Colour Theory
Colour Meaning
Red
Red is a powerful colour for Turks since it is the colour of the Turkish flag, and hence red is a symbol of Turkish nationalism.
Women often wear a red veil on their heads on the wedding day or henna night because it is believed that red brings luck to weddings.
Red is also the colour of the famous Turkish tea, çay.
In general terms, red signifies intense feelings such as passion and anger.
Recommended use:
- National Subjects
- Food
- Henna Night
- Decorative Arts
Blue
It’s believed that blue has a healing effect and is a repellent against evil; that’s why the evil eye, “Nazar boncuğu,” is blue.
Blue is a must-have colour in traditional Turkish art, such as “çini,” the art of painting glazed tile and ceramics.
Blue is also a symbol of famous seaside resorts in Türkiye. If you visit Antalya or Muğla, you’ll see the brightest shades of blue in hidden coves!
Recommended use:
- Turkish Riviera
- Holiday
- Evil Eye
- Decorative Arts
Green
Green is usually associated with Islam and was also the colour of the Ottoman flag.
Green reminds us of the Black Sea Region in Türkiye because it is the greenest region, with huge forests, steep mountains, limpid waterfalls, and wooden cottages, in the country. The nature there is totally worth seeing!
In a broader aspect, the green colour represents nature and life.
Recommended use:
- Religion-Islam
- Nature
- Blacksea
- Decorative Arts
Turquoise
Turquoise is a unique colour mixture of blue and green, which is actually named after a mineral. Turquoise is derived from the French word “turquois,” which means Turkish.
The reason behind it is that the mineral was first brought to Europe through Türkiye from mines in the historical Khorasan province of Iran. However, the first recorded use of turquoise as a colour name in English was in the 16th century.
Recommended use:
- Decorative Arts
- Religion-Islam
- Nature
Grey
The colour invokes feeling of boredom, coldness, and is seen as plain. The colour is associated with public institutions and buildings such as schools or courthouses.
Recommended use:
- Urban Life
Violet
Mor is sometimes associated with mourning and mystery.
The colour invokes feelings of pessimism, regret and fear. Sometimes associated with nature.
Recommended use:
- Mystic Subjects
- Nature
Yellow and Gold
Yellow and gold are colours that have been historically associated with power and wealth, as well as with the Ottoman Era in Türkiye.
In traditional Turkish arts and interiors, gold colour or foil is commonly used to add intricate details to various objects.
In the past, the colour yellow was linked to the liberal party in Türkiye. However, nowadays, it is associated with the conservative party AKP, mainly due to the AKP logo featuring a yellow light bulb.
Pink
The colour pink is often associated with femininity in Türkiye. It is primarily used for baby girl clothing, room decor, and birthdays.
Recommended use:
- Room decor
- Birthdays
- Baby girl
- Weddings
Recommended use:
- Decorations and ornaments
Top Colour Groups
Traditional Turkish
Recommended use:
- National Holidays
- Festive
- Sports
- Politics
Bold Contrast
Recommended use:
- Fashion
- Beauty
- Retail
- Kids
- Food
- Music
Blue Hues
Recommended use:
- Health
- Technology
Green Hues
Recommended use:
- Nature
- Agriculture
Pastel Palette
Recommended use:
- Wedding
- Organic products
Be careful with these colours
Yellow, red, and green combination
In Türkiye, this colour combination is associated with Kurdish nationalism.
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