October, for many, it’s their favorite month of the year, filled with autumnal spirit, bright foliage, and haunted holiday fun. It’s perhaps the most comforting/cozy month of the year, the time we all pull out our sweaters and comfortable jeans and say goodbye to the shorts and t-shirts of summer (mostly). It’s a time when a new landscape of colors presents itself and an opportunity to bring a completely new color arrangement into every space of your home.
Let’s do this together: step outside into the crisp morning air, take a slow, deep breath, sip your hot cup of coffee, and prepare to initiate your fall season with some inspired October colors! In this article, I’ll provide some color suggestions for traditional and alternative October color arrangements!
October Colors – It’s Hard to Disregard the Classics
As a color consultant, I always recommend to my clients that if a traditional color arrangement speaks to them, don’t think of it as blasé or uninteresting; the classics are classics for a reason! We don’t always have to push the boundaries of design, and the traditional October colors can be presented in new, innovative ways to keep them feeling fresh.
What Do Traditional October Colors Say?
Traditional October colors connect with the season’s transition, a warm “earthy” palette presentation. It’s a cozy embrace of nature’s wonderful colors for the month. Envision deep, rich browns, autumnal reds, rusty oranges, emerald/moss greens, and deep moody blues. The best results for embracing October come from utilizing nature’s colors.
Working Traditional October Colors into Your Home
When incorporating October colors into the home, it’s great to start with warm base neutral colors, like creamy beiges or light oat browns; they work beautifully to layer in some bolder/more saturated colors on top.
For example, if your entertaining room has warmer neutral furniture like couches and love seats, you can drape rust orange or auburn red throw blankets and pillows over them; after that, arrange some wildflowers on end or coffee tables, green stalks, and dried wheat will work wonderfully to compliment the ensemble! For something more formally focused, grab some midnight blue or charcoal gray linens and some white candles for a special autumnal evening dinner and compliment them with scattered yellow and brown leaves! Only clean leaves on the table, of course!
Trying Out Unique & New October Colors
As a color specialist, I always need to look for new possible color arrangements, and nature will often surprise me with something I have never seen before! Without having to journey into synthetic-looking color arrangements, nature provides us with a bevy of alternative options that will delight anyone looking for something a little different for October.
Shades of Purples, Pinks, and Blues
The wildflower arrangements you can find in October are just breathtaking, and it may come as a surprise to many, but lots of them are not orange, red, or brown, but pale purples, airy light blues, and peachy pinks. Look for inspiration, and nature provides!
Work with eucalyptus in a green/gray and thistle in a cool blue-gray for a striking vase arrangement; the relaxed and hazy blues, purples, and whites remind me of a blissful October twilight just before it all turns to night.
Don’t Be Afraid of Gray
Gray is a powerful color that helps create some contrast and dynamics between some of the paler hues of October. I enjoy using a light smokey or charcoal gray as an underlying base color to layer in some underutilized October colors, such as deep plum purple, thistle blue, or lavender. Even if you opt for the more traditional harvest/rustic October colors, try grays with a hint of color in them to add visual interest and create contrast!
Try Out a Less Traditional, More Expiremental Vase!
Instead of the same old vase selection, try mixing things up; try using funky, cool, retro, and dual-purpose items for your wildflower vases! Picture teapots, old ceramic jugs, watering cans, pitchers, or vintage soda bottles! Don’t be afraid to try something different; there’s a better chance it will leave a positive lasting impression.
For Some More Fall-Inspired Writing – See My Accompanying Blog,
“And All At Once, Summer Collapsed Into Fall”
October Colors – Use What Warms Your Heart
October means something a little different to everyone, but it goes without saying that it’s a special time for the senses. The sights, sounds, smells, and, of course, colors provide us with something exciting and different, so be sure to cherish every moment of it!
If you’re outdoorsy, be sure to have my Color911 color app handy for your next autumnal hike! You can use any photos in your library to create unique color palettes – find the perfect arrangement in nature and bring it back home!
Print
I love the dried flowers palettes – soft and pretty but not too heavy on the orange tones.
Yes you are right Linda, I was looking for a new approach to the colors for this time of year.
Autumn!! My favorite time of year! Yes, so many beautiful ways to use those berries in contrasting palettes–
I am so happy that you love the autumn color palette Deborah, there is so much to offer!