Orange and black have long been the traditional colors of Halloween. With roots in harvest festivals, the orange color of vegetables and turned leaves is a perfect fit for the holiday. Black comes into play with the spooky elements and the tradition of trick-or-treating at night.
In recent years, other colors have made their way into Halloween décor. For example, purple has long been a highlight color, but over the last ten years or so has really moved into the forefront of the color scheme.
The Addition of Purple: Purple signifies witchcraft and mysticism. These days you probably see lots of broomstick riding witches silhouetted against purple just as much as you see them against orange. Another spooky benefit of the color purple: purple strands of twinkle lights can definitely increase the creepy factor of Halloween displays.
Green Screams: Green has popped up more and more as well. Green is symbolic of monsters. As zombie popularity continues, we may see more and more green. Plus, who can forget the green skin of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz? Green witches have long been a staple of Halloween, and now they have buddies in the form of zombies, mummies, Frankenstein’s creatures and more!
Seeing Red: Green has also brought red with it. But don’t mistake this green and red combo for other well-loved holidays. The Halloween palette includes monster green and blood red! Red has long been associated with vampires and now has strong ties to zombies as well. You may not see the color red in decorations hung around homes, but you will definitely see it on plenty of costumes!
White is another color typically used for ghosts, mummies and all kinds of other Ghouls. What’s more, white is a great highlight color, and helps make the other darker Halloween shades stand out.
What’s your favorite Halloween color? Which palettes and shades do you love using in your home’s decor?