Colors and color combinations mean everything in a web design. This is the first presentation that a person sees and reflects if they will stay on your site or leave and go to another depending on what you are expressing in your color palate.

What colors mean?

Black is the color of authority and power. Black can also mean submission. Black can make an over powering statement mixed with bold alternative colors or it can be neutral as to make whatever you are showcasing come alive. For galleries on a web design I recommend a black background as it makes the pictures POP to the viewer and colors in the pictures seem more vibrant.

White reflects light and is the symbol of purity, innocence and sterility. Combined with other colors gives a clean outlook on a web design and is the most common and preferred background for reading on the internet.

Red is an intense color, shows power and energy. Red is commonly used on a web design when you want to increase energy levels to the viewer. Red is also used in food related sites as the color has been proven to increase the taste palate when viewed with foods. These are also used for highlights in targeting something you wish for the eye to be attracted to immediately.

Blue is the most common used of the color family and symbolizes the feeling of air, water and sky. It gives the sense to viewers of peace, tranquility and calming effect. It also symbolizes loyalty. For financial and medical fields that want to present themselves as trusting and a safe environment, blue is used in web design.

Green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing and relaxing color to viewers. Green can also symbolize wealth. Web design dealing with the well being or health products, I recommend a green or several green based palate.

Orange is a warm color and used in a sense of security. Making one feel secure when visiting or processing funds on a site. Orange is also a positive energy color to give the feeling of making viewers want to move.

Yellow is a power color and is often used in getting someone attention such as in highlighting. It also stimulates concentration and speeds up metabolism. I would use yellow in web design to create certain flows of energy and highlight certain areas where you want a reaction.

Purple symbolizes wealth, loyalty, luxury, romance and can be determined as feminine. Purple can be considered a playful color as well…as in toys as it is rare to see purple in a natural setting.

Brown is an earth tone as we see a lot of different brown tones in nature. Depending on the tone of brown used from light browns to darker tones can make the appearance to the viewer seem earthy and refreshing to intense and serious.


Color combinations – how to use it in creating a web site design.

Example – I have a client who is in the medical field and taking online payments. Design would have to be with the appearance of a clean site that is welcoming and secure to the clients.

Looking at the above color chart you will see a combination of White, blues, hints of green and orange maybe used to accomplish all of this.

Secured sites normally use the combination of blues and oranges to symbolize that you are on a safe and secured site.

Having the right combination of colors will keep visitors coming back time and time again to your site.

See how CWebArt examples has used colors in web design to make the presentation they want to their clients.