Color Palettes

Retro color palettes

Retro copies the colors of a specific decade: the pastels of the '50s, the oranges and browns of the '70s, or the bright colors of the '80s and '90s. These 12 palettes are sorted by style so you can pick the era that best fits your project.

'70s: Orange and Brown

The palette of '70s furniture and wallpaper.

'50s: Turquoise and Pink

Diner, rockabilly and ice cream parlor style.

'80s: Memphis

Geometric shapes and playful colors.

'90s: Vaporwave

The digital look of the early internet.

'60s: Psychedelic

For music and festival posters.

'70s Rainbow

Color stripes, typical of retro T-shirts.

'50s Kitchen

Pastel appliances and tiles.

Classic Video Game

8-bit colors for pixel art.

Avocado and Mustard

'70s kitchen and bathroom tones.

Polaroid

Warm colors with a yellow cast, like old photos.

Disco

Gold and violet for themed parties.

Retro Surf

Surfboards, VW vans and '60s summers.

Tap a color to copy its hex code. The pencil icon opens the palette in the editor so you can change it.

Pick a decade

Retro isn't one style. Decide whether you want the '50s, '70s or '80s and stick with those colors; mixing eras tends to confuse.

Try color stripes

Horizontal or curved stripes in 3 to 5 colors are an instantly recognizable retro device. They work on logos, T-shirts and website headers.

Add grain or texture

A bit of noise or paper texture makes flat colors look like they were printed in another era.

Colors in these palettes

ChampagnePastel orangeLinenSeafoam greenVermilionJet blackWhiteAmethystNeon pinkUltra violetAntique whiteCrimsonSunflower yellowCharcoal grayBlue blackCanary yellow

Frequently asked questions

What colors are retro?

It depends on the decade: turquoise and pink in the '50s; orange, mustard and brown in the '70s; and hot pink, cyan and yellow in the '80s.

Are retro and vintage the same?

Not exactly. Vintage is something old, or that looks old because it's worn. Retro is something new that copies the style of a past era.

More palettes: Styles

Keep exploring