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When creating a website, every web designer must select colors wisely as they play an important role in users’ perception. Well-picked colors are able to prompt visitors to purchase a product or service from a website or make them leave for good.
Despite the apparent easiness, color selection in web design is a complex and time-consuming process that requires knowledge and experience.
Color selection principles in web design
Research shows that a certain color can affect people and trigger specific emotions. That said, if the chosen color scheme of the website is not eye-catchy and doesn’t engage users, it is more than likely they will bounce off the website.
It’s not a secret that to avoid unpleasant pitfalls, any web designer can find a go-to solution on the Internet in a few clicks as many websites offer ready-made templates tailored to a specific task. But professional web design studio Direct Line Development would like to share some useful tips on how to properly select colors for your next web design project by yourself effectively.
Use natural colors
Natural colors make a difference! Use soft colors to make it easy on users’ eyes to browse your website.
Use contrasting colors
Using contrasting colors is the best way to bring what you want your visitors to see to the fore on a website. Whether it be an article or product, a contrasting background is a great solution to make information jump out at users and promote products.
Use 3 key colors maximum
Websites are sources of information and the main goal of a professional designer is to highlight the needed information and drive users’ attention to other key elements on the site. The simplicity and minimalism are time-proven tools that work well.
Focus on your target audience
Knowing who is your target audience is essential as it determines what color scheme to choose and how to make web design. Keep in mind when designing a website that it is for users. If you create cartoons for kids, use bright and vivid colors or if it is web design for a law firm, use solid colors that represent trustworthiness and authority.
Color meaning
It’s known that different colors are associated with specific emotions and people can be affected by a certain color. It can be useful to know and utilize this simple concept in your future web design works. Let’s take a look at some of the color meanings:
| Color | Emotion |
| Red | Besides passion, power and energy, it is also associated with aggression and danger. Be careful if you decide to use it. |
| Blue | Being associated with reliability, confidence, lightness and freedom, it also can be used to express sadness and depression. |
| Yellow | It is the color of optimism, happiness, joy and fun. |
| Green | It is the color of life, health, calmness and wealth. It is commonly used on nature-related websites. |
| Orange | As well as yellow, it is positive color that gives the sense warmth and energy. |
| Purple | Associated with wisdom, calm and elegance. It combines best with yellow and white. |
| White | Associated with purity, youth and freshness. It triggers positive emotions. |
| Black | It is a powerful and elegant color. It is used in web design to add individuality to website. |
Helpful web design tools for color selection
If you are short on time, you can use web design tools to ease and speed up the process of combining colors. Check out our top 3 below:
- Adobe Kuler is the most popular tool. It helps match colors. The beginners will appreciate the simplicity of use and user-friendly interface.
- COLOURLovers is a storage of ready-made color schemes for all tastes. Here you can easily create, edit or download color scheme patterns for your website.
- Colorjack is a good source that blends features of Adobe Kuler and COLOURLovers. You can create your own color schemes, edit or download patterns.
The Bottom Line
Color selection in web design is an essential step in website making process. Creating various color schemes can be fun but a website is a tool that has its functions. We at Direct Line Development always examine target audience and pay attention to behavioral factors during web design process. It allows us to create attractive, user-friendly and better-performing websites. When working with us, our clients can be sure that they get modern, adaptive web design and business tools.
