Creating the best Color Scheme for your Website
You have to admit. The color is important. I know it may not seem like it but when you look at a particular website on the internet you may not be saying “Hmmm. That color goes great with all the other colors.” but your mind would be subconsciously saying, “There is something about this website that just looks good.”
Though we may not notice it (except for you detail people out there.) color plays a significant role in how we judge things. If I go to a website and the colors are gaudy and uncoordinated, then I immediately think, “This site is just cheesy. They’re not going to have anything I want to look into.” But when I come across the website of the century, with beautiful color coordination, soothing tones, and cute patterns, I just want to stop and admire the scenery. It’s like coming home to a clean house and a home cooked meal. (Well, not exactly but hopefully you get the idea.)
Below is a list of things to help those of you who are trying to perfect their website/blog or those of you who are just plain color-blind.
Step one: Know what your content says!
Okay, think about this for a second. What colors would people associate with the content you have on your blog or website? Let’s say you are trying to sell hunting supplies. I have put an example of the colors that people might associate with hunting.
Example #1 – Hunter Green, Blood Red, and a mute tone that compliments the rest of the colors might be something you would think of. Want to see another example? How about a website for a spa? Usually, when you think of a spa, you think relaxing facials, pedicures, and soothing massages. Stuff like that.
Example #2 – A good color scheme for that website would be a Soothing Green, Creamy sand and, instead of doing a light compliment, a dark contrasting color. The Soothing green and Creamy sand might have been some of the colors you would have associated with a spa; the black was just a color to make the whole theme pop.
Step two: Tone counts!
Once you have picked the colors you want next you, have to decide what tone you want. These things count. You may have the right colors, but the tones could be totally off. If you want your website or blog to have the color blue in it, then you have to decide what tone. Sky blue, dark blue and robin egg blue are just a few different tones for the color blue. Try to make sure the tones go together. Earth tones, pastel tones, and dark tones are a couple of themes that may help you decide what colors and what tones to use.
Step three: Cheesy doesn’t work!
Okay, using the example I had above; let’s say I wanted to use a pattern for the hunting supply website. I wouldn’t want to use such a blatant pattern like rifles or deer antlers or etcetera because that might overwhelm the web page. Don’t overdue it! You don’t have to knock people over the head with your patterns. Subtle is better. Now does that mean you can’t use patterns? No. Just be careful that you don’t pick things that are overdone. Keep it simple.