Choosing the Right Colors
When thinking about designing or realigning a website, most web designers give a lot of attention to two major factors: the design or layout and the content. But what about the colors? Color is an equally important element to consider in web design. The colors that are chosen for your website are important because they will define the mood and emotions of the visitors as well as reflect your image as a company.
Almost 40% of Americans will change car brands if they cannot get the color of their choice
What do Colors mean?
courtesy of Adobe Kuler
In web design, a mood is created through color. From energetic, to calm, to luxury, to artistic; all can be modified or enhanced by simply changing the color palette. Below are some explanations of the various colors used in web design
Warm Colors
- Red
- Red is one of the most powerful and attention-getting colors. Red symbolizes passion and fire, love and lust. It has been proven to raise blood pressure and cause perspiration. Red reflects energy and can motivate an individual to take action. It can also symbolize war, violence, blood, and aggression.
- Orange
- Vibrant and warm, orange is associated with autumn, pumpkins and Halloween. It inherits many of the traits of red, but is less passionate. Orange has been known to stimulate the appetite. As a citrus color, it can also symbolize health.
- Yellow
- Yellow symbolizes sunshine and warmth. It can mean hope, light and energy. On the other hand, it can mean weakness or illness, or symbolize cowardice.
Cool Colors
- Green
- Green signifies health and growth (vegetation) and wealth (money). Green symbolizes spring, renewal, and fertility. It can also mean jealousy or inexperience.
- Blue
- Blue is one of the most calming colors and is associated with the sky and the sea. It is considered to be a “safe” color and signifies intelligence, reassurance, and trust. Blue has also been known to be an appetite suppressant and can signify depression and sadness.
- Purple
- The combination of red and blue, purple is one of the most intriguing colors and symbolizes creativity. Purple is spiritual and mysterious. Deep purple is associated with royalty and richness while lavender is associated with romance and nostalgia.
- Black
- Black can represent power, elegance, and sophistication, but it can also represent death (Western culture), evil, anger and sadness.
- White
- White represents cleanliness, purity, and spirituality. It represents life and marriage in Western cultures, but it represents death in Eastern cultures.
- Grey
- Grey is the combination of black and white. It is a conservative color. Grey can symbolize security, maturity and reliability, but it can also signify gloominess and sadness.
- Brown
- Sometimes brown can be used as a neutral and sometimes as a warm color. Either way, brown represents credibility and stability, the hearth, home and the earth.
Neutral Colors
Draw Inspiration
Color is everywhere. It is all around us, from nature to downtown. Look around outside and inside to see what color palettes are being used. Ask yourself what you like about them, or what you don’t like. Nature is an unbeatable resource. Flowers and birds, mountains and deserts all providing inspirational color combination. Use this inspiration for your next web project, logo, or brochure.
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