the best.
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All about citrus orange
Sitting between yellow and red on the colour wheel – and made by combining these two primary colours – orange is a warm and vibrant colour. It’s often associated with warmth, energy, excitement and good health. It’s a popular choice for business advertising and logos as it catches attention. This is why orange is also used for safety devices and could be considered by some to indicate danger.
Orange is everywhere in nature. From the obvious bright orange citrus fruit on the tree, to orange flowers like tulips, gerberas and roses through to spectacular orange sunsets. Birds and animals often have orange too: think of bright orange finches, monarch butterflies, tigers or orangutans. Nature is a great source of inspiration for orange colour combinations.
Apparently citrus orange is one of those colours that people tend to love or hate. Personally, I love it! And if you aren’t a fan of orange, perhaps this post can help change your mind.
Surprisingly, orange is a very versatile colour that can be used in more colour combinations that you might expect. Let’s have a look at what colours go with orange the best.
Orange and white
I love orange and white together. The crisp neutral white offsets the vibrancy of orange perfectly. It can look very sophisticated, especially if the orange is used more sparingly as a highlight instead of the feature colour.
Orange and white is a fresh palette that looks beautiful in spring outfits. It also works well in decorating modern living spaces like living rooms and kitchens.
Orange and yellow
Orange and yellow perfect together because they are analogous colours. They sit next to each other on the colour wheel. Both are warm, bright and vibrant colours that can fill a space with energy. Orange looks amazing with bright yellow or lemon yellow.
As a citrus lover, orange and yellow of course makes me think of oranges and lemons together. Try mixing orange and yellow together in home furnishings like cushions or in flower arrangements to bring a pop of colour and happiness to your home. Or use a citrus orange and yellow colour theme for your next party.
Orange and green
Citrus orange and green are complimentary colours, so they also work together well. This is another colour combination inspired by nature. Think of fresh oranges and mandarins with green leaves, oranges and limes, or orange flowers and green folliage.
Orange and green can bring back visions of 70s decorating (which is great if that’s your thing!) But it really depends on the shades. Combing a bright citrus orange with a vibrant emerald or lime green is nothing like the 70s shades we remember.
Orange and blue
Orange and blue are another complimentary colour combination. I really love the dynamic impact of these two colours together.
Again, you can achieve a completely different effect depending on which shade of blue you use with orange. Light blues and aqua shades can soften and calm bright orange while bright cobalt blue makes a strong impact. Darker navy blue and orange can look quite refined and sophisticated. I love wearing orange and cobalt or navy blue together.
Orange and purple
A combination of orange and purple works because they contrast. Orange is warm and purple is cool. This can be a very bold colour combination with a big impact. It’s a perfect mix for lovers of bold and bright colour schemes.
Orange works with shades of purple ranging from dark royal purple and violet through the redder plum shades and lighter shades like lavender.
Orange and pink
If orange and purple is too bright and bold for you, try orange and pink. Especially orange and hot pink and fucshia. This is a really bright, happy and fun colour combination.
I love orange and pink together in floral arrangements and wallpapers. This is another vibrant combination that works perfectly for event or party decorating.
Orange and grey
For a more sophisticated way to use orange, try matching pops of orange with grey (or gray for our American friends). Grey is a neutral which will offset the brightness of citrus orange perfectly.
Orange and grey is another combination seen in settings like architecture, interiors and business logos. They orange draws attention but the grey stops it from being overwhelming. If you are looking for a way to incorporate bright colours in your home or wardrobe or home without it being too much, orange and grey might be the perfect way to do it.
More about decorating with citrus colours
If you love decorating with fresh citrus colours, make sure to read about colours that go with lemon yellow, lime green and citrus pink.
For more citrus decorating inspiration, you’ll love our favourite lemon print cushions in all styles from traditional and mid-century modern to Hamptons style. Or find out how easy it is to decorate a vase with lemon slices.
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