Color Combinations for Websites: Key Benefits and Tips

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”

– Wassily Kandinsky

A website color scheme is more than aesthetics. In order to understand the importance of color in web design, you must first notice the crucial role color plays all around you. Only then can you create a website color scheme that aligns with your brand’s image and values. Good color combinations for websites help create an impact and offer value to visitors. There are multiple tools that can help you create the best color combinations for websites.

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Before deciding on the final theme, play around with the color wheel and explore different color palettes. The perception of the website color scheme depends on the culture, upbringing, and experience of a person. There is no ideal color theme for websites; however, having a color scheme that aligns with your overall branding can increase brand recall, as well as leave a positive impression on the audience. Let’s discuss the importance of color in website design below.

Importance of Color In Web Design

Color sparks interest in the human mind expresses messages and generates certain emotions. Some colors tend to set a happy mood. Some create a warm feeling, while other colors evoke a sense of calm. Choosing the best color combination for websites is not about just picking colors that go well together: it is also about assessing how they will impact the reader.

Devising good color combinations for websites is like an art. Even though working with a website color scheme can be a complex process, it can make a huge difference to the user experience, and eventually help in conversions. A suitable color theme creates consumer trust and helps bond with the audience. Here are a few factors illustrating the importance of color in web design.

1. Increased brand recognition

As per a study by the Loyola University of Chicago, a color theme for websites helps increase brand recognition by up to 80%. Color branding is the term used to build an image for a company by simply using the right colors. A great example of this is the color consistency on Coca-Cola’s website. With red as the brand color, there are hints of white used strategically throughout the website.

2. Important elements stand out

Color is often used to draw attention to or highlight specific elements like buttons, sections, important text, and offers. An example is Acorns’ (a financial services firm) green CTA button, contrasting nicely with white, making it noticeable on the page.

3. It influences the consumer’s psyche

As per a study titled The Impact of Color in Marketing, the human mind usually makes a subconscious perception of a product based on color alone. Thus, the right color combinations can significantly impact users’ first impression of the brand. The use of apt colors also solidifies people’s trust in the brand.

6 Tips for Choosing a Website Color Scheme

As the color theme for websites plays an integral role when it comes to website design, below are a few important tips to create a stunning color combination for websites.

1. Know about color associations

We develop color associations as infants, and they stay for life. These associations are often subconscious and are fairly universal. For example, green is associated with nature, and yellow is associated with the sun. Sometimes, colors may be perceived differently by different people. Therefore, choosing a color combination that is largely relatable is important, especially for global brands.

2. Understand color theory

The science of how colors work is known as color theory. To create good color combinations for websites, you need a clear understanding of the primary (red, yellow, and blue), secondary (achieved by mixing two primary colors), and tertiary colors (made by mixing a secondary color along with a primary color). Colors are also divided into warm and cool colors. Examples of warm colors are reds, oranges, and yellows, while cool colors are blues, greens, and violets.

3. Know which combination to use

If you have an understanding of how colors work together, you can modify the color combination for websites to suit your needs. The six main color combination types are as follows:

● Complementary: using colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel

● Split complementary: including a base color and two colors adjacent to the base color

● Triadic: three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel

● Tetradic: four colors arranged into two complementary pairs

● Analogous” three colors that are next to each other

● Monochromatic: variations of the same color, using different shades or tones

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4. Keep it simple

While selecting a website color scheme, remember that simple themes make a huge impact. Some of the best color combinations for websites are effortlessly tied together in a simple color scheme. A complicated or busy color scheme may confuse the audience.

5. Use contrasts

Using contrasting colors can help make your brand stand out. Contrast draws greater attention. This is especially beneficial if you want users to notice certain elements, such as the CTA.

6. Integrate it with your branding

Many times, people associate your brand value with the website color scheme you’ve chosen. Your brand logo may already have certain colors. Using the existing color theme for websites helps strengthen the brand identity. If you’re not sure how to go about this, you can hire a professional design service.

In the article above, we have spoken about how a website color scheme increases brand recognition, influences people’s thoughts, and also highlights important elements on the website.

There is nothing called the perfect color scheme. Even though colors represent an essential element in a website, it is a personal choice. Just as the colors we wear represent our personality, color combinations for websites represent the brand identity. Color themes for websites should influence people’s behavior and make them interact with your brand.

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