Picking The Right Color Scheme For Your Website
One of the first and most basic steps when developing and designing a new website is picking its color scheme. While this can be fun at first it quickly becomes one of the most challenging aspects of your new website – after all, your website represents your entire company.
The colors of a website convey the overall mood and general feel of a website. That being said, it’s critical to pick colors that represent your company’s image. While you may forget what a color wheel is and your entire semester of Art 101, creating a color scheme for your website is simple. Click to the right to view this article!
Contrast
When I say contrast, I mainly am focusing on the importance of having readable text. In fact, choosing an easy to read text is the keystone to any website. Think about how many sites you have gone to and find it impossible to read the text on it. I may have bad eyes, but I know that when I navigate to a website with a yellow back ground and white text, I quickly press the back button. As a common rule, use a black as a the main text and a lighter color for the background.
Simplicity
K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple stupid. Even though it may hurt your feelings, it truly is great advice for picking a color scheme for your website. Following this protocol, another rule of thumb is to try to keep your site to five colors or less. This will assure you that your visitors can focus on what is important, and not be so distracted that they can not find your product.
Colors
Now to the hard part – actually picking the colors!
When picking colors for your website, there are actually several different ways to go about it. One method is to simply pick complementary colors which are colors that are directly opposite to each other on the color wheel. Another option is to use analog colors which are colors that are right beside each other on a standard color wheel. The third option, and my favorite, is to use a chromatic color combination, or in my terms – different shades of the same color. This will create a very pleasing effect as long as you do not over do it.
Remember, that the color combinations that you can have for you website are infinite, however in comparison there are only a few combinations that actually work. Remember, to keep it simple and ask your coworkers, friends, dog, or your waiter for their opinions.
For examples, expert opinions, or help with your website feel free to contact us.
This is a great posting to direct clients to in order to help them gain understanding in the beginning stages of their design project.
Comment by Mike — December 1, 2009 @ 12:02 am