When it comes to designing a website, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right colors. Colors can have a big impact on the look and feel of your website, as well as on the user experience. That’s why it’s important to choose a color scheme that not only looks good, but also enhances the overall design and functionality of your website.
The 60/30/10 rule: a guide to choosing colors for your website.
One popular guideline that can help you choose and balance colors on your website is the 60/30/10 rule. This rule suggests that you should use a combination of three colors, with the distribution being as follows:
- 60% of the website’s color should be the dominant color, which is the main color of the design. This color should be used for the background, large areas, or as the primary color of the website.
- 30% of the website’s color should be the secondary color, which complements the dominant color and can be used for elements such as headers, menus, or calls to action.
- 10% of the website’s color should be the accent color, which is a bright or bold color used to draw attention to specific elements such as buttons, links, or icons.
Why does this rule work? Because it helps create a balanced color scheme that is visually pleasing and easy on the eyes. By using a dominant color for the background and large areas, you can create a cohesive look that ties everything together. By adding a secondary color that complements the dominant color, you can create contrast and hierarchy, making it easier for users to navigate and understand the content. And by using an accent color sparingly, you can create a focal point and draw attention to important elements.
Examples of the 60/30/10 rule.
Purple background website
SwagApp.com shows that white doesn’t have to be your go-to background colors. On their website, purple acts as the neutral 60% base. A much darker purple pops at 30% density. The 10% can be seen in the multicolor image.
Orange text website.
CallingAnyone.com features a neutral cream base with mid-neutral vintage-sepia images taking up about a third of the screen space in total. Orange acts as a small pop at the center.
Are there any hard and fast rules to color in web design?
Of course, the 60/30/10 rule is just a guideline, and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing colors for your website. Ultimately, you should choose colors that reflect your brand and website goals, and that resonate with your target audience.
Color and emotions connect your people with your message.
You should also consider the emotions and associations that different colors can evoke, and use that knowledge to create a color scheme that enhances your brand message and connects with your users.
In conclusion, the 60/30/10 rule can be a useful tool in your web design arsenal, helping you create a balanced and visually pleasing color scheme for your website.
However, it’s important to remember that this is just a starting point, and that you should use your creativity and judgment to design a color scheme that works best for your brand and website goals.
Happy designing!
