Aesthetic Hex Color Codes (Pastels, Neutrals & More)

Some days I just want my notes, planners, and designs to feel a little more “put together” without doing the most—and that’s exactly when a good set of hex color codes saves me. I keep a running list of colors I’ve collected from inspiration searches (mostly Pinterest-style mood boards and general color references), then I reuse them across GoodNotes, digital planning, and even quick design mockups. It’s such a small detail, but it makes everything look intentional. ✨

Below is a curated mix of soft pastels, muted neutrals, cozy browns, and a few brighter “pop” shades—plus super practical ways to use them in GoodNotes and Google Calendar. I’m not just dumping a list; I’m grouping them so it’s easier to build palettes that actually work together.

1) My “Instant Sunshine” Pastels (happy, soft, and super usable)

These are the kind of colors that make a page feel warm and friendly right away. I love them for headers, sticky-note style callouts, and little doodles in the margins.

Sunny + Sweet set

Code: #FFEC59
Code: #FF9CB5
Code: #FFCD73
Code: #FFCD87
Code: #8CB5B5
Code: #ECBFB6

How I use them:

#FFEC59 is my “highlight but not neon” yellow—perfect for emphasis without screaming.
#FF9CB5 is a soft pink that looks cute for titles or small icons.
#8CB5B5 is the calming balance color in this set; it’s great when the warm tones start to feel too sugary.

If you like the “cute but clean” aesthetic, try pairing one warm shade + one muted cool shade + one neutral pen color. That combo keeps pages readable and still aesthetic.

2) GoodNotes Pen Neutrals (the ones that make handwriting look expensive)

When I’m actually writing a lot (class notes, meeting notes, journaling), I don’t want super bright ink. I want soft, low-contrast colors that still show up clearly on white or cream paper templates.

Muted blush + lavender neutrals

#F3C5C7
#DAA6AA
#D5A2A1
#CEA2A3
#F8DAD8
#EAD4EB
#DDC3DE
#D3AFD5
#C8A6C8

Cool gray-blue study tones

#DDD3EB
#D2E3EA
#C1D3DD
#ACCAD4
#A7BBC6
#DEE8CD
#BCCDA9
#AEBF8B
#A1B68D
#EFF3DB

My favorite trick: use one color as your “main ink,” one as “secondary ink” (definitions, key points), and one as “tiny annotation ink.” It keeps the page structured without needing a million highlighters.

3) Pastel + Neutral “Planner Girl” Palette (soft but organized)

If you love digital planning, this kind of palette makes weekly spreads look dreamy while still functional. I like these for habit trackers, schedule blocks, and category labels.

Soft pastels + airy blues

#A7AADD
#7FA2DA
#A2D2FF
#CBE8FA
#7DC8DB
#6DC6F2
#52AFDB

Pink/coral accents

#FFAFCC
#F27996
#F06166
#ECA79A
#F4A77B
#E88290
#F3ABB6
#FFCAD4

Neutrals + grounded tones

#CDB4DB
#765F93
#737F89
#7E8C97
#AA7B6F
#80594E
#3B231A
#72AA91
#A3BD89
#F5EABC

When I want a “clean aesthetic” page, I’ll keep the writing in one muted tone (like #737F89), then use one accent (like #FFAFCC) for headings, and one cool tone (like #A2D2FF) for structure lines or boxes.

4) Cozy Brown Palettes (warm, modern, and honestly timeless)

Brown tones have been everywhere lately because they feel grounded and cozy without being boring. I use these when I want notes or designs to feel calm, minimal, and a little elevated—especially for branding-style layouts, mood boards, or neutral journal themes. 🤎

Mocha-style browns

#2E1D16
#8A684F
#5D473E
#A47864
#8A6E5D

Dark chocolate depth

#54392A
#30201F
#321B1D
#927C6C
#2E201E

Espresso notes

#3D2411
#2A190B
#695137
#403226

Maplewood warmth

#3A2212
#302622
#5B3A23

Hazelnut neutrals

#7D634D
#928274
#391807
#633C20

Toffee + sugar tones

#9D816C
#AE774C
#372716
#754D2E
#543734
#422314
#62493A
#D6B399

Roasted almond + cinnamon vibes

#AB9585
#947A66
#C4AC95
#745D4E
#493629
#945C4A
#623020
#3D1F18

How I build a brown palette that doesn’t look flat:

Pick one deep shade (like #30201F) for text or outlines, one mid-tone (like #8A684F) for headers, and one light warm neutral (like #C4AC95 or #D6B399) for backgrounds or highlight blocks. That contrast is what makes it feel “designed.”

