Choosing a colour scheme for your website is an important decision, as this will greatly influence the overall look and feel, as well as user experience. In fact a KISSMetrics report showed that 93% of consumers place colour and appearance above other factors when making a buying decision.
Here we have compiled our top ten tips to help you choose a colour scheme that works for your website.
- Understand Your Brand
- Consider your Audience
- Contrast and Readability
- Use a Limited Palette
- Colour Psychology
- Check Trends
- Test on Different Devices
- White Space
- Tools for Colour Selection
- Get Feedback
Consider your brand’s identity and the existing colours in your logo or other brand materials. The colour scheme should align with the personality and values of your brand.
Think about your target audience and their preferences, choose colours that resonate with your audience and create a positive emotional response.
Ensure there is enough contrast between text and background colours for readability. High contrast can make key elements stand out but not create too much visual noise. Your design should be clear and simple so that most people can use it.
Public sector bodies, such as Councils, now have to meet the WCAG 2.2AA accessibility guidelines – if you have a council website, get in touch and we can help you to make sure your website is compliant.
Stick to a limited colour palette to avoid overwhelming visitors. A common approach is to use a primary colour, a secondary colour and an accent colour.
Understand the psychological impact of colours. For example, blue can convey trust and professionalism, while red can evoke energy and urgency. Certain colours invoke specific feelings in most people, so choose colours that align with the message and goals of your website.
Look at current design trends for inspiration, but prioritise a timeless look over fleeting trends. Your website should reflect your brand consistently over time.
Colours can appear differently on various devices and screens. Test your colour scheme on different devices to ensure consistency.
Use white space effectively to balance your colour choices and prevent visual clutter.
Use online tools like Adobe Colour Wheel, Coolors, or Colour Hunt to generate and explore colour schemes.
Share your colour choices with others, get feedback, and make adjustments accordingly.
Remember that the colour scheme is just one aspect of your website’s design. At Zonkey we can help with responsive WordPress web design, website maintenance and search engine optimisation.
Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you design your website.
Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash