Celebrating National Colour Day: Merchandising Inspiration for Home & Gift Retailers

Today, on 22 October, we celebrate National Colour Day, a moment to appreciate the hues that bring personality and joy to everyday life. For home and gift retailers, it’s the perfect opportunity to craft merchandising stories that connect with shoppers. From window displays to seasonal collections, colour can inspire, engage, and even boost sales during the autumn season.

Why Colour Matters in Retail

Colour shapes mood, attention, and purchasing decisions. A well-chosen palette can transform a display, elevate a product, and increase brand recognition by up to 80%. Seasonal updates are a cost-effective way to refresh your space, making your store feel lively and inviting. Consider warm ochres and burnt oranges for seasonal homeware, or calming blues and muted greens for gifts that soothe and delight.

Creative Merchandising Ideas

Theme your product groupings by colour: “Autumn Harvest” oranges and golds for kitchenware, or “Serene Sanctuary” blues and neutrals for self-care gifts.

Engage your customers: run in-store polls or social media votes on favourite colour collections to spark interaction and gather trend insights.

Collaborate for impact: partner with local artists or designers to create bespoke displays or limited-edition packaging in trending shades.

Use colour psychology strategically: calming tones for relaxation ranges, energising greens for eco-friendly gifts, or deep reds for luxury items.

Spotlight on Colourful UK Brands

Independent UK home and gift brands lead the way in vibrant, colour-driven design—from statement ceramics to bold textiles. Highlighting these brands in your displays or social content adds authenticity and gives customers something unique to explore.

Expert View: Sarah Davies, Founder of Floella

“The impact colour has in our lives is huge, it can affect our mood and wellbeing so much so it's especially important how we use it in the Autumn/Winter months. Highlighting the classic autumn colour palettes with brighter lighter hues will lift your interior space and lift your mood.

Bright mustard yellow and sky blues and pinks sit really well against the earthy autumn colour palettes. Get your basic colour palette and add a pop of something to LIFT (add light) to the scheme.

I am certainly seeing more plums, purple and lilac coming through in my schemes ,which go great with yellows/greens and pinks.”

Sarah’s insight is a great guide for retailers looking to refresh visual merchandising this season. Consider weaving in lively pops, mustard yellow, sky blue, pinks, over classic earthy autumn tones for instant brightness and mood enhancement. Plums, purple, and lilac are emerging trends for AW25, pairing brilliantly with other autumn favourites.

Engaging Your Community

Invite shoppers to share their favourite colour moments, whether it’s a gift that transformed a space or a personal memory linked to a particular hue. Social campaigns, user-generated content, or in-store colour styling workshops are simple ways to create buzz and encourage footfall.

Final Thoughts

National Colour Day is a reminder of the emotional power colour holds, to inspire, connect, and lift the everyday. By using colour thoughtfully and drawing on expert advice, independent home and gift retailers can create experiences that linger long after the autumn leaves have fallen.