color schemes for websites

Choosing color schemes for a website is a design step that requires careful consideration.

While few visitors will notice your website’s colors consciously (unless you go with a particularly jarring scheme), the shades you use will have an effect on people’s experience. This is largely because different colors have specific psychological effects. Because of this, you’ll want to pick hues that complement each other effectively.

In this post, we’ll discuss the ⏩ importance of color when it comes to designing your WordPress site.

Then we’ll walk you through how to ⏩ edit global color settings, before getting into the nitty-gritty ⏩ process of perfecting color schemes for websites.

Let’s get started!

Why color schemes for websites matter 🎨

An example of complementary color use on a website.

The smart use of complementary and contrasting colors can help your website pop!

When building a new website, many people simply design it around whatever colors they happen to like. If what you’re creating is a simple WordPress personal blog, this approach can be fine. However, if you’re looking to accomplish a specific goal with your website, you’ll want to give color a bit more thought.

Here are just a few of the reasons why choosing color schemes for websites is an important process:

  • Colors that complement and/or contrast with each other in a pleasing way improve the experience of using your site.
  • Different colors have specific connotations and psychological effects. This means you can use them to help get people feeling or thinking a certain way.
  • Using colors to provide deliberate contrast for your Calls To Action (CTAs) can help to increase conversions. Multiple case studies have found that certain color contrasts play a significant role in conversion increases ranging from 10% to more than 50%.

If you’re a designer or an artist, picking an effective color scheme for your website will likely be simple. However, if you’re not, chances are you aren’t certain as to what color scheme will best meet your needs. We’ll cover some important factors to keep in mind when it comes to choosing the optimal color scheme for your website. Before we get to that though, first we need to review the basics of how to edit the global color settings on your WordPress site.

How to edit global color settings in WordPress

Settling on the right color scheme doesn’t have to be a complex process. All it takes is a little research and the right tool.

Let’s address the most basic changes you can make to your WordPress site’s color scheme and what tool you will use to make it happen.

The options here will vary depending on what theme you choose.

How to edit color schemes using the Customizer

If you have a classic theme installed, like Neve for example, then you will use the WordPress Customizer.

To access the Customizer, visit Appearance → Customize in your WordPress dashboard, and select the Colors & Background tab:

Editing the global color scheme for a website using the Neve theme.

As you can see above, Neve comes pre-loaded with some set colors that you can individually customize just by clicking on whatever it is you’d like to change.

You can also very quickly switch to a completely dark color layout by clicking Dark Mode (to the right of Base) at the top of the Customizer.

Switching to a dark color scheme inside of Neve.

The layout will instantly switch and you’ll see the change happen in real time. This is the case for any element that you adjust the color of – as long as that element is visible within the default post shown. When you have the colors looking the way you want them, click on Publish at the very top and your color changes will be live.

💡 For an explanation of what each color option does, and a detailed version of what we just showed you here, check out the Neve global colors documentation.

How to edit color schemes using the Full Site Editor (FSE)

If you have a newer block theme installed, like Neve FSE for example, then you will use the Full Site Editor (FSE).

To get started with FSE, navigate to Appearance → Editor in your WordPress dashboard. This will launch the new Site Editor:

Accessing templates and template parts in Neve FSE.

You can then choose from either Templates or Template Parts and begin editing the global colors of various sections of your website. The first time you begin editing using FSE, you’ll be greeted by a brief introduction that quickly explains how FSE works:

Neve FSE using the full site editor.

In this example, we’re showing how to edit the global color setting of the homepage template (called frontpage in FSE). However, the process and layout will be the same (or very similar) for any of the other templates.

To begin, just click on the small half-and-half circle icon on the top right. Then choose colors to open up the color choices:

Neve FSE setting the global color options inside the full site editor.

Just as with the Customizer, you will be able to see any color changes you make in real time, as long as the element is present in the default template that you’re editing. So for something like the background, which is part of every page and post, you’ll see the color adjustment instantly:

Neve FSE changing the background color using the Full Site Editor.

