How to choose the right color for your web design?

choose the right color for your web design

I’m sure that one of the most problems with many websites is their color. choosing the right website color is so important. because it’s the way that you show your brand and your brand target to others.

I prepared some information to help you choose a better color based on your target market read this blog to the end if you want to choose a proper color for your website design.

What do colors mean?

I want to start from the general meaning of color cause choosing colors is more than a matter of personal preference. I’m sure we all once think about it why is that much important. I’m going to answer it

cause each color has a different meaning and can influence people in a particular way. Let’s have a look at the meanings that colors have and what emotions they can trigger.

Warm colors

you can use them to have an energetic effect on the visitor, but I recommend you mix them with cool and neutral colors for balance.

• Red—active, emotional, passionate, strength, love, intensity
• Pink—sweet, romantic, playful, warm, compassionate, soft
• Orange—warm, enthusiastic, successful, determined, friendly
• Yellow—youthful, lively, energetic, fresh, optimistic

Cool colors

you can use them if you want to have a calming effect on the viewers, and let me tell you a fact cool colors are the most common colors used on websites.

You may like: What Is Ui Ux Design?

but you had to pay attention to not overusing them cause they can have a cold and impersonal feel.

• Green—fresh, calm, relaxed, trusting, peaceful, hopeful, healing
• Blue—comfort, clarity, calm, trust, integrity, loyalty, reliability
• Purple—glamour, power, nostalgia, luxury, ambition, spiritual

Neutral colors

I recommend you to mix them with warm and cool colors and they are often used to tone down primary colors and provide balance in web design.

• Gray—respect, wisdom, patience, modernity, longevity, intelligent
• Black—powerful, bold, serious, elegant, luxurious, dramatic, formal
• Brown—friendships, earth, home, outdoors, credibility, simplicity, endurance

consider the cultural context:

for the first step, we had to care about other people, their feelings what they believe, etc.

and I know different colors have different meanings on an individual level, certain colors also have deep-rooted cultural significance. For instance, in Western cultures, red is an attention-grabbing color that signifies danger and urgency (think stop signs). However in some Eastern cultures, like China and India, red represents luck. As another example, black is the color of death and mourning in Western cultures. In some Eastern cultures, the analogous color is white.

so you had to care where your brand is working and where the brand target market is based, you may ask yourself why I have emphasized it. the reason is that you may not know but the colors which are used on the website could send a very different message.

I will talk about this more but let’s look at a question and a bit disguised about it together. let me ask you how you would understand what colors you should use or avoid for your brand.

So first we should think about the brand target market in a brand with a global target market we shouldn’t use a red pallet what? obvious cause ii has deep cultural significance.

but finally, I believe that you need a good and complete chart that gives you a better sense of how the colors you choose are perceived by viewers in various cultures.

 Red:

• Eastern: Worn by brides; happiness and prosperity
• Western: Excitement, danger, love, passion, stop, Christmas (with green), Valentine’s Day
• Astrology: Gemini
• Feng Shui: Yang, fire, good luck, money, respect, recognition, vitality
• Psychology: Stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate, increases blood pressure
• Roses: Love, respect; with yellow, gaiety, joviality
• Stained glass (Dante): Divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom
• Australian Aboriginals: Land, Earth
• Celtic: Death, afterlife
• China: Good luck, celebration, summoning
• Cherokees: Success, triumph, the East
• Hebrew: Sacrifice, sin
• India: Purity
• South Africa: Mourning
• Russia: Bolsheviks and Communism

pink:

• Psychology: Used as an appetite suppressant and muscle relaxant; soothing
• Roses: Gratitude and appreciation (deep pink) or admiration and sympathy (light pink)
• Korea: Trust
• Eastern: Marriage
• Western: Love, babies, (especially females), Valentine’s Day
• Feng Shui: Yin, love

Orange:

• Ireland: Religious (Protestants)
• Netherlands: House of Orange
• Western: with black, Halloween; creativity, autumn
• Astrology: Sagittarius
• Feng Shui: Yang, Earth, conversation, purpose, organization
• Psychology: Energy, appetite stimulant
• Roses: Enthusiasm, desire

