Website Design – Choosing the Right Colours

When designing a website you might not always be able to choose the colour scheme. The client may already have a logo or branding and the website's design will need to follow this. However, if you are in the position of working with a new company that does not have any branding then you need to think about colour carefully. Different colours symbolise different things, take a look at my list below for help.

Green – Green symbolise fresh, natural, environmentally friendly. Bright greens can be zesty and vibrant.

Brown – Brown can be earthy, rustic, natural, dull but also feel warm. Brown can remind people of autumn.

Orange – Orange is warm and sunny. A summer or autumn colour that can add a touch of warmth and contrast to a design.

Purple – Dark purple can be seen as royal, luxurious and expensive. Pale purples are seen as feminine.

Yellow – Bright, cheerful and sunny. But it can also symbolise cowardice. Yellow is often used along with black on warning/hazard signs. It also symbolises friendship.

Black – Black symbolises darkness, emptiness, sorrow and death but also sophistication, style and professionalism. Black can be used as a blank canvas for colours to be shown against.

White – White symbolises purity, emptiness, light, innocence and neutrality. As with black is provides a backdrop for other colours. White space in a design is just as important as the text and graphics which feature within it. Lots of white space can provide a clean and modern feel to a design.

Red – Red is sexy, hot, dangerous, passionate, exiting but also can symbolise love and passion. Red should be used with care on a website as it can be difficult on the eye.

Pink – Pink is seen as feminine, romantic and often associated with marriage. Bright pinks make a statement and stand out from the crowd. Darker pinks are more subtle and seem a more “mature” shade of pink.

Grey – Grey is seen as a formal colour and can be used to help subdue other colours. Grey can provide a neutral background for other colours to played against. However, gray can be seen as dull and lifeless.

Blue – Blue symbolises water, cold, calmness, loyalty, dependability, trust and a conservativeness. This colour is often associated with banks and large corporations.

For help with choosing website colour schemes visit: http://kuler.adobe.com/