Fall 2025 Color Trends for Small Business: How to Use Autumn Colors in Your Marketing

A Small Business Guide from Amelia Print + Design

Fall is one of the most visually rich and emotionally resonant seasons of the year, especially here in small-town Virginia. As the leaves turn and the air cools, customers are drawn to colors that feel cozy, grounded, and nostalgic. For small businesses, it’s a perfect time to refresh your brand visuals with seasonal color palettes that capture the spirit of autumn while still aligning with your business identity.

In this post, we’re sharing our favorite fall color trends, complete with hex codes and smart, simple ways to use them in your marketing, whether you're printing new signage, creating custom packaging, or updating your social media graphics.

Why Seasonal Colors Matter in Small Business Marketing

Colors don’t just look pretty; they evoke emotion and action. Seasonal color trends tap into the mood of the moment and help your brand feel timely, relevant, and in tune with your community.

For local businesses, this can build stronger emotional connections with your customers and make your materials feel more thoughtful and intentional, without needing a full rebrand.

Fall 2025 Color Trends (+ HEX Codes)

Here are four trending autumn hues we love for 2025 and why they’re perfect for your next project:

1. Rust Orange

Hex: #C25B2A

Warm, earthy, and instantly cozy. Rust orange is a modern take on pumpkin spice tones that pairs well with neutrals or deep greens.

Use it for:

• Callout text or bold accents in flyers

• Seasonal stickers or product labels

• Event signage for fall festivals or fundraisers

2. Golden Wheat

Hex: #D6A75C

This soft, golden yellow brings brightness without being overpowering. It feels organic and inviting—a great choice for businesses that want a natural, homegrown vibe.

Use it for:

• Backgrounds for social media posts

• Hang tags or thank-you cards for handmade items

• Harvest-themed menus or flyers for cafes, markets, or food trucks

3. Deep Forest Green

Hex: #3C543C

Grounded and classic, this green provides balance and contrast to warmer fall tones. It’s ideal for giving your designs a bit of depth and polish.

Use it for:

• Business cards with a high-end feel

• Banners and booth backdrops

• Partnering with creams and beiges for a modern rustic look

4. Dusty Plum

Hex: #86627A

Unexpected and a little moody, this muted plum brings sophistication to autumn palettes. It’s a great alternative to the usual reds and browns.

Use it for:

• Invitations or postcards

• Feminine or boutique-style branding

• Seasonal promos for beauty, wellness, or gift-focused businesses

How to Use Fall Colors in Your Marketing Materials

You don’t need to overhaul your brand—just introduce these colors as accents or temporary themes for the season. Here's how small businesses can use fall color effectively:

Seasonal Promotions

Fall is a powerful time to market your business, people are settling into routines, planning ahead for the holidays, and actively looking for seasonal events, gift ideas, and special deals. By updating your marketing materials with autumn-inspired designs, you can ride this momentum and make your promotions feel timely, eye-catching, and intentional.

Think of it as giving your brand a seasonal wardrobe change. Even small visual tweaks—like incorporating warm fall colors or seasonal icons—can breathe new life into your marketing and help your message stand out.

Promotional Materials to Refresh:

• Flyers + Handouts: Swap out your usual color palette for a fall-inspired design using hues like Golden Wheat, Dusty Plum, or Rust Orange. Use these to promote fall sales, product launches, special hours, or upcoming appearances at festivals and pop-ups.

• Event Banners + Booth Signs: A fall-themed banner not only draws people in but also sets the tone for your display. Add cozy textures, leaves, or autumn motifs to match the season and attract foot traffic.

• Social Media Graphics: Update your templates with fall tones and seasonal messaging. Use Instagram carousels, countdowns, and animated stories to highlight limited-time offers, event dates, or new arrivals.

Example Promotions That Shine in Fall:

• A boutique could run a "Cozy Closet Refresh" sale with flyers and social posts using deep forest green and golden wheat accents.

• A bakery might promote seasonal specials (like pumpkin bread or apple butter) with rustic-style tags and Instagram stories in dusty plum tones.

• A local service business might offer “Fall Tune-Up” packages with printed postcards or digital ads styled with foliage and warm gradients.

Design Tip:

Use consistent fall elements—like a specific color combo, seasonal icons, or themed fonts—across both print and digital materials to build recognition. Customers are more likely to engage with your brand if they see the same message and visuals repeated across touchpoints.

Branded Packaging

Fall is one of the busiest—and coziest—shopping seasons of the year. Whether you’re shipping out online orders, prepping holiday gift sets, or wrapping purchases at a festival booth, seasonal packaging adds an extra layer of warmth and care that your customers will remember.

You don’t have to redesign everything from scratch—just adding a few autumn-inspired touches can transform your packaging from basic to beautiful.