When you have the colors looking the way you want them, click on Save on the top right. You can go through this process and change the color scheme of all of the various elements on your website by using those templates and template parts in the Full Site Editor.

How to choose color schemes for websites

As you can see, both the Customizer and the Full Site Editor allow you to alter your global color palette rather quickly. This is convenient and helpful.

However, if you want more control over your site’s appearance, you’ll need to build color schemes for websites from scratch. Let’s discuss how to do that now. You can do it in three easy steps:

Step 1: Choose the primary color for your website

A website using light colors.

A predominantly white color scheme invokes a feeling of cleanness and efficiency.

Before settling on a full color scheme, it helps to have something foundational in place. This means picking a primary color for your site – the shade that will be used most predominantly.

If you already have strong branding in place for your business or organization, it’s often best to use the primary color for your brand prominently on your website. This will help improve your brand recognition, and create consistency between your various presences both on and offline.

If you don’t have a set color to work with, however, you can choose one with the help of some color psychology. Research has shown that people have predetermined associations with specific colors. This means you can use the primary color on your site to evoke particular thoughts and feelings.

For example, here are a few of the most common colors and their associations:

  • White: Sophistication, efficiency, cleanness.
  • Black: Glamour, security, power.
  • Blue: Trust, openness, calm.
  • Green: Balance, growth, finances.
  • Red: Warmth, excitement, youth.
  • Violet: Romance, mystery, quality.

This means you’ll want to think carefully about the effect you want your site to have on visitors. Do you want them to feel calm and relaxed? You may want to pick a shade of blue as your primary color. If you want to attract a young audience and get them excited, on the other hand, red may be a better choice. Once you have a primary color in mind for your website, you can move on to the next task.

Step 2: Select a color scheme

Some websites can get away with using a single color for their design. Most of the time, however, you’ll want at least a few shades to work with. To make sure the colors you choose go together well, you can use a basic color scheme.

Selecting a color scheme is much easier if you have a tool to help you out. For a great example, you can check out Adobe’s color wheel tool. This site enables you to choose a type of color scheme, and find specific colors based on that scheme.

Let’s start out with Adobe’s most basic default color scheme option: Analogous. With this scheme, you get a few colors that are very similar. In Adobe’s color wheel tool, you can click on the middle selector. Then drag it to the primary color you chose in the previous step:

An example of an analogous color scheme.

The tool will offer up four additional colors that will complement your main shade. You can make them lighter or darker by dragging the selectors in and out. The color palette below the wheel will also provide the specific hex codes for each color, so you can use them on your site easily.

Analogous is a useful color scheme if you want your site’s design to convey a sense of simplicity and efficiency. However, what if you want a little more ‘pop’? In that case, check out the Complementary color scheme:

An example of a complementary color scheme.

This will show you the color that’s the exact opposite of your primary shade, which is useful if you want to create sharp contrasts. For an even more extreme version of this effect, there’s the Triad color scheme:

An example of a triad color scheme.

If you’re looking for some contrasting colors, but want more than two or three options to work with, the Compound color scheme is a nice middle ground:

An example of a compound color scheme.

Feel free to experiment with all the color schemes available until you get a result you like. There are also plenty of other color wheel sites you can try out. The nice thing about using this kind of tool is that, whatever colors you settle on, you’ll know they complement one another.

Step 3: Design your site using your chosen colors

Once you have a handful of colors to work with, all that’s left is to actually use them on your site. We wouldn’t want to dictate exactly how you should do this, since you’ll want your site to have its own unique design. However, there are a few guidelines you can follow to generate the most attractive results.

First, you’ll want to decide where to use your primary color. This will be the dominant shade throughout your site, so it’s best to use it for prominent elements such as your header, background, or title text. For a visual example, check out how this website devoted to the artist Gustav Klimpt uses its primary dark blue color in both the background and the site’s header:

The website for Gustav Klimt.

