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Psychology of the colour orange

Psychology of the colour orange

In this article we are going to detail the psychology of the colour orange, the characteristics associated with it, the personality traits associated with orange lovers, some shades and their meaning, among many other facts.

So if you want to know more about the psychology of the colour orange, read this article

Orange has a very interesting psychological meaning, as it combines the strength and energy of red with the friendliness and fun of yellow. The mix makes orange a good representation of physical comfort in our warmth, food and shelter. (It even stimulates our appetite, so watch out if you’re hungry!)

Orange is also known to be the colour of motivation, bringing a positive attitude and general zest for life. In general, orange is ideal for bringing comfort in difficult times and creating a sense of fun or freedom in your images.

Effects of the colour orange on people.
The psychology of the colour orange applies to interior design

Orange has one of the strongest measurable physical effects of any colour. Orange stimulates the appetite, increases energy levels and even stimulates the thyroid to boost metabolism. Orange is powerful. We can’t ignore it, which explains why people have such strong reactions to it.

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Psychology of the colour orange

The colour orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow.

Orange relates to the “gut reaction” or our visceral instincts, as opposed to the physical reaction of red or the mental reaction of yellow.

Orange offers emotional strength in difficult times. It helps us to recover from disappointment and despair, and helps us to recover from pain.

The psychology of the colour orange is optimistic and uplifting, and rejuvenates our spirit. In fact, orange is so optimistic and uplifting that we should all find ways to use it in our daily lives, even if it’s just with an orange pen.

Orange brings spontaneity and a positive outlook on life and is a great colour to use in tough economic times, as it keeps us motivated and helps us to see the bright side of life.

With its zest for life, orange is associated with adventure and risk-taking, inspiring physical confidence, competence and independence. People inspired by orange are always on the move.

Relating to the meaning of the colours, orange is extroverted and uninhibited, and often encourages exhibitionism or, at the very least, ostentatiousness.

The colour orange is related to social communication, stimulating two-way conversations. It is a warm and welcoming colour, which stimulates both physically and mentally, so it gets people thinking and talking.

At the same time, orange also stimulates the appetite. If you like to keep people around the kitchen table, orange will keep them talking and eating for a long time. Many restaurants use pastel versions of orange, such as apricot or peach, or deeper versions, such as terracotta, for their décor, as they are more subtle than red yet increase appetite and promote conversation and social interaction, which in turn encourages customers to have a good time and eat and drink more.

Orange is obviously the worst colour to have in your kitchen if you’re trying to lose weight.

The colour Orange helps to assimilate new ideas and frees the spirit from its limitations, giving us the freedom to be ourselves. At the same time, it fosters respect for oneself and for others.

Orange is probably the most rejected and underused colour of our time. However, young people respond well to it, as it has a degree of youthful impulsiveness to it.

Positive traits

We associate orange with high energy and a vibrant social environment. Orange is an active colour, so we respond to it with intense emotions, increased activity and greater awareness of our surroundings. We think of orange as bold, vibrant and fun.

Negative features

It is not surprising that such a powerful colour also inspires negative associations. Orange can be garish and exhausting if overused. Orange can be garish and exhausting if overused. We associate orange with danger, and its attention-getting properties mean that most designers use it sparingly.

The Colour Orange in Spirituality

Orange sacral chakra.

Chakras are energy centres within the body that help regulate all of its processes. Each chakra governs specific functions and is represented by one of the seven colours of the chakras.

Orange is the colour of the sacral chakra, also known as Svadhisthana. This chakra is located below the navel, near the genitals. The sacral chakra is linked to the sexual organs and the reproductive system. Opening this chakra will release inherent fertility and creativity. The Sacral chakra stimulates sexuality and emotions. The gemstones that help the Sacral chakra are carnelian, coral, orange jasper and orange jade.

