Before you know it, Christmas will be here, and we’re already deep into the planning phase here at Papersmiths. While we prep our festive displays and wrap up our winter stationery collections, certain stationery design trends are beginning to shine through, and we’re really into what’s emerging.
Colour Design Trends for Winter 2025
We’re continuing to see a shift in seasonal colour palettes for 2025 and into 2026. Red is going brighter again, with warm orange undertones appearing across paper goods and pen designs. Mocha Mousse, already tipped as a colour of the year in January, is anchoring palettes with that cosy, earthy mood we love. These grounding tones are now being offset with more vibrant pops: juicy reds, electric purples and even orange. Colour is having a bit of a moment, and we’re here for it.
Mixing Styles: Soft Meets Sporty, Play with Contrast
Just like in fashion where we’re seeing blouses paired with tracksuits and boots worn with floaty skirts, we’re noticing that stationery is playing with contrast too. Think muted linen notebooks paired with zingy, bold pens. It’s the unexpected combinations that are creating the most joyful desk aesthetics.
Continued Gen Z Nostalgia Revival
The Y2K revival continues, leaning further into the early 2010s. Expect a resurgence of skinny jeans, stripes, skulls, and bold disc belts. We’re seeing this reflected in stationery through playful patterns, layered textures, and bold graphic details. It’s bringing back the joy of self-expression and personalisation.
Burgundy as the New Neutral
Burgundy has evolved. Once a power colour, it’s now grounding itself as a go-to neutral. It’s becoming the anchor shade in many of our stationery pairings. Try teaming a Mulberry planner with a bright pink pencil case and a soft, dusty pink pen set for a tonal, yet offbeat look. It’s all about playing with palettes that surprise you. The less predictable, the better.
Peachy, Playful Pinks
We’re calling it now, peaches are going to be big. Think of it as the grown-up cousin of millennial pink. Pair it with cream, off-white and a cool, pale yellow. This delicate palette brings an elegant softness while still feeling fresh.
Raw Materials and Handmade Aesthetics
We’re also leaning further into raw, sustainable materials. Think frayed fabrics, misshapen metal, linen covers with rough edges, and imperfect stitching. It’s a deliberate return to the human touch. In a world increasingly filtered and digitised, these tactile, handmade details offer something beautifully grounding.
Floral Pathway: From Grandmas House to Her Garden
One trend we’re watching closely is the floral pathway. We touched on the Grandmas Attic trend and the glasshouse garden themes in our 2025 stationery trend roundup earlier in the year in February. However, it’s adapted and blooming again for winter, this time stepping out of the house into the garden with a twist. Picture oversized floral outlines, printed in bold jewel tones on linen backgrounds. Think doilies on garden tables, poppies in bloom, and Victorian greenhouses brought to life on your desktop. A lace revival continues with this theme too, channelling outdoor tea parties and English garden charm.
Jewel Tones and Metallics
This Christmas, we’re expecting to see more jewel tones like amethyst, emerald and ruby take centre stage. Shiny silvers, gold ribbons and molten metallics will be everywhere, from notebook covers to wrapping paper and wrapping decor. Expect gift sets that shimmer a little more than usual this year. Our favourite way to play? A silver foiled notebook, sparkling pen and a handful of chunky metallic rings. Bejewelled and desk-ready.
DIY Bedazzling
And yes, on the theme of embellishments faux fur is also back. With the return of the 2000s, we won’t be shocked to see fluffy pens again too. But we’re also loving the idea of personalising your own notebook. Pick your favourite Papersmiths journal and decorate it with gemstones and trims. Write your name across the cover, or embellish it for someone you’re gifting. It’s tactile, thoughtful and totally trend-forward. Junk journaling and being you is the new trend we're loving the most right now. So bedazzle the cover of your notebooks and planners like you're the main character of a early 2000's flick.
Chocolate Browns Are Still Going Strong
Don’t worry, neutral lovers, brown is not going anywhere. It’s evolving with undertones of chocolate, caramel and chestnut - pairing beautifully with the floral tones and handmade textures we mentioned above. It’s grounding, rich, and easy to pair with everything. A nod to nostalgia with modern silhouettes.
Brights for the Holidays
Finally, Christmas 2025 is all about joy. Traditional reds and greens are being reimagined in punchier tones. Think reddish-pinks, glowing oranges and glitzy metallic finishes. They bring that feeling of celebration and cheer, a sparkly antidote to the greyest months of the year.
In short, it’s shaping up to be a winter full of play, personality and colour. And we are ready for it. We can't wait to see how brands shape their collections for Winter in 2025 and we'll see you with more updates for 2026 very soon!
