50+ Pastel Colors for the Modern Artist: Your Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for pastel color palettes, you’re in the right place. Pastel colors are enchanting, soft, and gentle and look gorgeous together. So, here are some of my favorite pastel color palettes with their hex codes. 

You can browse these pastel color schemes and see which appeals most to you!

I love using pastel colors in my artwork, my home, and anywhere else besides. These colors aren’t too dramatic or bold, but they create a great ambiance. 

So, check this list any time you need some inspiration for your next pastel color palette. These color combinations are tried and tested and look amazing together! 

What are Pastel Colors?

pastel color palette hex

Before we dive into the pastel color schemes I’ve chosen, let’s get clear on what pastel colors are. 

A simple definition is that a pastel color is a tint of another color. It’s not a unique color family, such as red, green, or blue. 

Instead, it’s a desaturated version of a color. For example, you can make pastel blue by adding white paint to your blue color. You’ll gradually desaturate the blue shade so it doesn’t look as vibrant and bright. 

While some muted colors can be pastels, not all pastels are muted. You can also get fresh and bright pastel shades. And while olive is a muted color, we wouldn’t consider it a pastel. 

Many artists like to use pastels to create calm, serene atmospheres. And because they are so tranquil and soft, pastels are also popular for interior design. 

Brands also use pastel colors if it suits their target audience. For example, jewelry and clothing brands often use pastel colors as they feel more feminine. 

12+ Pastel Color Palette with Hex Codes 

So, now you know all about pastel colors and how to use them. Let’s dive into the pastel color palettes I’ve curated for you!

Pretty Pink Pastel Color Palette

Pretty Pink Pastel Color Palette

Hex Codes:

  • Lavender: #957DAD
  • Thistle Pink: #E0BBe4
  • Candy Pink: #FEC8D8
  • Misty Rose: #FFDFD3

If you’re looking for a soft, feminine color scheme, this one ticks all the right boxes. It has a range of gentle pink and purple shades that creates a sweet color scheme. But if it’s too pink for you, keep browsing the other suggestions!

Spring Pastel Color Palette

Spring Pastel Color Palette

Hex Codes:

  • Pastel Pink: #FFC4C4
  • Periwinkle: #CBC7DD
  • Pale Orange: #FFDFBD
  • Palest Yellow: #F8FFEB

This color palette has all the fun and bright shades of springtime. But I’ve toned them down into the perfect pastel shades. So, it feels light, fresh, and whimsical, making it a great choice for a refreshing pastel color scheme. 

Bright Pastels

Bright Pastels hex codes

Hex Codes:

  • Pale Sea Blue: #BAEEE5
  • Lilac: #DFC5E8
  • Soft Yellow: #FFFAB0
  • Tea Green: #CBF2B8

This color scheme is made up of bright, fun colors in pastel shades. With green, yellow, purple, and blue pastels, it’s colorful and eye-catching. But I’ve carefully selected these shades to create a harmonious and light color palette. So, it’s ideal if you’re looking for bright pastel shades that work well together.

Candy Pastels

Candy Pastels hex code

Hex Codes: 

  • Baby Blue: #D6D8F2
  • Baby Pink: #F4CFDF
  • Soft Yellow: #FAF4B7

These sweet shades bring to mind candy floss with their soft pink, blue, and yellow colors. This color palette would be ideal for a baby’s nursery or preschool classroom. It will transport you back to your childhood (in all the right ways!). 

Earthy Natural Pastels

Earthy Natural Pastels palette hex codes

Hex Codes:

  • Light Brandy: #E7CBA9
  • Soft Sage: #CCD4BF
  • Ecru: #F5F3E7
  • Pastel Peach: #EEBAB2

If you want to channel earthy vibes, you won’t go wrong with these pastel shades. They thrive with all the goodness of the natural world but in gentle tones. These colors are straight out of a nature painting. And they would look gorgeous in a minimalist Japanese-style home.

Seaside Pastel Color Palette

Seaside Pastel Color Palette hex code

Hex Codes: 

  • Warm Sand: #E9DAC1
  • Light Turquoise: #CDFCF6
  • Sea Green: #54BAB90
  • Linen: #F7ECDE

So, you want to capture the colors of the ocean. But you also want it to feel fresh and light – no deep, stormy colors to throw off the mood? Then, this pastel color palette inspired by the seaside is just what you need! 