Gold:

• Eastern: Wealth, strength
• Western: Wealth
• Astrology: Leo
• Feng Shui: Yang, metal, God-consciousness
• Stained glass (Dante): The sun, the goodness of God, treasure in heaven, spiritual achievement, the good life

Yellow:

• Psychology: Energizes, relieves depression, improves memory, stimulates appetite
• Roses: Sociability, friendship, joy, gladness; with yellow, gaiety, joviality
• Stained glass (Dante): The sun, the goodness of God, treasure in heaven, spiritual achievement, the good life
• Japan: Courage
• Navajo: Doko’oosliid — abalone shell mountain
• Eastern: Proof against evil, for the dead, sacred, imperial
• Western: Hope, hazards, coward, weakness, taxis
• Astrology: Taurus
• Feng Shui: Yang, Earth, auspicious, sunbeams, warmth, motion
• Apache: East, where the sun rises
• Cherokee: Trouble, strife
• China: Nourishing, royalty
• Egypt: Mourning
• India: Merchants

Green:

• Western: Spring, new birth, go, money, Saint Patrick’s Day, Christmas (with red)
• Astrology: Cancer (bright green)
• Feng Shui: Yin, wood, growing energy, nurturing, balancing, healing, health, calming
• Psychology: Soothing, relaxing mentally and physically; helps with depression, anxiety, and nervousness
• Stained glass (Dante): Hope, happiness, gaiety, springtime, youth, good humor, and fun; victory over ignorance
• Apache: South
• China: Exorcism; green hats imply a man’s wife is cheating on him
• India: Islam
• Ireland: Patriotism, Catholicism
• Islam: Perfect faith
• Japan: Life
• Eastern: Eternity, family, health, prosperity, peace

Blue:

• Western: Depression, sadness, conservative, corporate, “something blue” bridal tradition
• Astrology: Capricorn and Aquarius
• Feng Shui: Yin, water, calm, love, healing, relaxing, peace, trust, adventure, exploration
• Psychology: Calming; lowers blood pressure, decreases respiration
• Stained glass (Dante): Wisdom of God, the light of heaven, meditation, enduring loyalty, and eternity.
• Cherokees: Defeat, trouble, the North
• China: Immortality
• Iran: Heaven, spirituality, mourning
• Navajo: Tsoodzil (turquoise mountain)
• Eastern: Wealth, self-cultivation

Purple:

• Western: Royalty
• Astrology: Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces
• Feng Shui: Yin, spiritual awareness, physical and mental healing
• Stained glass (Dante): Justice, royalty, suffering, mystery; With white, humility, and purity
• Thailand: Mourning, widows
• Eastern: Wealth

Violet:

• Astrology: Virgo, Libra
• Psychology: Suppresses appetite; peaceful environment, good for migraines

White:

• Japan: White carnation symbolizes death
• Navajo: Tsisnaasjini’—dawn, white shell mountain
• Eastern: Funerals, helpful people, children, marriage, mourning, peace, travel
• Western: Brides, angels, good guys, hospitals, doctors, peace (white dove)
• Astrology: Aries, Pisces
• Feng Shui: Yang, metal, death, mourning, spirits, ghosts, poise, confidence
• Roses: Reverence, humility
• Stained glass (Dante): Serenity, peace, purity, joy, faith, innocence
• Apache: North— the source of snow
• Cherokee: Peace, happiness, the South
• China: Death, mourning
• India: Unhappiness

Black:

• Thailand: Bad luck, unhappiness, evil
• Eastern: Career, evil, knowledge, mourning, penance
• Western: Funerals, death, Halloween (with orange), bad guys, rebellion
• Feng Shui: Yin, water, money, income, career success, emotional protection, power, stability, bruises, evil
• Psychology: self-confidence, strength, power
• Apache: West, where the sun sets
• Australian Aboriginals: Color of the people
• Cherokee: Problems, death, the West
• China: Young boys
• Navajo: Dibé Nitsaa—obsidian mountain

