IMAGES | From left to right: tumblr.com | Plascon HOORAY swatch | cschoonover.com | blog.marieclairemasion.com
Spring has sprung and summer is most definitely in the air. What better way to celebrate the new season than by adding a little vibrant energy with the 'fluorescent' pastel HOORAY O3-A1-3.
Although sharing the energetic nature of red, Hooray is a muted yet fun and vivid colour that typically represents positivity and playfulness. It is the perfect colour to add excitement and cheerfulness to any palette, space, and beauty or fashion accessory.
Following on from our Hot 'n Spicy colour for July, the colour of the month for October falls into our Inspired orange collection and although not as intense as red it most definitely is far from a timid hue. Hooray is a combination of peach and coral, which is essentially a bright pastel pinky orange. If you are looking for that perfect combination of a bright peach and a coral – hooray is your colour. IMAGES | Pinterest
I read somewhere that orange burns with intensity yet will not scorch the way red does. I think that is an apt description. It is a 'hot' tone that is not as forceful as red and has a little more depth to it than yellow. It is a colour that comes alive in autumn – a time characterised by renewal, change, transition and movement. In other words, Hooray is a colour to introduce when you are going through change or you need to encourage change. IMAGES | Pinterest
Orange and its various shades are strongly associated with creativity. As such, they are often used in creative communal spaces. We also frequently see them used in advertising and for brand identity.
"Positive associations that typically come along with orange include affordability, beauty, earthiness, energy, enthusiasm, excitement, friendliness, health and vitality, humor, playfulness, seasonal changes and warmth." (99design.com)
It is interesting to note that while writing this post the gun laws in America were an international topic of interest. Orange became the official colour of National Gun Violence Awareness:
"Why Orange? Because Orange is what hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves from harm. Orange is a bright, bold color that demands to be seen. Orange expresses our collective hope as a nation – hope for a future free from gun violence, where our movie theaters, our concerts, our places of worship, and our schools are free from gun violence." (wearorange.org)
When choosing a colour scheme it is helpful to know what colours go into your chosen colour because you can utilise the undertones to create a harmonious palette. This can be enhanced by knowing the complementary, related and adjacent colours that increase the possible options.
A true orange is a secondary colour that embraces and combines the dynamic richness and depth of red and the bright freshness of yellow. In layman's terms, Hooray is a true orange with a little more red and yellow added to it.
If you look at Hooray on the Plascon colour chart you will note it sits closer to red than yellow. That being said, in order to give the colour its retro, neon, pastel appeal, it has a fair amount of yellow colourants in it. Although a muted version of its deeper shade on its colour card – Tangerine Tango O3-A1-1 – it is still considered to have a bright chroma.
If you use Hooray's analogous or related colours – the colours that sit on either side of Hooray in our Inspired Plascon's colour wheel – you will be able to create a dynamic colour combo that is fresh, inviting, contemporary, and super energetic.
Its complementary colour would be a blue like Monet Magic B3-A1-1 or Blue for You B3-A1-3 (yikes, a bold and brave combo!). In forthcoming pictures you will be able to see where and how this combination has been used.
And lastly, its adjacent colours would be a yellow like Summer Memory Y2-A1-3 and/or a purple red like Valentine Rose R2-A1-2. Again, this combo may seem way too bold and brave (see forthcoming images showing how these combinations work together).
Use as a bold accent in architecture and design to create inviting and playful spaces: IMAGES | Top left: archdaily.com | All others: Pinterest IMAGES | colourfulhomes.tumblr.com
In retail spaces: IMAGE | Mansur Gavriel in New York (honestlywtf.com) IMAGE | The Flower Shop, New York, Photo by The Fashion Display (Pinterest)
On stationery: IMAGE | anthropologie.com
Makeup: IMAGES | Top left: thvdermag.com | Top right: artnau.com | Bottom: Pinterest
In interiors, create a statement with Hooray set against clean backdrops of white or soft grey: IMAGE | sightunseen.com IMAGES | Bottom right: easier2b.tumblr.com | All others: Pinterest IMAGE | Plascon IMAGES | From top left to right: sfgirlbybay.com | my-world-of-colour.tumblr.com | my-world-of-colour.tumblr.com | lokoloko.es
Hooray also creates a striking bathroom colour: IMAGES | Top left: pinterest | Top right: casavogue.globo.com | Bottom: pinterest
In both interiors and architecture, combine it with complementary blue shades: IMAGES | Top: Plascon | Bottom left: sightunseen.com | Bottom right: camirafabrics.com IMAGES | Top left: archdaily.com | Top right: pinterest | Bottom: archdaily.com
Works beautifully with greens: IMAGES | Top: Pinterest | Bottom: residencemagazine.se
Add a little boldness with dramatic blue greys: IMAGES | Top left: lovepiperxo.tumblr.com | Top right: casavogue.globo.com | Bottom: residencemagazine.se IMAGES | From top left to right: theultralinx.com | camirafabrics.com | decdesignecasa.blogspot.it | lamonomagazine.com
The other adjacent: yellow – makes for an exciting, fresh, retro palette: IMAGES | Top left: The Independent | Top right: apartmenttherapy.com | Bottom: Pinterest
And to end with these graphic combinations: IMAGES | From top left to right: Domino | Pinterest | theloop.com.au | Pinterest
Whether used sparingly or without restraint, Hooray adds exciting energy to any space or design and will always make a statement.
Take the plunge!