Let us begin with a small, fun ‘general knowledge’ question regarding our topic, the color coral or living coral. Did you know? That this shade was declared to be color of the year for 2019 by Pantone! As interesting as it may seem, let us walk through the origin of this specific, special shade of orange-pink hue.
A tiny sea creature called undersea polyp forms calcium-carbonate skeleton which then clumps together to form reefs and colonies. This calcium-carbonate skeleton is what is known as a coral. Its roots date back to the 16th century, which highlighted coral’s endless elegance. The ancient Egyptians were the first ones to harvest it to later use them as jewelry or ornaments, and believed that it helped ward off evil. This belief also made its way to Renaissance, young Jesus was often portrayed with a coral amulet. Even in the Victorian era, coral was greatly valued. In the first half of the 20th century it was integrated into sleek art deco jewelry, and was prized in its raw form by the free spirits back in the 60’s and 70’s.
Coral is not always the same color when found in nature. It goes back and forth between rosy pink or a rare shade of gold, and even ink black at times! A living coral is usually recognized to have a shade of pinkish red-orange, but interestingly, the shade can shimmer between different tones when seen under different lighting effects. It is a color comprised of pink tones and orange shades, a unique combination of these bright, vivid hues. Despite having pink undertones, this color is more associated with the color orange. The general symbolism of coral is warmth, positivity, acceptance, relaxation, joy, energy, creativity, lightness and individuality. Be rest assured that this color will consistently keep offering us more to stress upon with time. It is also perceived as an outgoing color, which comes as no surprise because of its eye-catching tones. Introverts in nature may find this color troublesome, as its vibrancy may seem intimidating and head-turning, making it unsuitable for the ones who usually prefer to blend in.
The more we dig into the matter the more it seems as if this color will not leave the podium anytime soon. It continues to keep showing its versatility and high spirits in decoration, designs and fashion. It can be used for a variety of design purposes. Alongside photography and graphic designing, this color is popular for its use in fashion, product design, packaging, beauty products, interior design, social media aesthetics and so much more. Given its dynamic nature, operating as an interesting visual highlight or a focal color, it is bound to bring a lively flair to any work! Are you suddenly thinking what combination of colors might go well with this dynamic shade being discussed about? Well, think no more! So, this vibrant color looks stunning when paired with tiffany blue and white. It also goes pretty well with some warm tones such as yellow. You can also combine it with shades of navy blue, taupe and gray. Traditionally, coral is looked at to be more leaned towards femininity, but in reality, it can be applied to so many different and vast contexts. For a more masculine feel, this color can be used as an accent to navy blue, sometimes even red, no joke! Try it out and see for yourself!
All shades of coral are vibrant enough to bring a trendy feel to any sort of design and helps them to be more attention-grabbing. To conclude, this color is going to remain on the scene consistently for quite a long time, no doubt.