5) Ready-Made “Cute Set” Palettes (pen colors + highlighters)

These are the kinds of palettes I like to import into a notebook page so I can use the eyedropper tool (if available) or just manually type in the hex codes. They’re balanced: warm shades, cool shades, and neutrals all in one place.

Soft rainbow with neutrals

#EE7EA0
#FFA9BA
#FFD7D6
#EA7D70
#F69F95
#FFCC80
#FFAF6E
#FFE2A6
#BCC07B
#DBE098
#7D8BE0
#B5BEF5
#ABCDDE
#D5EDF8
#D5E2D3
#9A81B0
#CDBDEB
#8E715B
#C9A98D
#E5DACA
#000000
#4F3F3E
#B19F9A
#E1CFCA
#F1ECEA

Extra pink-forward set (great for journaling themes)

#FFA7AD
#FFAEC7
#FFCBDB
#FFDCE7
#FFF7F8
#FFBDBD
#FFDDDD
#FEE9E9
#F2704E
#FFC8B9
#C09480
#EAC2BC
#FAA390
#735554
#BC928F
#E9ADCD
#FADFEE
#FED677
#FEDAA2
#D3C356
#E9DF74
#F6EFA6

Little workflow tip: I like using the darker neutrals (#4F3F3E or #735554) as my main writing ink, then using the lighter pastels only for headings and highlights. It keeps everything readable.

6) Google Calendar Custom Hex Colors (quick steps + a starter neutral)

If you’re color-coding your schedule, custom hex colors make Google Calendar look so much cleaner than the default bright set. I also find it easier to “read” my week when the colors are muted instead of neon.

How to change hex colors in Google Calendar

1) On the left side, find the calendar you want to edit under “My calendars.”
2) Click the three dots next to that calendar name.
3) Choose the option to add a custom color (usually a plus sign).
4) Paste your hex code into the “Hex” field and save.

Starter neutral that works with almost anything

#A49C97

I like neutrals like this for “personal” or “admin” calendars because they don’t visually fight with everything else. Then I’ll use one accent color (like #A2D2FF or #FFAFCC) for the calendar that needs attention.

7) Traditional Paint Hex Codes (for digital painting practice)

Sometimes I want my digital painting colors to feel more like real pigments. These hex codes are super handy as a starting point when building a palette in a drawing app. Even if you don’t paint, they’re great for bold accent colors in posters or study covers.

Classic paint-style picks

Ultramarine Blue: #021991
Cobalt Blue: #005DA2
Cerulean Blue: #086MB (note: some references write this differently; if it won’t paste, choose a close cerulean alternative)
Phthalo Green: #006E33
Permanent Green Light: #027F43
Yellow Ochre: #B18226
Indian Yellow: #DF7E22
Cadmium Orange: #D6390F
Cadmium Red Light: #C8152C
Alizarin Crimson: #9F1561
Paynes Grey: #21314A
Ivory Black: #131B1E

For a super simple “artist starter” combo: one deep blue, one warm yellow/ochre, one red, one green, and one near-black. It covers a lot without overwhelming your palette panel.

8) Aesthetic “Summer Note” Palettes (muted, airy, and easy to mix)

These sets are perfect when you want something seasonal but not overly bright. I love them for digital notes, templates, and soft UI-style layouts.

Dusty summer mix

#293742
#E2A5AB
#97929A
#ECCFCC
#D6AEAE
#F6F6F6
#FADCC4
#B3C6CA
#FDF1DB
#C7BFB4
#A75854
#F0F2F2
#F4F1E8
#E0E1DD
#D6C8AD
#CEC4BA
#AB9A90
#D3D588
#8C706C
#A09F4D