Vintage colors mimic the passing of time: slightly faded tones, as if bleached by the sun or printed on old paper. Here are 12 palettes with hex codes for brands, invitations, interiors and social media.
Mustard and Olive Green
A solid base for coffee shops, barbershops and handmade brands.
Dusty Pink
Works well for wedding invitations and romantic stationery.
1950s Postcard
Perfect for diner-style posters or a classic ice cream shop.
Aged Paper
Text backgrounds, menus and old-fashioned photo albums.
Bottle Green and Burgundy
Brings the feel of an old library or classic bar.
Faded Blue
For clothing, packaging or a website with a calm, nostalgic feel.
Terracotta and Cream
Warm and friendly; great for ceramics and home decor.
Antique Mint
Recalls 1950s appliances and retro kitchens.
Sepia Photograph
Monochrome and understated, perfect for portraits and portfolios.
Lavender and Plum
Delicate; suits flower shops and beauty products.
County Fair
High-contrast and cheerful, for posters and events.
English Tweed
Understated and elegant; useful for menswear and bookstores.
Tap a color to copy its hex code. The pencil icon opens the palette in the editor so you can change it.
Lower the saturation
The trick to a vintage look is toning colors down. Start with a bright shade and mix it with gray or beige until it looks muted. Avoid pure colors like #FF0000.
Use a cream background, not white
Pure white looks modern. A cream or ivory background (for example #F2E8CF) instantly feels like old paper and helps the other colors blend better.
Add textures and fonts
Color only does half the job. Add paper textures, worn edges and serif or typewriter fonts so the result really looks vintage.
The most typical are mustard, olive green, dusty pink, terracotta, faded blue, burgundy and cream. They all share low saturation and a warm undertone.
What's the difference between vintage and retro?
Vintage usually means muted, aged colors, like something that's actually old. Retro copies styles from past decades, often with brighter colors, like the oranges and browns of the '70s.