Deep red, burnt orange and golden yellow: Why fall colors make us feel cozy — and how to make the most of them

Autumn has arrived, and we’re officially trading our bathing suits and tanks for sweaters and scarves. The season’s color palette is also shifting. Forget summer brights and spring pastels; autumn is all about warm, rich hues like burnt orange, golden yellow and maroon. According to color experts, these shades are basically the equivalent of a Pumpkin Spice Latte when it comes to helping us get into that fall mindset.

But what makes them so cozy? Here’s what you need to know about fall colors — including how to best incorporate them into your life.

Why we love autumn colors

Maria Killam, founder of Killam Colour Academy, tells Yahoo Life that “the trees put on a lavish display of yellow greens, golds, oranges and rusty reds,” which is one major reason why fall is associated with these colors. Yet it’s also about the emotions associated with the season that link our brains to these specific shades.

Jeannie Stith, the founder and CEO of Color Guru, tells Yahoo Life that autumn colors are deep, warm and muted. Psychologically, she says, these colors “create a feeling that is comforting, soothing and cozy.” Shades of reds, oranges and yellows, for example, are similar to what we see when we stare at a roaring fire, which soothes us and makes us feel relaxed, warm and grounded, Stith says.

Killam says that fall colors create “a calm yet abundant vibe,” due to its association with the colors of the harvest. Stith adds that we often associate the fall with “comforting” harvest-related traditions — like, say, Thanksgiving. Historically, she says, the purpose of such gatherings was to “make sure everybody has enough to eat, to get through the winter,” making these traditions and their associated colors “emotionally comforting” for many people.

How to incorporate fall colors into our life

Stith’s company, Color Guru, helps people find the colors they look best in, and those colors are divided into categories based on the seasons. People who fall into the autumn type, she says, have “hair, skin and eye color that are warm, deep and muted” as well, which is why fall colors make them pop. Celebrities Emma Watson, Julianne Moore and Eva Longoria each fall into different subcategories of autumn.

Here are some specific colors you can try:

• Deep red

• Olive green

• Maroon

• Burgundy

• Eggplant purple

• Amber

• Chestnut brown

• Burnt orange

• Golden yellow

Just because you don’t think you look your best wearing head-to-toe fall colors, however, doesn’t mean you can’t evoke the cozy vibes of the season in other ways. For example, you can always accessorize with autumn colors instead of basing your entire outfit around them. If you love the color burgundy, consider finding shoes, a handbag or even a wallet in the shade.

Stith also suggests using autumn colors in your home. “You can choose autumn or earthy colors for rooms that you want to feel especially soothing,” she says. Places like living rooms or dens, where you want to cozy up with a book and a cup of coffee, are ideal places to use these colors.

It’s important to consider the vibe of your spaces before you start throwing in lots of fall-friendly colors, she says. “We won't see autumn colors very typically in places like a home gym, for example, because you don't want a home gym to be super soothing,” Stith notes. Brighter and more contrasting colors will evoke the energizing feelings you want to experience while working out.

Want more of an autumn vibe in your home, but don’t want to go through the trouble of painting or getting new furniture? Killam recommends adding lamps into your home with “softening off-white shades and warm bulbs to create a flattering glow.”

Plus, you can also add accessories to your room, such as pillows, blankets, candles, vases or even holiday-themed decor to give a space a fall vibe.

“You can certainly change up your styling to reflect the season,” Killam says. “I always do!”