Saffron Robes Color Palette

Today I want to share with you a beautifully ordinary picture. It’s laundry, hung out to dry. But not just any laundry. These are the saffron robes of monks at the Wat Bo monastery in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Am I the only one who finds it comforting that even holy men have to do laundry?

These colors and subject matter caught my eye, and I found myself struck again at the harmony to be found in contrasts. Both in life, and in color. This temple is one of the oldest in Siem Reap, and it looks it, but those robes look so fresh and new and vibrant.

You can get a similar effect when using contrasting (otherwise known as complimentary) colors like the ones above. They energize each other and keep your eye moving. This can be good or bad, depending on what you’re going for, but if you’re looking to punch up the energy in a room, consider a color palette like this one.

For more amazing pictures of Cambodia, and all sorts of other wonderful places, check out my friend Tim’s travel blog, Flat Tires and Slow Boats. Thanks, Tim, for letting me borrow your photo!