With your primary color in place, you can use complementary hues for other elements, such as menus, lower-level headings, and so on. Technology company MUV Interactive effectively uses similar shades of green and blue to create an attractive look:

The MUV Interactive website.

Finally, don’t forget about your contrasting colors. These should be used sparingly and for a purpose – usually to highlight important CTAs. The website Mix The City demonstrates this perfectly, with a bright yellow CTA button that stands out clearly from the otherwise dark design:

The Mix The City website.

There are plenty more examples of websites with stunning color schemes, which you can use as inspiration during your design process. It may take a little time and a few tries to get your colors just right. However, the end result will be well worth the effort involved.

Color schemes for websites FAQ 🙋

We hope you’re finding this article about color schemes for websites informative and helpful thus far. As a quick reference, we’ve compiled some commonly asked questions about color schemes for websites in this FAQ section.

What is the 60 30 10 rule?

The 60-30-10 rule is a guideline used in website design to create a balanced color scheme. The rule suggests that you should use a ratio of 60% for the dominant color, 30% for the secondary color, and 10% for the accent color.

The dominant color is the main color used in the website’s background. The secondary color is used to complement the dominant color and is used for elements like headers, subheadings, and navigation menus. The accent color is used sparingly to draw attention to important elements such as call-to-action buttons or links.

By using this rule, you can create a visually appealing and cohesive website design. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the 60-30-10 rule is just a guideline. It can (and should) be adjusted to fit your brand’s personality and preferences.

What is the best color harmony rule for websites?

The best color harmony rule for websites depends on the specific website and its branding goals. There are many different color schemes to choose from, and the best one will vary depending on the mood and ambiance that the site designer wants to evoke from the audience.

Having said that, one of the most commonly used color harmony rules for websites is the complementary color scheme. This scheme involves using colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. It creates a strong visual contrast and can make key elements stand out. Other color harmony rules to consider include analogous colors, triadic colors, and monochromatic color schemes. It’s a good idea to experiment with different schemes and seek professional advice if needed to find the best color harmony for your website.

What reason best explains why complementary colors are important to web page design?

Using complementary colors in web page design is important because they create a visual contrast that can help make important elements stand out. By placing complementary colors next to each other, you can create a dynamic and visually interesting design that draws visitors’ attention to key elements on the page.

Complementary colors can be used to create focal points, add depth and dimension to the design, and evoke certain emotions or moods. However, it’s important to use complementary colors sparingly and balance them with other colors. You don’t want to overwhelm visitors or create a jarring visual experience.

How do you use a color palette on a website?

To use a color palette on a website, first, choose a dominant color that will set the tone for the entire site. Then, select one or two secondary colors to complement the dominant color. Finally, choose an accent color to draw attention to important elements. These would be things like call-to-action buttons or links.

Once you have your color palette, apply the colors consistently throughout the site. Use the dominant color for the background and larger elements. Then pick your secondary and accent colors for smaller elements. Text should be in white or black to ensure readability.

It’s also important to test the color palette on different devices and screen sizes. You want to ensure that the colors look good and are accessible to all users, irrespective of the device they’re using.

What colors go well together on a website?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what colors go well together on a website. It depends on the specific website’s branding goals and the atmosphere the designer wants to create. However, some commonly used color combinations include complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel), analogous colors (next to each other on the color wheel), and monochromatic colors (varying shades of a single color). You should research color psychology and experiment with different color combinations to find what works best for your website.

Final thoughts on color schemes for websites 💭

The role that color plays in your website design should not be underestimated.

By carefully selecting the colors you use on your website, you can influence the way visitors feel and the associations they make with your content and brand.

You can even use contrasting colors to deliberately draw attention to key elements on your pages.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a designer to choose effective color schemes for websites. All you need to do is follow these three steps:

  1. Choose the primary color for your website.
  2. Select a color scheme using a color wheel tool.
  3. Design your site using your chosen colors.
What colors are you thinking about using on your next website, and why? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

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