Back to School Colors: Best Combinations for Fun & Creativity
Do you feel that subtle vibration in the air? That anticipation and excitement, with a few healthy nerves tossed into the mix? Say hello to that familiar back-to-school energy that rides in on the heels of a long summer vacation! It’s our favorite time for a mid-year refresh, fueled by the joy of fresh school supplies, the latest styles, and plenty of team spirit! And one of our favorite ways to express ourselves amidst the flurry of excitement? Color.
Back-to-school colors are more than just the standard duo found in every booster club closet—they’re a way to bring calm to the classroom, motivation to moody middle grades, inspiration to the artsy crowd, and more. But color also extends beyond classroom decor. We’re thinking encouraging handmade cards, scrapbook layouts celebrating this precious moment in time, and other DIY back-to-school crafts.
Find out how these irresistible back-to-school color combos can energize and inspire whatever project you’re working on this school year!
Top Color Combos for Back-to-School Crafts & Decorations
Some of our favorite combinations for back-to-school colors are pretty classic, while others will probably surprise you! We love the textbook (pun intended) concept of splashing your school spirit around the classroom and other back-to-school crafts, but we’re also big on keeping things fresh and innovative, which brings another type of fun and energy to your projects.
Check out these classic primary palettes, color combos for the trendy classroom, and school-spirit inspired color schemes from the paper crafting pros at Stampin’ Up!
Classic Primary Palettes
These classic primary color combos evoke the quintessential elementary school nostalgia we all associate with being a kid. They’re timeless yet energetic and supremely recognizable.
First up, the absolute OG primary colors—red, yellow, and blue, with a little support from black and white, of course. Truly, what can’t you accomplish in a grade school classroom with these standard hues that bring to mind ruby red apples for the teacher, bright yellow school buses, and brand new notebooks? They’re perfect for grabbing attention on bulletin boards and making playful cards and memorabilia.
Next, why not take on the entire rainbow? Opening up a world of possibilities with the full ROYGBIV lineup, you’re primed for playful organization (hello, room stations!), easy learning, and plenty of light-hearted fun.
You might be surprised at what can be accomplished by going the opposite direction and losing one of the primary colors. Combining softer blues and yellows is a gentle welcome for younger kids, but also a sophisticated color palette perfect for graduation cards, regardless of school colors!
Here’s an idea that’s classic and packed with school spirit! Pull your school’s two main colors and let them shine on a foundation of black and white. This is such a good way to honor teachers who’ve dedicated so much to a particular school, craft spiritied post-grad thank you cards, or show where your loyalties lie with a classroom banner.
Trendy Classroom Colors
The modern classroom demands a different approach to back-to-school colors. Trendy classroom colors are often inspired by school-related items, but avoid hitting that on-the-nose execution. This idea is super fun when incorporated into memory-keeping, as it shows a bit more refined—albeit abstract—understanding of design, ripe with originality.
Be inspired by a clean sheet of notebook paper, waiting for all your brilliance to spill onto the page (or at least a silly note passed to a friend in the hall—IYKYK)! Why not host your back-to-school breakfast using this notebook paper-inspired color scheme? We’re thinking a crisp white and blue striped tablecloth, coral pink plates, and some sleek black utensils to pop off the proverbial page. Then add a themed banner and a first-day nametag at each place setting for the full effect!
While this option may seem a little peculiar, we’re thinking of many nursery and pre-k classrooms that may not have a mandated set of school colors. We love the softer vibes and inclusive color palette that works for all those who love to learn—in or outside the classroom!
DIY Back-to-School Crafts Using Fun Color Palettes
DIY back-to-school crafts are incredibly fun to experiment with when you’ve got your favorite color palette picked out! Try playing with plain and patterned papers, markers, ribbons, die cuts, stamps, ink, and more (all beautifully named and coordinated when you shop with Stampin’ Up!) when you make things like:
- Bookmarks
- Banners
- Gift boxes and tags
- Notebook covers
- Classroom signage
- Name placards
- Notice board encouragement
- Classroom decision dice
- Thank you cards
- Invitations
- Scrapbook layouts
Tips for Choosing the Right Color Combinations
Wondering how to choose the right color combination for your classroom or DIY back-to-school craft project? The good news is that there are no set rules, and you can let your creativity inspire you! But check out the helpful guidelines below if you’re looking for a few things to consider when creatively bringing these fun back-to-school color palettes to life!
- What’s the vibe? As we all know, color talks! So figure out what you want to say, and let the colors speak for themselves. Bright, energetic colors can read as celebratory, whereas pastels offer a sense of calm and inclusivity.
- Age can make a difference. What appeals to younger kids may not work as well for high schoolers. Play to your audience!
- Personalization over themes. While school spirit can be a powerful tool, a personal touch will always be appreciated. When in doubt, cater to the individual you’re crafting for.
- Take inspiration from the pros. There’s nothing wrong with seeing a great idea and rolling with it yourself. Find color combo inspiration from experts on Instagram and go from there!
Get Back to School in Full Color with Stampin’ Up!
Back to school is made even more fun with inspired color combinations used in creative ways throughout the classroom and beyond! Get crafting with these classic, trendy, and school-inspired palettes by shopping the best materials at Stampin’ Up! today!