In this digital era, where there are a plethora of options for users, it is often difficult to make them revisit the website. First impressions do matter! Although your website features compelling design and content, it may not succeed in grabbing the attention of the user. Web designers generally tend to lend much significance to prominent design elements such as structure, font colors, font spacing, visual elements, and so on. But they pay little heed to the color combinations that display the web page.

It is an undeniable fact that users are affected by the color coding used on a specific web page. They subconsciously associate specific colors with specific cultural or social messages. It is where color psychology comes into play. You might now be bombarded with a horde of various questions related to the website color scheme. This article offers the best solution for all your unresolved queries. Without any further delay, let’s unwind the significance of Color psychology, role of various colors in web design and many more.

What is color psychology?

Color is perceived as a physical object, but it is actually a psychological phenomenon. The human perception of color is controlled by the brain rather than the eyes. You may have spent a significant amount of time brainstorming that amazing layout and high-quality content, but you may be unable to drive the sales funnel. Have you wondered why? It is rather surprising to know that people spend less than a minute when it comes to making a buying decision. And colors play a significant role in their purchasing decisions. It certainly undermines the significance of colors in web design.

Colors have the capability to invoke certain cognitive human behaviors, such as inciting action or evoking excitement. They can tap into subconscious human emotions and generate optimal responses. For any business to thrive, it is important that they keep visitors glued to their website and take action. It can be by various means, such as opting for a subscription, registering, or making purchases. So, when designing a website, ensure to pick your colors carefully to grab the attention of first-time visitors. The color schemes serve to enhance brand recognition and influence the way visitors feel about the brand.

Color psychology in web design

Red

Red is the most stimulating color. It conveys a sense of urgency and is most commonly used when there is a clearance sale, limited offer, etc. The color is quite appealing, and it evokes and prompts users to act immediately. On websites, most designers use red for call-to action (CTA) buttons.

Yellow

The yellow color conveys warm and optimistic feelings. It promotes enthusiasm and can also be a source of anxiety. You may have come across this color on wellness and travel websites. In general, web designers prefer light yellow over its darker counterpart, as the use of the darker variant can evoke anxiety and nervousness.

Blue

Blue is cool, relaxing, and a symbol of trustworthiness, which is vital to driving conversions. The color also symbolizes loyalty and strength. It is the predominant color used by tech giants, financial institutions, and other large organizations.

Orange

The orange color is the result of a combination of both red and yellow colors. This color evokes urgency, and you can find its use in call-to-action (CTA) buttons. The color also finds use in advertising and marketing materials.

Pink

Pink is often the preferred color option for women and symbolizes femininity, kindness, and sincerity. This color evokes a sense of joy and happiness. It is most commonly used in feminine products, baby products, and confectionery.

Green

The color green is synonymous with the environment. It has a strong association with nature and is most commonly used to showcase eco-friendly products. Also, the color stands for generosity, growth, security, and harmony. On the other hand, the light green color is used to symbolize freshness.

White

The color white is synonymous with innocence and purity. It also represents cleanliness and hygiene, and as such, finds use in the healthcare industry. Many websites use this color to convey a sense of calmness and honesty that helps drive conversions.

Black

Black is the most commonly used color to convey elegance and sleekness. You can find it in ads for luxury products. Also, it is used to symbolise the uniqueness and elite quality of a brand or a product.

Purple

The purple color is a secondary color and is the result of a combination between the red and purple colors. It is restricted to women and signifies creativity and wisdom. It has a limited scope and is not recommended for wider use across industries.

How do you choose the best color schemes for your website?

You must pick the right color scheme for your web design to garner the user’s attention at first glance. So ensure to pay utmost attention to customer preferences before picking the color for your web design. Some of the factors to consider while choosing the color schemes for your website include the following:

Target audience

The key to driving user engagement and conversions is to talk in the language they love so that it is easy to connect with potential customers and achieve your sales objectives. The visual appearance of a website plays a vital role in conversion. Men and women have varied preferences for color schemes. If your target audience is men, then incorporate the colors that attract the attention of men, and the same is true for women. In general, men prefer bright colors, and women are more attracted to soft colors.

A good understanding of color combinations

A good color palette is important for earning customers’ trust. One of the best ways to gain expertise is to research across various existing websites and competitors. You can then implement the best color combinations that work best for your website. As it is evident that colors evoke certain reactions, it is important to understand the impact of hues and different tones on our mood.

Bright colors for CTA buttons

A call to action (CTA) is the last step before a potential conversion. Experts suggest using bright colors for CTA buttons for maximum conversions. You might have noticed that brands tend to use blue, green, or red CTA buttons because they get the most attention.

Tools to pick the right colors for your website

There are a number of online tools available that help you choose the ideal colors for your web design. Some of the prominent tools include:

• Adobe color CC
• Paletton
• Canva
• Dribble
• Color space
• Color dot
• Check my colors
• Khroma

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it is evident that specific colors evoke specific psychological reactions from the audience. These color associations are not constant and depend on a variety of factors, including culture, personal experience, and others. Besides, it is also vital to consider audience demographics while picking the color palette for your website. If you end up choosing the wrong palette, it would have irreparable consequences and impair the actual intent.

Color psychology principles give a clear idea of how it affects human beings and drives potential buying decisions. This knowledge can help digital entrepreneurs and designers unlock the untapped potential of a website.