Color Psychology: Orange

Understanding how color affects our world.

by Kate Smith

Orange is a color that really stands out, and people seem to love it or hate it. It’s a fun and flamboyant color that radiates warmth and energy. Orange is a versatile color that appears fun and trendy on a car but denotes caution and safety on the road.

Feeling Orange

The color orange affects us physically by:

• Stimulating activity
• Increasing appetite
• Encouraging socialization

Orange in the Garden

Orange is considered a warm color in landscape design and its appearance can have an exciting effect. Orange flowers appear to come forward in the landscape, making a large garden feel cozier. Orange’s complementary color in the garden is blue. Despite its popularity, it is not often incorporated into home gardens.

Unique Facts About Orange

• The color orange is used by U.S. intelligence agencies to denote a high threat level when dealing with terrorist activities.
• Orange is used in the United States Army to denote the Signal Corps.
• Safety orange provides a strong contrast to its surroundings and is often used for traffic cones, stanchions and other devices used to mark construction zones. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates certain construction equipment to be painted safety orange.
• Orange represents gluttony in Christianity.
• Driving an orange vehicle suggest you are fun-loving, talkative, fickle and trendy.
• Several American sports teams use orange as their primary color including the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Denver Broncos and Phoenix Suns.
• Older model Suburu cars have orange interior dash lights.

Seeing Orange

Orange is the signature color of a number of products, companies and organizations:

• Orange Crush
• Tropicana
• Home Depot
• Tang

Speaking Orange

Popular quotes that include orange are:

• “Orange is the happiest color.” Frank Sinatra
• “Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.” Wassily Kandinsky
• “Orange, it seems, may be the best color choice for the competitive player. Though rare in golf apparel and only the seventh most popular color among American consumers, orange is jovial, warm, energetic, forceful and has a subjective impression of exuberance. It is associated with fruitfulness, adventure, vigor and wholesomeness, plenty of which exists in golf and on the PGA Tour.” Michael Patrick Shiels

Singing Orange

Songs with orange in the title:

• “Orange Blossom Special” by Johnny Cash
• “Orange Crush” by R.E.M.
• “Orange Crush” by Rose Polenzani
• “Orange Film Garden” by The Pillows
• “Orange Rolls, Angel’s Spits” by Sonic Youth
• “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch
• “Orange Skies” by Love
• “Peeling an Orange” by Talk Show
• “Pink Orange Red” by Cocteau Twins
• “Three Orange Lights” by Atmos

Orange Around the World

Throughout history, cultures around the world have associated orange with safety and flamboyance. 

• American Indians associate the color orange with kinship.
• In the Netherlands, orange is the national color. Its association dates from the Dutch War of Independence and the rebel Prince of Orange.
• In China and Japan, orange is used to symbolize happiness and love.
• In Ireland, the color orange denotes the reign of English King William of Orange.