Shade variations of the colour orange.
  • Peach: Peach encourages communication and conversation. It inspires good manners and makes people feel comfortable. It has all the attributes of orange, but in a much softer, gentler and more prudent way.
  • Golden Orange: This version of orange promotes vitality and self-control.
  • Amber: Amber helps to inspire greater confidence and better self-esteem. It can promote a certain degree of arrogance.
  • Burnt Orange: This colour gives off a negative vibration indicating pride, tension and aggressive self-assertion.
  • Dark Orange: Dark orange indicates over-confidence and over-ambition. He tries too hard to prove his worth and boost his self-esteem, but when he fails, which often happens, he develops a chip on his shoulder. It is the colour of the opportunist, who takes selfish advantage of any situation.
Personality associated with the colour orange

If orange is your favourite colour, you are likely to be described by some of the following characteristics, the psychology of the colour orange goes far beyond being a colour:

  • With orange as your favourite colour, you are a warm, optimistic, outgoing and often flamboyant person.
  • You are assertive and decisive rather than aggressive – having an orange personality means you are more easy-going and less intense than those who love red.
  • You love social contact and social gatherings, which bring all kinds of people together.
  • As an orange personality, you like to party and socialise and plan all kinds of social events: orange people are the life of the party, the uninhibited entertainer. You tend to be the one who does most of the talking in a group.
  • You take great satisfaction in helping others and inspire them with your vitality and positive energy.
  • You are tolerant and accept others as they are.
  • You are a people person, motivated by what others may or may not think and always trying to keep up with others. You need the people around you: being alone for too long depresses you and so you let the negativity wash over you.
  • You are a free spirit who doesn’t like to be tied down: you are not always loyal in your relationships and find it hard to commit.
  • You live your life based on your “gut reactions.”
  • You are an adventurer: you enjoy the outdoors, camping, mountain climbing and adventure sports such as skydiving and hang gliding. You’re a daredevil, always looking for your next challenge, your next big adventure.
  • You enjoy physical activity, especially outdoors, whether it is simply taking a walk or competing in high-level sporting competitions.
  • Orange lovers like to take risks in many areas of their lives, especially physically. They prefer to explore their outer world rather than their inner world.
  • You may suck at housework because it’s not that important to you: you like to have too much fun and don’t like the mundane: a little dust on the mantelpiece isn’t that important to you. You do, however, love to cook.
  • You easily overcome life’s setbacks.
  • Patience is not one of your virtues and you can be quite forceful and overbearing with others when you are stressed.
  • You can be indecisive, incoherent and unpredictable.
  • You can be an unkind joker.
  • When operating from a negative perspective, an orange personality can become aloof, selfish, self-centered and indifferent.
  • When they feel fear, orange lovers feel it in their abdomen, as if it were tied in knots.

What did you think of this article on the psychology of the colour orange? Would you like to know more about the meaning and psychology of other colours? If your answer is yes, take a look at our articles on colour psychology where we talk in detail about each of the main colours.

Richard H.

Richard H.

With a lifelong dedication to the printing industry, I have collaborated with various print houses, honing my expertise in pre-print design, material selection, and technical intricacies. As a seasoned professional, I bring to "The Color Blog" deep insights into materials and the world of printing, aiming to shed light on the craftsmanship and nuances behind each printed masterpiece.View Author posts

2 thoughts on “Psychology of the colour orange”

  1. Avatar

    Wonderful article about this colour – which I personally favour for many reasons you have cited above. In working in the digital marketing industry, I find it interesting too how subjective it’s meaning can interpreted – which brands use it and what message it is saying about the brand through the logo, and whether itsuse is attempting to provoke a response.. e.g could . …
    * A lighter shade (like peach) … promote excellent communication and good manners ?.
    * Bright Orange … vitality and self control. Journeys, adventure, exciting activities ?
    * Burnt Orange … aggressive, prideful, evoking tension ?.
    * Dark Orange … associated with an advantage taker or being selfish ?

    It’s ue can be (strangely) quite seasonal too …. let’s embrace the orange 🙂

    1. Avatar

      Thanks for your comment. It adds more value to the article by including the psychology behind the different shades of orange. And I noticed that you use orange on your website;)

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