Gray:

• Western: Boring, dull, plain, sad
• Feng Shui: Yin, metal, dead, dull, indefinite
• Eastern: Helpers, travel

Brown:

• Western: Wholesome, earthy, dependable, steadfast, health
• Astrology: Capricorn, Scorpio
• Feng Shui: Yang, Earth, industry, groundedness
• Australian Aboriginals: The land
• Cherokee: Good

2. Understand color theory

surly you had to know a lot about color theory but if consider it as a start I prepared a piece of information for you. there are 3 categories of color theory that are logical and useful: The color wheel, color harmony, and the context of how colors are used.

The color wheel

the color wheel is a way to learn the basics of color theory. but here I’m using a color wheel to examine primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

Primary colors:

The three primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. When combined, primary colors form secondary colors.

Secondary colors:

The secondary colors are purple (red + blue), green (blue + yellow), and orange (red + yellow). Combining secondary colors with primary colors creates tertiary colors.

You may like: Best Tools For UI/UX Design

Tertiary colors:

The tertiary colors are combinations of primary and secondary colors (i.e. red-purple, yellow-orange, blue-green, etc.)

Tints, shades, and tones:

Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors are considered pure colors. They are saturated, vivid, and cheerful. Tints are the addition of white to pure colors. This creates lighter, less intense colors. Shades are created with the addition of black to pure colors. Finally, adding black and white to pure colors creates tones. Tones are more subdued than pure colors.

Using contrast

using contrast is also a color theory that we are going to work on it. The higher the contrast, the more two colors stand out from one another.

for using color contrast we had to care about the color and tone( don’t forget that color tones are so important)Two different colors with an even tone don’t create high contrast.

• Make sure to use a contrast checker!
• Contrast is a big part of accessibility

when we are designing the website we need greater legibility so we want to use colors with high contrast.

Use color psychology to communicate brand messaging and values

The psychology of color as it relates to persuasion is one of the most interesting — and most controversial — aspects of marketing.

What is color psychology?

Color psychology is the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors. In marketing and branding, color psychology is focused on how colors impact consumers’ impressions of a brand and whether or not they persuade consumers to consider specific brands or make a purchase.

4. Create a color palette

now you have lots of information about color theory so it’s time for you to create your own color theory. the brand’s primary color is the first color that you choose. Not to be confused with primary colors in the color wheel, in this case, “primary color” refers to the main color in a palette.

Color palette types

I’m gonna tell about five color types that are the main types: analogous, monochromatic, triad, complementary, and split complementary.

you can use them to design your website

Monochromatic

Monochromatic color refers to a color scheme that is comprised of variations of one color. You can use any color to create a monochromatic color scheme. For example, adding white to red creates pink, adding black to red creates maroon, etc. Then, you could have a monochromatic color scheme of pink, red, and maroon.

Analogous

there are some colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. they fit together and look nice.

Triad

A triadic color scheme is comprised of three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. The two most basic triadic palettes are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow, and the secondary hues are orange, purple, and green. this color plate is risky for designing websites cause it can appear noisy.

Complementary

Examples of complementary color combinations are Red and green; yellow and purple; orange and blue; green and magenta. Complementary color combos tend to be bold, which is why sports teams often use this formula for their colors.

Split Complementary

A split complementary color scheme is simply another option for your complementary color palette. However, instead of having only two colors, there are now three. This always involves selecting a primary or base color and then searching opposite this color for two adjacent colors.

will give you full information about choosing the right color for your website. but my own main idea about how to choose the right color for your website is to work with a website design agency, they can help you a lot in the middle of the process.

finally, if you faced a problem while choosing the right color there is no need to worry my colleague in temis marketing will do their best to help you.

Ui UX design services

Our Ui UX design services help you improve your user’s experience and let them enjoy checking out your website or application. We help make your interfaces more user-friendly and efficient. UI/UX design services can also help you gather valuable feedback from customers to improve your product or service.