Winter is here and so are specially curated winter color palettes to elevate your holiday- or winter-themed design projects. Ideal for graphic designers seeking inspiration for a holiday event flyer, a seasonal menu, or a captivating poster showcasing the beauty of winter, these meticulously crafted color palettes will help you create visually stunning designs for both print and screen.
Whether you’re drawing color inspiration directly from nature, picking a holiday color palette from the bright shades of the festive season, or pulling them right off the runway, winter has some incredible color palettes for you to choose from.
In this post, we’ll share our favorite inspiring winter color palettes, including:
- Nature-inspired winter color palettes
- Cool winter color palettes
- Holiday color palettes
- Winter color palette picks from Pantone
Let’s dive in.
Nature-inspired Winter Color Palettes
There’s more to winter than snow and ice (and Christmas). There are also the beautiful muted hues of mosses and trees contrasting with bright berries and colorful birds, and incredible warm sunsets against icy cool, sparkling landscapes. Here are three nature-inspired winter color palettes to help you embrace the winter spirit.
Snowy pines
Snow Willow
C=9 M=3 Y=0 K=0
R=218 G=227 B=234
Spearmint
C=6 M=0 Y=10 K=0
R=218 G=229 B=205
Spruce
C=11 M=5 Y=0 K=64
R=81 G=87 B=91
Cocoa
C=0 M=22 Y=85 K=85
R=74 G=60 B=49
Winter in the woods
Barley Grass
C=0 M=10.8 Y=36.2 K=25
R=192 G=169 B=121
Spearmint
C=0 M=16 Y=40 K=53
R=119 G=99 B=70
Military Green
C=10 M=0 Y=8 K=54
R=105 G=117 B=107
Maroon
C=0 M=100 Y=60 K=55
R=119 G=49 B=65
Winter sky
Barely Pink
C=0 M=9 Y=10 K=0
R=255 G=232 B=231
Lilac
C=10 M=20 Y=0 K=0
R=221 G=198 B=228
Lavender
C=69 M=73.1 Y=3.8 K=12
R=103.1 G=75.7 B=118.1
Cobalt Blue
C=100 M=49 Y=0 K=70
R=0 G=42 B=66
Cool Winter Color Palettes
When you think about the sparkle of snowflakes set against the cool blue tones of a winter sky, there’s no denying that winter is at its most beautiful when it is snowy. Channel the wintery spirit with these cool winter color palettes made up of inspiring iceberg shades:
Mist
C=4 M=5 Y=0 K=6
R=231 G=229 B=240
Vista
C=56 M=25 Y=1 K=7
R=104 G=178 B=235
Sapphire
C=33 M=26 Y=0 K=56
R=76 G=83 B=113
Lapis Lazuli
C=99 M=40 Y=0 K=66
R=1 G=52 B=87
Holiday Color Palettes
From silver and gold to the classic reds and greens of Christmas, you can’t have a list of winter color palettes without including some festive holiday options.
Glam Holiday Color Palette
Tinstar
C=0 M=5 Y=0 K=13
R=220 G=208 B=218
Snow Willow
C=9 M=3 Y=0 K=0
R=218 G=227 B=234
Gold
C=38 M=0 Y=45 K=0
R=194 G=195 B=128
Pyrite
C=0 M=17 Y=56 K=8
R=233 G=193 B=104
Classic Christmas Color Palette
Red
C=0 M=100 Y=79 K=20
R=167 G=25 B=48
Maroon
C=0 M=100 Y=60 K=55
R=119 G=49 B=65
Gamma Green
C=57 M=0 Y=80 K=22
R=95 G=159 B=84
Forest Green
C=27 M=0 Y=2 K=67
R=60 G=83 B=81
Hanukkah Color Palette
Prussian Blue
C=80 M=53 Y=0 K=0
R=64 G=96 B=175
Cornflower
C=45 M=25 Y=0 K=14
R=120 G=164 B=219
Beargrass
C=12 M=1 Y=9 K=2
R=246 G=246 B=237
Marigold
C=0 M=30 Y=83 K=0
R=255 G=178 B=43
Kwanzaa Color Palette
Cardinal
C=0 M=94 Y=100 K=0
R=205 G=32 B=44
Black
C=16 M=0 Y=31 K=82
R=53 G=55 B=53
Emerald
C=100 M=0 Y=28 K=40
R=0 G=154 B=110
Golden Yellow
C=0 M=16 Y=100 K=0
R=255 G=199 B=2
Winter Color Palette Picks from Pantone
The color experts at Pantone pulled these winter color palettes directly from the Autumn/Winter 2023/2024 runways in New York. Explore some uncharacteristic winter colors with these fun and fashionable palettes:
Maroon
C=0 M=100 Y=0 K=55
R=119 G=49 B=65
Fuchsia
C=0 M=68.76 Y=26.04 K=0
R=255 G=79.66 B=188.59
Scarlet
C=0 M=97 Y=100 K=0
R=213 G=43 B=30
Bright Yellow
C=0 M=5 Y=15 K=0
R=236 G=222 B=187
Violet
C=43 M=38 Y=0 K=0
R=143 G=141 B=203
Green
C=17 M=0 Y=16 K=0
R=166 G=230 B=188
Cayenne Pepper
C=0 M=43 Y=44 K=33
R=170 G=96 B=94
Fairway
C=49 M=4 Y=90 K=16
R=109 G=206 B=21
Cocoa
C=0 M=22 Y=85 K=85
R=74 G=60 B=49
Midnight Blue
C=70 M=43 Y=23 K=63
R=57 G=74 B=88
Tinstar
C=0 M=5 Y=0 K=13
R=220 G=208 B=218
Pumpkin Pie
C=0 M=29 Y=54 K=24
R=192 G=138 B=89
Conclusion
Winter might feel bleak, grey, and drab, but there can be color if you know where to look for it. Don’t be afraid to add bold hues to your work (and your life).
