Which Colors Should You Use in Your Web Design?

Before selecting a color palette for your web design, consider the following facts.

1.   Color helps your brand stand out.

Your company brand probably has a logo. Most companies devote time and thought to a logo that is both catchy and has meaning. Logos help distinguish one company from another.

Colors do the exact same thing. Consider some well-known corporations such as Google, Pepsi, or Taco Bell. Your brain probably recalls their logos perfectly, but it also visualizes their colors. This is because companies repeatedly use the same colors in order to create brand recognition.

Think about your favorite sports teams. When you watch their game, what are the fans wearing? Usually, they wear their team’s colors. This is because people identify with color. One study by Forbes shows that color can increase brand recognition by up to 80%.

Depending on how your brain operates, you might recall color even before you recall a logo. Colors provide a simple, effective way to help your brand stand out.

2.   Color emphasizes your points.

Additionally, color provides emphasis. Brighter colors naturally draw the eye, while neutral colors stay in the background. It is generally best to use colors like white, black, and grey as background colors. Then, emphasize your points by putting them in brighter colors.

Be careful not to use too many colors, as too much “noise” prevents anything from standing out. After all, if you highlight an entire textbook, have you accomplished anything? A standard rule of thumb when designing a website is to use 3 main colors. These 3 colors should provide some contrast, but still complement each other. With these 3 colors, there should be 1 main color, a second color, and an accent color, all of which are complimentary to each other of course!

Consider referencing a color wheel for help determining which colors go together. Decide which colors help emphasize your website, and then implement them into your design. 

3.   Different colors carry different meanings.

Not only does color help create a recognizable brand, it also influences potential clients. The effects of color on the brain can be complicated, but it’s important. Different colors carry different meanings in the mind.

For example, if someone told you to think of cool colors, you would probably think of colors like blue, green, and purple. But if someone said to think of colors that made you feel warm, you’d think of yellow, orange, and red. Subconscious association ascribes different meanings to different colors.

You can use subconscious association to your benefit. A banking company might choose a color scheme full of blues because law enforcement wears blue. Likewise, many people associate the color white with cleanliness or purity, and this can help a brand appear professional and trustworthy. This is an example of subconscious association.

Understanding the effects that color has on the brain can be a key to effective web design. Afterall, you do want people to spend time on your website and get to know your brand.