In 2021, practically everyone has a website. Whether it’s a business page or personal blog, we each have an online persona, and this has a real influence on how the wider world sees us. Whatever your purpose in posting, your webpage should tick some fundamental boxes. It needs to be easy to navigate, professional, and pleasing to the eye, otherwise, no one is going to use it or peruse it. Let’s see how to choose the perfect colours for your website.
One aspect that influences visual appeal is the colour scheme you choose. We frequently underestimate the importance of colour, seeing it as a mere by-product of design, but it can have a marked effect on the way we perceive things and how we feel about them. That’s why you need to pick carefully when selecting your preferred palette online.
So, how do you choose the perfect colours for your website? Here’s a handy guide to help you.
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Table of Contents
Understanding the importance of colour
Take a look at your website – is it in need of a redesign? If it loads slowly, doesn’t look professional, or its content is outdated, the answer is most likely ‘yes’. This is the perfect opportunity to go back to basics and make it the best version of itself.
The ideal place to start with updating your image is to select a new colour scheme, but firstly, you need to understand what your preferred palette will say about you. This means doing your research and learning as much as you can about colour theory. Sometimes, this just means experimenting by changing your design in your design software program, and seeing what works.
This handy infographic by Truelist is a great tool to help you and contains some fascinating facts on how you can use the psychology of colours to boost website conversions. Used properly, this can trigger purchase behaviour and drive more sales, while making your website and its contents more appealing to your audience.
Choosing a primary colour
Once you’ve brushed up on colour theory, it’s time to get to work. You’ll need to start by choosing a primary colour. This is the most important part of the entire equation, so be sure to pick carefully!
Think about what you’re selling. This applies whether you’re a business page or blog – you still have something you want your readers to invest in. Let’s say you’re a financial services company. You need to seem trustworthy and reputable. Research suggests you’d be best going for blue, which conveys tranquillity and calm and is used by banks and businesses to communicate security.
If you were a prestige clothing brand or fashion blog, on the other hand, you might opt for black. The most popular choice for marketing luxury products signifies authority, power, and elegance. Brands that use it to market their products include Jaguar, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
Write down some buzzwords and then look at the research to see which colours best convey these all-important qualities.
Choosing additional colours
Next up, decide what colours you want to use alongside your primary choice. While colour psychology still comes into play here, you have an added complication: whatever you opt for must complement what you already have.
Start by researching colour complements. Every colour has one of these, and when used together, the two make each other pop. For example, red is much easier to see against a green background than blue, while blue really stands out when used alongside orange.
If you want to come up with something unique, don’t be afraid to experiment just remember readability is key. The last thing you want is for your text to fade into your background. An example of a site that does this well is Asiabet, which uses white with black and brown as secondary colours. This makes it seem simple, transparent, and professional – important qualities for an online review site. For example, the brown headings are used to separate the text, which advises players on safe deposit methods as well as casino guides. Beyond that, there is also information about the importance of reviews, which helps guide players to the best sites.
McDonald’s, on the other hand, uses red and yellow on its website. These are colours that exude vibrancy and joy. They make each other pop, helping to create a fun-loving persona and cheerful personality. They’re offset by a simple white background and black text to enhance readability and improve the user experience.
When it comes to choosing colours for your website, the most important thing is to think about the qualities you wish to convey. Keep your brand and online persona at the forefront of your mind throughout the design process, and you won’t go far wrong.
Isn’t it time your website had a redesign?
