Quick answer
Coral pink is a light reddish-orange color that resembles the hue of coral reefs. It sits between pink and orange on the color wheel and is created by mixing strong red and orange pigments. Coral pink became popular during the 20th century and is commonly used for women’s fashion and home decor.
What is the hex code for coral pink?
The hex code for coral pink is #F88379. This refers to the mix of RGB values that make up the coral pink color:
| Red: | 248 |
| Green: | 131 |
| Blue: | 121 |
Hex codes are six-digit codes that represent colors in web design and digital formats. The hex code allows coral pink to be recreated accurately on screens.
What are other names for coral pink?
Coral pink goes by several other names:
– Salmon pink
– Peach pink
– Coral red
– Tango pink
– Desert sand
These names all refer to slight variations of the reddish-pinkish coral hue. Salmon pink is lighter and more strictly pink, while coral red contains more red pigment.
Where does the name “coral pink” come from?
Coral pink gets its name from its resemblance to the color of coral reefs and marine coral organisms. Real coral ranges from pale pink to deep orange-reds.
The name “coral” comes from the Ancient Greek word “koraillon,” referencing the skeletal material that forms the structure of coral reefs. So coral pink aims to mimic the diverse pinkish-orange hues found in coral reefs and coral skeletons.
What are the uses of coral pink?
Some common uses and associations of coral pink color include:
– Women’s fashion – coral pink is seen as a feminine color and is popular for dresses, blouses, and swimwear.
– Home decor – used to create a warm, lively ambiance. Works well in bohemian, tropical, and traditional spaces.
– Flowers – certain flowers like amaryllis, azaleas, hibiscus, and roses display coral pink hues.
– Coral reefs – healthy coral reefs have a dominant orange-pink appearance.
– Cosmetics – coral pink lipsticks, blushes, and nail polishes are staple products.
– Cuisine – salmon, shrimp, and other seafood can be coral pink. Fruits like peaches, apricots, guava, and dragonfruit also display this color.
– Symbolism – evokes cheerfulness, warmth, playfulness, and romance.
How did coral pink become a popular color?
Coral pink emerged as a fashionable color during the mid-20th century. In the 1920s, French designer Coco Chanel introduced a coral-colored suit, which thrust coral into the fashion spotlight.
Its popularity expanded through the 1940s and 1950s as World War II restrictions on fabric dyes were lifted. With improved chemical dyes, coral pink fabric became widely available.
The rise of Technicolor films also helped coral pink gain a cultural foothold by vividly displaying it on movie screens. Films like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz featured coral pink costumes.
By the 1950s, advancements in chemical dyes and visual media cemented coral pink as a staple ladies’ fashion shade. Its warm, feminine appeal keeps it on-trend today.
What colors go well with coral pink?
Coral pink is extremely versatile and complements both warm and cool palette colors. Here are some popular color combinations:
| Warm neutrals | Beige, tan, sand, gold |
| Cool neutrals | White, gray, silver |
| Warmer tones | Peach, yellow, brick red, rust |
| Cooler tones | Mint, sage green, robin’s egg blue |
Matching or contrasting coral with neutral shades allows its lively reddish-orange hue to take center stage. Warm neutrals enhance its heat, while cool neutrals create a more balanced look.
How do you make the color coral pink?
There are a few ways to make coral pink:
– Paint – mix red and orange paint colors to achieve the right coral balance. Add white to lighten.
– Dye – mix a strong warm red dye with orange and optionally pink dyes until coral pink is reached.
– Digital – use a coral pink color picker or hex code (#F88379) when working digitally.
– Makeup – blend orange and red lipsticks, blushes, or eye shadows. Pink undertones can be added too.
– Flowers – certain coral-colored blooms like hibiscus, amaryllis, roses, and geraniums naturally display this hue.
– Food – for cooking, mix red ingredients like tomatoes or red peppers with orange ingredients like peaches, carrots, or pumpkin.
Is coral pink a warm or cool color?
Coral pink is considered a warm color, due to its strong red-orange undertones from the warm part of the color spectrum.
Warm colors often evoke energy, passion, and excitement due to their relation to things like fire and sunlight. Coral pink has a lively, energetic vibe.
Cool colors like blues and greens feel more calming and serene to the eye. Coral pink provides more visual stimulation than cool colors.
Is coral pink a light or dark color?
Coral pink sits in the mid-range of lightness and darkness. It falls around 25-50% lightness on most color scales.
On the light end, very pale, faded versions of coral approach a light salmon pink.
Darker coral pinks get closer to a brick red or rusty orange. These deeper corals have more red pigment added.
Pure coral pink itself lands right in the middle – lighter than a deep red, but more saturated than a baby pink.
Is coral pink a bright or muted color?
Coral pink has a highly-saturated, bright appearance, compared to muted earth tones.
Bright colors feel bold, intense, and dynamic. They catch the eye easily against muted backgrounds.
Muted colors are softer, more subdued, and gentle. They appear dusty, weathered, or natural.
Coral pink leans bright. Its vivid reddish-orange hue looks energetic compared to muted shades of tan, beige, or gray.
What emotions does coral pink evoke?
Coral pink elicits a range of positive, cheerful emotions. Common feelings associated with coral pink include:
– Cheerfulness – its warmth and brightness uplift spirits.
– Playfulness – reminds people of childhood innocence and joy.
– Romance – evokes feelings of love, passion, and femininity.
– Calm – more relaxing than true red, but still stimulating.
– Optimism – its vivid hue feels lively and hopeful.
– Nostalgia – ties to mid-century history and vintage aesthetic.
So while vibrant, coral pink generates more cozy, feel-good vibes than high-energy red or daring orange.
Does coral pink make a room look bigger or smaller?
Coral pink can cunningly make a small room look bigger. The color psychology of pink suggests it appears to draw walls outwards, counteracting a cramped feeling.
Using coral pink on accent walls or décor creates an illusion of expanded space. It makes room colors feel more continuous.
For large, cavernous rooms, coral pink makes the space feel warmer, more welcoming, and less empty.
Either way, coral pink generates an open ambiance. It minimizes claustrophobia but also makes big rooms more intimate.
What are the positive and negative cultural associations with coral pink?
Positive cultural associations with coral pink include:
– Femininity – coral pink is strongly associated with women’s fashion and interests.
– Vintage charm – ties to mid-century aesthetic and old Hollywood glamor.
– Whimsy – often used in children’s toys and decor to create a playful mood.
– Coastal living – evokes tropical oceans and coral reefs.
Negative associations include:
– Frivolity – some find coral pink excessively feminine or childish.
– Artificiality – harsh versions can seem unnatural and synthetic looking.
– Imperfection – coral’s orange undertones can clash with some skin tones.
Conclusion
Coral pink is a warm, feminine hue that evokes feelings of cheer, romance, and nostalgia. Its ties to mid-century fashion help explain its continued popularity in women’s fashion and home decor. Sitting between strong red and orange, coral pink manages to be both mellow and bright. This versatility allows it to complement both warm and cool color palettes. While perceptions exist of coral pink as artificial or overly feminine, its lively reddish glow gives it widespread appeal. Coral pink creates an uplifting, welcoming ambiance.
