The Psychology of Color in Web Design

When designing websites, it may not seem particularly important to choose the color scheme, but it has been scientifically proven that colors have a psychological effect that can induce different emotions in viewers. Different colors can evoke feelings of trust, urgency, or mystery.

Red is stimulating and exciting. It can be associated with feelings of passion, power, and even anger. Red suggests warning and danger or determination and strength.

Pink is universally representative of femininity. It is used on sites geared towards women to produce feelings of youthfulness and innocence.

Orange is comforting and inviting. It isn’t as overwhelming as red, but it is still vibrant and exciting. Orange is unique and it great for showcasing creativity.

Yellow is associated with the sun and provokes feelings or warmth and happiness. It is the most energizing color and grabs the attention of the viewers, especially children.  

Green is the color of nature. It is calming, rejuvenating, and optimistic. Green is positively associated with affluence and growth.

Blue, often called “true blue,” and is representative of the effect it has in producing feelings of trust and security. It is also associated with spirituality. The calming quality of blue will suggest experience and reliability to website viewers.

Purple is maybe the most specific when it comes to reaching particular people and evoking certain feelings. Dark purple is commonly associated with nobility, luxury, and wealth.  Lighter shades are a harbinger to spring, which is mentally associated with romance.

Black, White, and Gray are usually used together to make a clean, modern, and sophisticated website design. Colors are able to stand out, making it easier to highlight certain points of interest on your site.When using either black, white, or gray, it is important to implement them in a way that will still produce energy on your site

Color should not be chosen based on personal preference. It can play into the effectiveness and overall success of your website and the ends you are trying to achieve. Experienced web designers will be able to create a website that will utilize color to maximize the potential of your website!