Purple, orange, and yellow autumn leaves
Sep 02, 2023

Warm autumn, deep autumn, soft autumn | Seasonal Color Analysis

The autumn season is characterized by the warm, earthy hues of nature's changing leaves and cozy fall days.

The autumn season has three distinct sub-seasons: warm autumn, deep autumn, and soft autumn. We'll explore each one in more detail.

Warm autumn: earthy and radiant

The warm autumn color palette focuses on colors that are primarily warm, but also have low to moderate saturation - tones such as earthy browns, mustard yellows, and glowing ambers. Warm autumn colors are reminiscent of the golden glow of autumn leaves and the comforting tones of rustic spices.

Warm autumn is bordered by warm spring, its sister season. While warm spring tones are brighter and more intense than those in the warm autumn palette, warm autumn individuals can certainly pull off warm spring colors as well - for example, golden yellows and corals.

Warm autumn color palette

Warm autumn colors

Deep autumn: dark and elegant

The deep autumn color palette is characterized by colors that are darker, rich, and warm - tones such as olive greens, sophisticated burgundies, and deep, dusky oranges.

Deep autumn seasons are lucky that the versatile dark neutrals such as chocolate browns, navy, and even black (borrowed from the deep winter palette) will look very harmonious on them.

The deep autumn season falls between warm autumn (warm and muted) and deep winter (dark and cool), blending the warm, cozy colors of warm autumn with the sophisticated, mysterious colors of deep winter. Overall, deep autumn colors are reminiscent of the rich and earthy tones found in the heart of a dense forest during the peak of fall.

Deep autumn color palette

Deep autumn colors

Soft autumn: gentle and sophisticated

The soft autumn color palette consists of colors that are muted, low contrast, and warm - think of dusky mauves, soft grays, and sage greens.

Overall, the palette evokes the subtle, delicate changes that autumn brings, such as golden hour sunlight on fading blooms and the softening of vibrant summer hues.

The soft autumn season falls between warm autumn (warm and muted) and soft summer (muted and cool) - although the colors are not as vibrant as the warm autumn palette, borrowing from the more mellow shades of soft summer.

Soft autumn color palette

Soft autumn colors