It has nothing to do with the Netflix show or prison, but in Indian home decor, orange has been the go-to shade and palette for generations. Just think about the everyday presence of orange in your life. Rich, mossy yellow haldi in our spice boxes, and the saffron we soak in milk for kheer. Marigolds at the market and hung near temples and at weddings. A monk’s robes. The orange sands of the desert in Rajasthan. Mangoes. Matkas filled with mishti doi and Shrikhand! Orange is an element in so many of the things we see and consume each day; it’s only natural that it extends to interiors.

But don’t just think of it as a natural extension: there are plenty more reasons why orange works well in the Indian home. Orange is a bright, vivid colour and the psychological properties of the shade indicate joy, playfulness, fun and feelings of abundance. And it is important to keep a lively, energized feeling within the home. Sadhus and monks who choose a spiritual path don orange robes for a reason, too: it signifies that he or she is moving onto a different life, marking a new beginning, a sunrise, a new vision.

Festivals and sacred rituals are also represented by the colour orange. Brides take part in a Haldi or turmeric bath in preparation for the big day. The orange-hued motichoor laddoo is a treat distributed during festivals and weddings, as well as to announce and celebrate good news.

Marigolds are used in poojas and to make garlands and decorations during celebrations; and at the centre of almost all poojas and rituals in Hinduism is the sacred flame, Agni. So depending on which way you look at it, orange signifies abundance, good luck, joy or a fresh start/new light in your life.Spirituality and traditions aside, orange is also a color that represents India, the nation. Our tricolor flag has a band of bright saffron, with white in the middle and green below. India’s national animal, the tiger, is also a golden orange hue, rich and majestic. Even the country’s national airline, Air India, has a color scheme that is predominantly orange and cinnamon-shaded. And look no further than the Red Fort or Rashtrapati Bhavan to see how orange hues have been a part of our architecture for generations!

While orange is a warm, toasty shade, the way it’s incorporated into our tropical climate actually helps keep homes and surroundings cool. Clay matkas are used to store water and yogurt because it helps keep substances cool; this is the same reason clay tiles are used on the roofs of homes across India. Since clay contains insulation properties, it creates a cooling effect. Shades of orange, (ranging from a lighter peachy-orange to a warmer cinnamon) can make rooms appear larger, cooler and airier.

Orange also complements other elements in design. The Indian design aesthetic embraces patterns and intricate carvings and paintings, and orange does a better job of showing off the finer aspects of these designs. Wooden doors, gold ornamental lamps and wall hangings, brass accents and embellishments, Madhubani and Warli art- everything displays better against a backdrop of orange.Orange may seem like a stand-out, loud shade, but you’d be surprised at how well it pairs with other colours. From somber and sophisticated dark tones like black, charcoal and grey to brighter shades of white, blue and turquoise. You may have noticed the pairing of orange and blue in Jaipur pottery as well as temples facades in South India. And for a regal touch, orange pairs beautifully with gold and silver!

So it’s safe to say that what Minimal is to Scandinavian decor, what Nautical is to New England, Orange is to the Indian aesthetic. So why not add a little orange to your rooms today?

By- Meenakshi S 

Meenakshi S is a Delhi-based journalist turned full-time mum. After working as a news producer for channels like CNN-News18, CNBC-TV18 and Bloomberg TV India, she stepped out of the newsroom and into motherhood. She now freelances as a content writer and editor, working with startups and digital marketing companies. When she is not curating and creating content for the web, she can be found chasing after her two energetic sons or baking and crafting with them.Sources

• http://launchpadacademy.in/indian-interior-design-characteristics/
• http://www.thedesignsheppard.com/interviews/colour-psychology-using-orange-in-interiors#sthash.DCFmDDsE.7wEFcOiI.dpbs
• http://isha.sadhguru.org/blog/yoga-meditation/demystifying-yoga/meaning-of-colors/
• http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-27/news/29589816_1_false-ceiling-light-shades-cool-room

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