by Kevin Nunley
We are constantly surrounded by color. Because our world is so saturated with thousands of hues, we don’t consciously notice the effects different colors have on us. But even if we don’t notice it, color changes our mood, our appetite, our sleep patters, even our metabolism.
That is why it is so important to carefully plan the color scheme of your website. Not only does color influence the way people feel when they visit your website, but it also determines whether your site will be seen as professional or amateur, appropriate or off-key.
There is an almost endless supply of color choices for the web, but don’t get carried away. Just because you like 20 different colors doesn’t mean they should all be incorporated into your site. Choose only a few–three is probably enough–and go from there.
Also, remember to pick hues that complement each other. Use a background that contrasts with the color of your text. The common choice is black text on a white background. If you have a lot of text for visitors to read, this will be the easiest on their eyes. Never pair a light background and a light text–unless you want your visitors to go blind, that is.
Consider the subtle, emotional effects your color scheme will have on visitors. Red stimulates metabolism and makes people hungry. Blues and greens promote serenity, calm, peace, and order. Yellow is cheerful and usually improves a person’s mood.
Ask yourself who your audience is. If you are designing the site for children, reds and yellows are good choices. Many shades of blue exude professionalism, wealth and power, but not all. If you want to create corporate style identity, steer clear of sentimental blues, like cornflower blue. If you are going for a look that appeals to a nature and outdoors group, go for earth tones like brown and green.
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