created by Alice Parsons /
Copywriter
Let’s try an experiment. Take a moment to imagine the colour green, and then think of the words that come to mind - you might come up with nature, freshness, growth, sustainability, and peace, just to name a few.
Now think about the colour red. What words come to mind? Passion, anger, love, warmth, and danger are more likely to be on your list.
Totally different, right?
There’s a reason for that.
Humans subconsciously associate certain colours with certain emotions. It stems from our cultural upbringing, evolutionary history, and personal experiences, and it has a huge impact on our buying habits - up to 90% of people base their first impressions of a product on colour alone!
It’s why the colours you use in your web design are so important. They affect the emotions your website evokes, your brand personality, and the actions you want your visitors to take.
When someone opens your website for the first time, you want them to understand exactly what your business is about. Using the wrong colours could easily give them the wrong message, alienating them and sending them scrambling for the ‘back’ button.
Colour theory is much more complex than we can cover here, but there are a few basic rules you should keep in mind. Below, we’ve explored how the most commonly used colours influence our emotions, why it matters, and what type of website would most benefit from using them.
Red: action-fuelled and passionate
When it comes to grabbing attention, red just can’t be beaten. Red is a bold, vibrant colour that can stimulate excitement and create a sense of urgency. This makes it a great choice for ecommerce, charity, and travel websites, where the goal is to get users to take decisive action. Use it for call-to-action buttons or important notifications, and you're sure to get people clicking.
Just make sure to use red strategically - excessive use can induce feelings of aggression or stress, so treat it with caution.
Blue: calm and serene
Blue conjures images of clear skies, calm seas, and rolling rivers. It has a soothing effect on the mind and body, and is often associated with feelings of tranquillity and trust.
Blue is a popular choice for corporate websites that aim to create a sense of serenity or professionalism, such as financial institutions or healthcare providers. It can also enhance focus, making it ideal for productivity apps.
Yellow: joyful and energised
Yellow is associated with summer days, flowering fields, and of course, the sun itself. It’s an energetic colour that can evoke feelings of happiness and warmth.
Yellow stimulates mental activity, making it a great choice for websites that want to convey a sense of playfulness or creativity. It can also help in enhancing memory and improving decision-making processes.
Excessive use of yellow can cause feelings of anxiety or distraction (and hurt the eyes!), so use it judiciously.
Green: fresh and natural
Grass, trees, plants… green is the ultimate embodiment of nature. It’s commonly associated with sustainability, growth, and freshness. It has a calming effect on the eyes and can evoke feelings of harmony and relaxation.
Green is often used to create a sense of environmental consciousness, making it a common sight on websites related to health, wellness, and eco-friendly products. It can also represent wealth and prosperity, so it’s a good choice for financial or investment-related websites.
Using too much green can create a monotonous design, so make sure to incorporate other colours for visual interest.
Black: sleek and sophisticated
Johnny Cash knew what was up. Black is the ultimate signpost of sophistication, mystery, and elegance. It’s popular among luxury brands or high-end products to create a sense of exclusivity and prestige. Black can evoke feelings of power and authority, so it's perfect for websites that want to make a bold statement.
Overuse of black can create a sense of heaviness or gloom, so it should be balanced with other colours to maintain a harmonious design - a pop of red or blue can make for a truly striking design.
Nail your website’s colour scheme with b4b marketing
Of course, there’s a lot more that goes into choosing the right colours for your web design. You’ll also need to consider your target audience and branding, as well as the specific goals of the website.
The human eye is capable of perceiving millions of distinct colours, and each one makes a different impact on your audience. This can make choosing the right colour scheme for your website tricky.
At b4b Marketing, we know how important nailing your web design is. Our expert web team have designed websites for hundreds of businesses, each with their own unique flair - from interior designers to estate agents, we’ve worked on it all.
We have the expertise to design a sleek, SEO-optimised website for your business that features the perfect blend of copy, graphic design, and colour placement. The end result will be a stunning site that draws in all the clicks and conversions you've been looking for.
Want to learn more about our services? Have a chat with our friendly team! Simply get in touch online or call us on 01202 684400. We’d love to answer your questions and explain more about what we can do for your business, so don’t hesitate to reach out - we'd love to hear from you!
