Indoor signs
Incorporating Earth Tones in your Signage Design
3/12/2025
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If you’re looking for signage design ideas that can blend sophistication with sustainability or can give your audience the impression that you’re on the cutting edge of what’s trending in design, consider earth tones!
But how exactly do you incorporate these shades into your marketing tactics while ensuring they remain effective and true to your own unique brand? Your expert team at Signs By Tomorrow is here to help guide you.
What are earth tones?
The term “earth tone” refers to colors often found in nature, such as shades of brown, green, beige, orange and blue. Think about the colors of clay-rich soil, lush forests and tranquil rivers. They’re often soft and understated but have a universal appeal incorporated into your graphic design.
The Pantone Color of the Year 2025 was revealed to be “Mocha Mousse,” a warm, medium shade of brown. Other popular choices from the larger Pantone Color Chart that fall into the realm of earth tones are “Desert Sage” or “Forest Biome,” but there are even more to be found that may work for you and your business.
Why are earth tones so impactful in design for your signs and graphics?
Especially indoors, they can set a calming, yet professional tone – while signaling a connection to nature, too. These are characteristics that are increasingly popular with today’s eco-conscious consumer base, so they’re absolutely worth considering including in your design!
How can I use earth tones in my signage?
There are several paths to incorporating earth tones in your graphic design and signage, both indoors and outside. Here’s a few you may want to consider:
- Have a balanced color palette: When working with earth tones (or any palette of colors otherwise), aim for a balanced selection that will complement and enhance your brand identity. A mix of warmer tones (such as terracotta orange or a sandy beige) alongside cooler ones (such as a sage green) often works well. You’ll obviously want to ensure that anything picked works within your larger brand standards and guidelines, but the Pantone Color Chart can serve as a valuable resource in how you can select these tones most effectively.
- Combine textures and materials: Earth tones naturally pair with more natural materials, such as wood and stone. In signage design, using these materials in your displays can mean picking wood paneling as the base for your logo, or wood and stone accents on a larger sign display. Combining natural colors with natural, tactile materials helps enhance your company’s connection to authenticity and sustainability, too.
- Consider seasonal trends: You more than likely have seasonal signage of some sort, especially if you’re operating a storefront or restaurant. Don’t be afraid to adapt that signage to include appropriate earth tones! For instance, warm tones like amber and certain browns work perfectly for autumn campaigns, while greens and blues are great for spring and summer promotions. This also helps keep your signage looking current and fresh, in addition to capturing trending color choices.
Using earth tones in your marketing and signage design can help your business make a statement. By making use of these natural color choices, you can help evoke a sense of warmth and eco-consciousness while still creating a modern, professional atmosphere at your workplace.
Interested in creating a statement at your company with earth tones? Signs By Tomorrow can help you with extensive sign design services that will meet your needs – no matter what they may be. Contact us today for a consultation!
