Color psychology, when used in web design, could show users what to do next or where to find vital information. There are so many websites out there with absolutely good content but because of their color schemes, users would not bother to stay at all.
Color psychology though is not an easy field of study. This is because colors could be combined to get a particular desired effect—and there are A LOT of colors, so you get the drift. There are basics though in choosing colors for your website or designs. The basics on using color together are:
· Monochromatic – this is when a single color is used but in varying shades. The result is often clean and soothing to the eye especially when cool colors like aqua or blue are used.
· Complimentary – using high contrast colors such as blue and orange add interest to the site. Complimentary colors in the color wheel are directly opposite from one another. The outcome would be pairing a warm color with a cool one and the effect is generally pleasing.
· Triple Color – this is when three colors that are equally spaced from each other in the color wheel are used. Among the three, this is the most popular color scheme used by web designers because it creates a harmonious effect.
BLUE
It is not a surprise that when you ask a person what his favorite color is, it is blue, more often than not. This is because blue creates a calming sensation to a person but not all shades of blue. Blue in the office is said to make the people in it more productive because people are said to be calmer. It is the color of loyalty and dependability. Too much blue however can “drown” or have the tendency to be too cold or passive.
GREEN
It is the color of life, nature, growth, or money. Green is also the traditional color of peace but is also associated with envy, fertility and generosity. Use green in your site as accents or the base color to speak of what you want to convey in your site.
GRAY
Gray is practical and solid. Too much of it leads to feeling almost nothing but a bit of gray will add a bit of that solid feel to what you are selling on your website, may it be a thing or an idea. It also neutralizes colors like softening harsh reds or adding strength to blues. Pale gray is usually the background color of choice among many web designers all over the world because it is restful on the eyes of the viewer.
BLACK
Black is a powerful “color” (because technically, white and black are not colors) and is associated with authority. It is a serious color and it easily overwhelms people when there is too much of it. A lot of band sites use black because sometimes the music they usually make speak of intense emotions. It won’t be such a good idea however to use black as a base color for sites selling products that are light and cheery in nature.
WHITE
White is the universal “color” (again, because technically, white and black are not colors) of purity and generally gives the impression of cleanliness. A lot of websites bank on clean and uncluttered look and feel to make them appear more formal and professional. It is also associated with neutrality.
YELLOW
A cheerful shade of yellow is associated with happiness and good times. It is associated with optimism but it can be overpowering when overused. In websites, it can be used sparingly to effectively market something, like a product in a promo sticker or banner. There are shades of yellow that emits the impression of cowardice though.
RED
Red is the color of excitement and is one of the most powerful colors in the spectrum. It draws the eye especially in a rather dull setting. In websites, red accents can smartly project a product or an idea, to give attention to it. It is a color of movement therefore red lines will lead you to wherever they are directed to.
BROWN
Brown is associated with reliability because it has the earth-feel to it. It also is the color of friendship. Light shades of brown are picked as backgrounds of websites that want to convey warmth and stability to its users.
PURPLE
Purple may be the color of royalty and is associated with wealth, but when it is overused it has a tendency of giving off the impression of being artificial. When it is used carefully, it can add a touch of wisdom or mystery to your website and if the website is targeted to young girls, purple would really make the site more attractive to them.
ORANGE
Orange is said to be one of the happiest colors around and reminds viewers subconsciously or warmth and energetic times. This is no surprise as to why there are so many websites that have orange accents in it.
Choosing the colors for your website or designs is a crucial level in marketing your product; therefore it would be best for designers, after they have convened with their clients, to get away from the computer, take a stroll or a break and get inspired.
Remember that many great designs are borne out of inspiration, thus the pencil and paper are still indispensable in design-making. Opening Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw could come in later AFTER you have jotted down and sketched your ideas on paper. It has been a tried-and-tested method. Color psychology for designing websites will indeed help in creating the online identity for you or your product so take time for it.
