The color orange is associated with joy, tropical fruits, and energy

It represents bliss and can infuse great healing into your life

The color orange is an attention getting, beautiful color. It stars in all seasons; orange tulips in spring, orange marigolds and zinnias in summer, gorgeous autumn foliage, and even in winter the sunsets are often splashed with vivid streaks of orange.

How to use Orange in color schemes

If you love the color orange and enjoy working with it, here are some ideas for various decorating color schemes in your home. Pure orange lies halfway between yellow and red on the color wheel. It is a color filled with warmth and energy. Related family colors include apricot, salmon, rust and brown.

Ives Color Wheel

Complementary

The complementary color scheme is made of two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

According to the basic color wheel, blue is the complementary color of orange. Orange is often a great color scheme to use if you have a large expanse of brick wall or a brick fireplace.

However, if you are using the Ives color wheel shown above, you will notice that turquoise is the complementary color on this wheel. This is an amazing color scheme that combines the heat of orange with the coolness of turquoise. Add the bricks along with touches of rust and brown and you have a truly striking color scheme.

Split Complementary

The split complementary scheme uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary.

For the color orange these colors would be green and purple (green and purple being adjacent to blue, the complementary color of orange).

This is a strong stimulating color scheme. Try bright colorful choices like this in active areas such as family rooms or playrooms. If you are not sure whether or not you can live with such bold colors, use the brighter bolder colors in painted areas. This way if you find the color scheme too stimulating, you can always repaint in softer colors you will be more comfortable with.

Living Room with Orange/Floral Color Scheme

Triadic Color Scheme

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel.

The triadic scheme is more balanced and harmonious than the split complementary. Yellow orange, blue green, and red violet would be a triadic color scheme for the color orange. Choose one color to be used in larger amounts than others. If you find the colors are overpowering, use subdued tones to create a pleasing color scheme using triads.

The triadic color scheme offers high contrast while retaining harmony throughout the room.

Analogous Color Scheme

The analogous color scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.

Avoid combining warm and cool colors in this scheme.

By using the orange and it's closest neighbors you can create a harmonious analogous color scheme. Usually analogous schemes use three, five or seven neighboring colors. Avoid using too many hues in the analogous scheme, because this may ruin the harmony.

An example of the color scheme would be orange, yellow orange and orange yellow. Going in the other direction orange, orange red, red, blue red and magenta would be an analogous color scheme. Look at the Ives color wheel above for referencing the examples used.

The Healing Properties of the Orange

The color orange is used to increase immunity, to increase sexual potency, to help in all chest and kidney diseases. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. It also helps to heal digestive ailments. Shades of orange are a great color to use in kitchens and dining areas.

Orange has a gentle warming effect if used lightly. Orange, like red should not be used for too long. It is not a good color for nervous people or people easily agitated. Orange in any of its shades or tones promotes vim and vigor and the use of orange in daily life promotes activity of a positive nature into daily life.

If someone has just had an operation or a shock to their system such as a death in the family, give them an orange candle. Putting this color into the life of someone who is recovering from an upset will help them get back on track more quickly.

The color orange represents ecstasy and bliss and is a color that can infuse great energy and healing into your life. For this reason it is known as a "fantastic color".

The color orange is known for its great regenerative power. When the physical or emotional bodies have been exposed to trauma, the center of balance moves from the center of the physical body to the left side. This phenomenon causes the individual to be out of balance and ineffectual in their daily life. Wearing orange scarves draped on the left side will help restore balance to the body.

Personalities attracted to the color Orange

Orange is a wonderful color. It represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation. This is one color that attracts both creative and logical people. Artists and business people are both attracted to the color orange depending on the quantity and quality of the above abilities they possess.

One last caveat

Be careful how you use orange in color schemes: it tends to stand out and dominate the room. Like the color red, it is a high energy color. If you are already a high energy person, you may find yourself attracted to the color orange. However, don't let overuse of this color drain your energy. Use it in small doses to accentuate your positive energy.

Exercise - Develop a Complementary Color Scheme

In this exercise, go to a home improvement or paint store and pick out a handful of orange (or any color of your choice) sample cards. Get a large variety of cards. Look through magazines, books, the Internet or any other resources you may have. If you shop in fabric stores, see if you can find a orange ( or color of your choice) complementary print you could use as a basis for your color scheme.

Build a Storyboard in order to help you see your color scheme. If you have some old home dec magazines, cut out pictures you can use in your room decor.

These exercises are not etched in stone. They are just some fun ways to help you develop your decorating skills and creativity. You may find yourself inspired by some of these exercises to try and do many things in your home that would not have occured to you if you hadn't tested yourself with these exercises. Feel free to ignore these if you feel they are not useful or take too much of your time.

If you do use them, have fun, take your time, use your creativity and choose color schemes you would never consider. You never know what is lurking inside you. Let it out and have fun with this!