Harvest orange is a rich, warm shade of orange that evokes images of autumn leaves, pumpkins, and the bountiful crops of the fall harvest season. As an earthy, natural color, harvest orange can add a touch of coziness and nostalgia to any design scheme. But like any other color, harvest orange can be described in a few different ways depending on the specific color system used.
Defining Harvest Orange
In general, harvest orange is considered a reddish-orange hue that falls somewhere between classic orange and terra cotta on the color wheel. It’s deeper and more muted than a bright pumpkin orange, but not quite as deep as a burnt orange. The exact specifications of harvest orange will vary slightly across different color models and formats.
In the traditional RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model, harvest orange is made by mixing red and yellow pigments. The more yellow added, the brighter and warmer the orange becomes. Adding more red creates a more muted, earthy orange. Harvest orange tends to have more red than a typical orange.
On the RGB (red, green, blue) color wheel used for digital design, harvest orange is made by combining high amounts of red and green light. The RGB values for a typical harvest orange would be around R: 245, G: 145, B: 0. Again, adjusting these values makes the orange more red or more yellow.
The HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) color model defines harvest orange with a hue of around 35 degrees, indicating its place between red and yellow. It has moderate saturation, meaning it’s not a vivid color but not extremely muted either. The lightness value is usually between 45-60% for harvest orange hues.
Harvest Orange Color Codes
To precisely reproduce harvest orange in design programs, paints, or code, it’s important to identify the specific color format and reference the correct color code. Here are some of the most common harvest orange color codes across different systems:
| Color System | Harvest Orange Code |
|---|---|
| HEX (Web Design) | #F5A623 |
| RGB Decimal | R: 245, G: 166, B: 35 |
| CMYK | C: 0, M: 32, Y: 86, K: 4 |
| Pantone | PMS 165 |
| RAL | RAL 1028 |
On websites, harvest orange is defined using HEX code #F5A623, which pairs the RGB values into a six-digit hexadecimal number. Design programs like Photoshop and Illustrator also use the RGB model. For print design, the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) build is used for accurate color mixing, with a breakdown of 0% cyan, 32% magenta, 86% yellow for harvest orange. The leading Pantone color matching system assigns harvest orange a code of PMS 165.
Use of Harvest Orange
The warm, earthy qualities of harvest orange make it a popular choice for branding and packaging of natural, organic products. It brings to mind farms, produce, grains, leaves, and the bounty of fall. Major food and agriculture brands like Whole Foods, Reese’s, Nature Valley, Wheaties, and Hamburger Helper incorporate harvest orange in their visual identity and packaging.
Beyond food, harvest orange can provide an autumnal flair in home goods, fashion, interior design, and holiday marketing such as Thanksgiving and Halloween. Paint companies like Behr, Sherwin-Williams, and Benjamin Moore all offer popular harvest orange hues for home interiors. Clothing and accessory lines like to use harvest orange neutrals as a way to add spice for the fall season. The color is prominent every year in retailers’ autumn/Halloween campaigns and displays.
In web design, harvest orange works well when you want a warm, inviting accent color. It pairs nicely with neutrals like tan, cream, light brown, and rich greens. Too much harvest orange can overwhelm a site though, so use it sparingly in buttons, headlines, borders, or highlights. Make sure text is still readable against the darker orange background.
Psychology of Harvest Orange
Color psychology suggests that the natural, earthy quality of harvest orange subconsciously reminds us of comfort, home, abundance, warmth and security. Its resemblance to autumn leaves and pumpkins triggers those seasonal associations.
At the same time, orange is considered an energetic, joyful color that provides excitement. The boldness of harvest orange demands attention while still feeling grounded. This makes it effective for highlighting important elements you want viewers to notice. It offers a lively flair without being overpowering.
However, the darker shade compared to bright orange does give harvest orange a more serious, elegant look. This allows it to be used in more sober, sophisticated ways than bright orange typically can. Overall, harvest orange balances familiarity, energy, and professionalism.
Similar Colors to Harvest Orange
As a reddish-orange hue, harvest orange naturally resembles other spicy orange/red tones. Here are some of the most common colors that are similar to harvest orange and can be used for inspiration or alternate options:
- Terracotta
- Burnt Orange
- Rust
- Copper
- Fire Orange
- Autumn Leaf
- Pumpkin
- Terra Cotta
- Carrot Orange
- Red-Orange
These colors all sit next to harvest orange on the color wheel, but may be a touch lighter, darker, more red, more orange, or more muted. Keeping these hues in mind gives you flexibility if harvest orange isn’t quite the right fit.
Conclusion
With its links to the fall harvest, orange leaves, and autumnal fruits and vegetables, harvest orange conveys a familiar coziness perfect for the season. It’s versatile enough to use for food brands, home decor, fashion, and web design when you want to evoke autumn. Following the provided color codes gives you an accurate reproduction of harvest orange for any design or medium. Just keep in mind that a little goes a long way, as too much harvest orange can feel overpowering. When used judiciously, this earthy orange shade can provide the perfect punch of autumn spice.
