The Symbolism Of Orchid: Color Swatches For The Soul - Darn Good Yarn

The Symbolism Of Orchid: Color Swatches For The Soul

Written by Michaela MacBlake Matthews

Welcome back to another edition of Color Swatches For The Soul, where we are taking a closer look at the symbolism of shades, and how to set the mood for your craft projects, fashion, and lifestyle with color psychology! Today we’re looking at Orchid.

An Orchid colored flowering vine, book, ball of yarn, and high heels next to a woman's face in a white frame, on a grey and rainbow color palette background.

The Purple Family

In color psychology, and in the chakra system, purples represent spirituality and intuition. As one of the darker hues in the spectrum, purple often represents the night sky, or venturing into the greater unknown. Purple is a cosmic color, and is composed of a mixture between active reds or pinks, and observational blues.

Together, this secondary color loves to observe its own actions, and actively seek out new observations. It is this combination of internal and external movement that gives purple its royal and spiritual footing.

How Orchid Sets The Mood

Orchid is a very pink shade of purple, and puts a sociable twist on intuition and creativity! This color indulges in the eccentric nature of purple, and aims to get others involved in the process. Orchid is a rare color, most notably used in late 80’s and early 90’s decor. While all purples signal uniqueness, Orchid is such a spunky and off-beat shade that it walks the talk in every setting it is placed in.

Orchid colored ball of yarn floating above two crafters hands in a swirly white frame atop a color wheel background.

How To Use Orchid In Your Craft Projects

Orchid is a wonderful color to break the mold and experiment with in your craft projects. It is an art over function color, and can easily become a show-stopper even at the size of a paperweight. This color is best tried for the first time on projects that can be put away and used seasonally, or for special occasions. This color has a strong personality, and it will take a little time to decide if you want to commit to having Orchid in your home year round!

Orchid is the perfect color to use in your handmade gifts for extremely special occasions, and once-in-a-lifetime events. In knitted scarves and bracelets, it can serve as a great reminder to embrace the unusual, and fully absorb the experiences of change in life!

Orchid pink woman's face silhouette in a lacey white frame, surrounded by an orchid purple color palette background.

Color Palettes For Orchid

Orchid pairs easily with rose gold, periwinkle, other purples, blues, and neutral colors such as greys, browns, and creams. It feels full in its flowery nature when paired with deep greens and chestnut browns.

To embrace the full whimsy of this color, try pairing it with teal, turquoise, or creamsicle orange! These wild child palettes can be a lot to take on, but when used in moderation on a neutral cream background, they can blend the extreme with day-to-day function.

Orchid is a color for embracing your weird, and wearing it on your sleeve! Use Orchid when it’s time to come out of your shell, and make moves with the people around you.

If you can feel it, there’s a color for it!

Our Fave Purple Products!

Meet the Author

Close up of the author, Michaela Matthews wearing red lipstick and a poofy red scarf with white flower arrangement in background.

"Mac" is on the Lifestyle Team here at Darn Good Yarn, and loves taking a ‘teach a man to fish’ approach to creative therapy. She is certified in neuro-linguistic programming, and is also the surreal artist and author behind Surrealismac.