Which colors should you use for your website and why?

Understand Color Psychology

Color psychology is an intricate topic. To briefly summarize color psychology, humans associate certain moods or feelings with colors. Some are more general associations that everyone is familiar with. For example, associating green with grass, or yellow with the sun. Some associations can be cultural or religious based. For example, white is associated with purity in the Catholic Religion. Understanding the feelings behind color can help your brand find the right color combination.

Color Associations  

To choose a color for your brand, consider the type of vibe or image you want your company to send to potential customers. This is a good starting point for determining the right color for your brand. Here’s an overview of color associations and what they tend to mean:

• White – User-friendly, sleek products – Nike, Apple,
• Brown – Reliable, Easy to use – UPS, Hershey’s Chocolate
• Black – Elegance, Luxury – Adidas, Louie Vuitton
• Blue – Reassurance, dependability – Walmart, Twitter, PayPal
• Purple – Quality, Royal – Hallmark, Monster, Yahoo
• Yellow – Happiness, Optimism – McDonald’s, Post It
• Green – Freshness, Nature – Whole Foods, Animal Planet, Starbucks
• Orange – Fun, Friendly – Fanta, Nickelodeon, Payless
• Red – Happiness, Excitement – Coca-Cola, Netflix, Target

Remember that the color you pick will need to be used throughout your branding, so choose a color that you would be confident and happy with for long term use. You don’t want to ever have to change your color because that will confuse customers about your brand and shows inconsistency. After you have chosen your main company color, decide what colors you want to accompany it. If you want to keep it simple, a good choice is pairing your main color with a classic white or black, or a lighter/darker shade of your main color. For example, if your main color is Green, you could pair it with black, white, or another shade of green.  The idea is that you want your colors to flow and be appealing to your customer’s eyes. You want to avoid being too bright and busy or dark and dull. Once you have colors you think might work, do a test run of the colors side by side to see if you like the way it looks. 

Stay Consistent Across the Board

Consistency is key. Once you have chosen the colors for your website, you need to make sure that those colors show throughout every part of your brand. Make sure that your website, logo, social media, and company letterhead match with the color scheme you have chosen. If you’re working with a designer or have employees that work for you, send them a color guide with the colors that are allowed to be used for your company. Keeping it consistent will ensure that your brand upholds its image and that there is no confusion on who you are.

Consult a Professional

If you’re still having trouble figuring out what colors you should use for your website, it’s time to contact a professional. Hiring a professional designer will ensure that you’re choosing the right colors to make your business shine. If you’re looking to step up your online presence, set up a time to chat with us at Decision Designs.

Consult a Professional

If you’re still having trouble figuring out what colors you should use for your website, it’s time to contact a professional. Hiring a professional designer will ensure that you’re choosing the right colors to make your business shine. If you’re looking to step up your online presence, set up a time to chat with us at Decision Designs.