Muted Pastels

Muted Pastels hex codes

Hex Codes:

  • Muted Blue: #7882A4
  • Warm Brown: #C0A080
  • Light Gray: #EFEFEF
  • Medium Gray: #D1D1D1

You might prefer a muted color palette if you’re not into bright colors. In that case, these neutral tones tick the box. It’s simple and minimalist, with a muted mid-blue to add some interest. 

Perfect Purples

Perfect Purples

Hex Codes:

  • Deep Aubergine: #645CAA
  • Medium Purple: #A084CA
  • Lavender: #BFACE0
  • Pale Purple-Pink: #EBC7E8

Purple is a rich color that conveys mystery, power, and luxury. But pastel shades of purple can look just as attractive! This color palette uses a variety of purple shades that work well together. The pastel shades are light and frivolous, with one darker purple to provide contrast.

Orange Pastel Color Palette

Orange Pastel Color Palette

Hex Codes:

  • Warm Sun: #D37F40
  • Sea Blue: #94C0D0
  • Pale Coral: #ECCBC0
  • Soft Orange: #FAC590

Orange is a color that can be bold and bright, but it works just as well as a pastel shade. This vibrant color palette is rich, despite using pastel colors. With warm oranges and a contrasting blue, it’s sure to add some color to your life! 

Strawberries and Cream Color Palette

Strawberries and Cream Color Palette

Hex Codes:

  • Warm Pink: #EF7C8E
  • Rose Pink: #D8A7B1
  • Cream: #FAE8EO
  • Mint Green: #B6E2D3

You can’t go wrong with this fresh and juicy summertime treat. But the next best thing is this gorgeous color palette using pastel pinks and cream shades. The soft green adds the final touch to this lively color scheme. It’s perfect for freshening up any space! 

Cool Pastel Color Palette

Cool Pastel Color Palette

Hex Codes:

  • Pale Sea Blue: #D6EFED
  • Sky Blue: #B7D3DF
  • Medium Lilac: #C9BBCF
  • Muted Purple: #898AA6

This color scheme uses beautiful shades from the cool side of the color wheel. These colors are calming and tranquil, complementing each other. They would look perfect in a bedroom to create a relaxing vibe. But they work just as well in branding, artwork, or anywhere else you can imagine. 

Berry Tones

Berry Tones

Hex Codes:

  • Warm Berry: #85586F
  • Soft Raspberry: #AC7D88
  • Pale Orange: #DEB6AB
  • Soft Yellow: #F8ECD1

This warm and rich color palette uses pastel shades in berry tones. From a deep berry purple to paler pastel shades, you could use this color scheme to great effect! These colors will also come in handy if you want to create an autumnal scene. The warm fall tones hit just the right notes. 

Eclectic Pastel Palette

Eclectic Pastel Palette

Hex Codes:

  • Slate Blue: #698396
  • Medium Green: #A9C8C0
  • Warm Yellow: #DBBC8E
  • Rich Blush Pink: #AE8A8C

You can throw different colors together, but that doesn’t mean they’ll work well together. Unlike this fun and eclectic pastel color palette! I’ve carefully chosen these shades to complement each other. So, even though they’re (almost) every color of the rainbow, they look amazing together! 

Spring Morning

Spring Morning

Hex Codes:

  • Sunny Yellow: #F5F0BB
  • Spring Green: #C4DFAA
  • Medium Green: #90C8AC
  • Dark Turquoise: #73A9AD

Capturing the early morning sunshine on spring buds, this color palette oozes freshness! It’s vivid and full of life, making it the perfect choice for your artwork. You can also use this spring-inspired color palette for branding or interior design. 

pastel color palette with hex codes

The Wrap Up

So, there you have a range of pastel color palettes to spark your imagination. From whimsical sweetshop vibes to earthy shades, there’s something for everyone here. 

Let me know which of these color palettes is your favorite in the comments below! Feel free to share how or where you plan to use your chosen color scheme, too. I’d love to know! 


And follow Proactive Creative on Pinterest for more colorful and creative tips, guides, and inspiration! 

Author

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.


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