Seasonal Elements to Try:

• Custom Fall Stickers: Seal tissue paper, add flair to boxes, or hand them out as freebies. Choose warm, earthy colors like Rust Orange or Dusty Plum and include your logo, a thank-you message, or seasonal graphics (like leaves, pies, or pumpkins).

• Belly Bands: Wrap kraft paper or colored bands around products like stationery sets, candles, or baked goods. Print your fall pattern or use a branded label to tie it all together.

• Hang Tags: Attach to jars, ornaments, or gift bundles with twine or ribbon. Include product info, care instructions, or a handwritten note for a personal touch. Try printing on textured paper for a rustic, handmade feel.

• Custom Tissue or Wrapping Paper: If you're ready to elevate your packaging game, consider printing a subtle fall pattern (maybe featuring your own Procreate art?) on tissue or wrapping paper in your seasonal color palette.

Who It’s Great For:

• Makers + Artisans: Seasonal touches can make your handmade goods feel even more thoughtful and giftable.

• Bakers + Food Vendors: A warm-toned label or tag can elevate a jar of jam, a box of cookies, or a bag of roasted nuts.

• Boutiques + Gift Shops: Add seasonal stickers to shopping bags, or wrap up fragile items with branded tissue for a professional presentation.

Why It Matters:

Thoughtful, seasonal packaging helps build brand recognition, creates a memorable customer experience, and encourages repeat business—especially during the holiday gift-buying season. It also gives customers something they're excited to share on social media (hello, free marketing!).

Signage + Storefront

Your storefront is often the first impression customers get of your business and fall is the perfect time to make it feel warm, welcoming, and seasonally on-brand.

Updating your signage with rich autumn hues like Rust Orange or Deep Forest Green can help draw the eye, signal that something fresh is happening, and invite customers to stop in. Even small changes can have a big impact!

Ideas to Try:

• Window Decals: Add vinyl lettering or seasonal illustrations (like leaves, pumpkins, or acorns) in coordinating fall tones. Perfect for announcing limited-time offers, hours, or events.

• Sandwich Boards: These sidewalk signs are ideal for small-town foot traffic. Use them to promote seasonal specials or featured products with fall-colored chalk or printed inserts.

• Pop-Up Banners: Great for booths at markets or festivals, banners designed with fall colors and themed graphics instantly create a cohesive and professional look.

• Hanging Signs or Porch Displays: If you’re operating out of a home-based studio or pickup porch (like our Pick-up Porch!), consider a wooden sign with painted or printed autumn colors that makes the space feel inviting and intentional.

Digital Presence

Your digital presence should echo the same seasonal warmth and professionalism as your printed materials. This helps create a consistent, cohesive brand experience for your audience—whether they’re walking past your booth at the festival or scrolling through your Instagram feed at home.

Fall is the perfect time to give your social and web presence a mini makeover. You don’t need to change your entire brand—just sprinkle in seasonal color elements and graphics that complement your current aesthetic.

Easy Ways to Refresh Your Online Look:

• Update Your Profile Picture + Cover Photo: Add a fall background, seasonal icon (like a leaf or pumpkin), or even a temporary filter overlay in Rust Orange or Golden Wheat.

• Instagram Templates: Design a batch of fall-themed templates for announcements, promotions, and customer shoutouts. Use your seasonal palette and fonts so everything looks intentional and branded.

• Stories + Highlights Covers: Swap out icons or colors for fall versions—think muted plums, cozy greens, or hand-drawn seasonal illustrations.

• Website Banners or Pop-Ups: Feature fall events, promotions, or ordering deadlines with a seasonal banner that matches your printed flyers or signage.

• Email Newsletters: Use headers and backgrounds that tie into your fall campaign colors. Bonus: match them with printed thank-you cards or discount inserts in your orders!

Real-Life Example:

If you're promoting a fall festival booth, use the same Dusty Plum + Rust Orange banner colors on both your event flyer and your social countdown posts. This creates a visual link that reinforces your presence, no matter where your customers see you.

Bonus Tip:

Add behind-the-scenes content showing how you're preparing for the season—new signage going up, product packaging updates, or even just cozy studio vibes. It helps humanize your brand and keeps your content engaging.

Final Tip: Keep It Cohesive

If your business already uses a defined color palette, choose one or two fall tones to complement your brand—not compete with it. Consistency is still key to recognition.

Ready to Add Fall Flair to Your Brand?

At Amelia Print + Design, we love helping small businesses show up beautifully—season after season. Whether you need custom postcards, promo signs, or a full seasonal refresh, we’re here to bring your ideas to life with color, creativity, + care.

Located right here in Amelia County.

Designed just for you.

Let’s get started: ameliaprintdesign@gmail.com