Custom. Creating a custom color scheme isn’t as complicated as many people think. There is a simple trick you can employ to create great color palette: Simply add a bright accent color into an otherwise neutral palette (e.g. a traditional monochromatic scheme). The newly-created scheme will be one that’s very visually striking.

Adding one color to a grayscale design draws the eye simply and effectively. A layout with a combination of white and grey splashed with accents of blue in Dropbox color scheme.

2. Be Inspired by Nature

The best color combinations come from nature. Why? Because those schemes seem natural to the eye. To get inspired, we only need to look around us. If you see a particularly beautiful or striking color in your daily life, try creating a scheme around it. Simply take a picture of a beautiful moment and create your color scheme from it.

The best color combinations come from nature. You can create a color scheme from the shot.

3. Try to Follow 60–30–10 Rule

The 60–30–10 is a simple rule that will help you create well-balanced color palettes. The idea is that one color (usually, a neutral color) makes up 60 percent of the palette. Another complementary color makes up 30 percent of the palette. A third color, which is used as an accent, takes the remaining 10 percent. This formula works because it creates a sense of balance.

60% is your dominant hue, 30% is secondary color and 10% is for accent color. This technique allows the eye to move comfortably from one focal point to other.

4. Avoid Using the Color Black

In real life, pure black almost never exists. All of the “black” objects around us have some amount of light bouncing off of them, which means they aren’t truly black, they’re dark grey. Roads aren’t black. Shadows aren’t black.

The color of this wolf is dark grey, not black.

When you place pure black next to a set of meticulously picked colors, the black overpowers everything else. It stands out because it’s not natural. Lots of the apps we use on a daily basis have blacks that aren’t really blacks, but dark greys instead.

5. Set Importance Using Color Contrast

Сolor is a tool that can help guide the eye. The more you want something to stand out, the more you should rely on contrasting colors. Generally, high contrast is the best choice for important content or key elements. If you want users to see or click something, make it stand out!

Contrast makes the area look different than the rest of the screen. the more you want something to stand out, the more you should rely on contrasting colors.

6. Use Color to Impact Users’ Emotions

It’s a well-known fact that colors have inherent meanings and can provoke emotions. These meanings will have a direct impact on the way your users perceive your product.

“Color creates, enhances, changes, reveals and establishes the mood of the painting.” — Kiff Holland

When you’re choosing a color palette for your app/site, you can’t just be thinking about how things look — you have to think about how they feel too. The colors you choose can either work for or against the brand identity you’re trying to create. To get you started, I’ve compiled a quick reference guide that covers the basic associations with each color (in the western world).

Red, Orange, Yellow

Red (Passionate, Powerful, Dangerous, Important): Red is an extremely stimulating color. It gives the impression of speed and power. It’s known as the color of energy. It has proven physiological effects of increasing blood circulation and raising metabolism. That’s why when people see red, they read stronger and faster. Using red is a way to grab users’ attention or highlight an individual element that requires attention.

(Passionate, Powerful, Dangerous, Important): Red is an extremely stimulating color. It gives the impression of speed and power. It’s known as the color of energy. It has proven physiological effects of increasing blood circulation and raising metabolism. That’s why when people see red, they read stronger and faster. Using red is a way to grab users’ attention or highlight an individual element that requires attention. Orange (Playful, Energetic, Attractive, Cheap): Orange is a warm and vibrant color. It has an energetic aura and is able to create a warm welcoming feeling for your users. Some researchers find that orange denotes cheapness.

(Playful, Energetic, Attractive, Cheap): Orange is a warm and vibrant color. It has an energetic aura and is able to create a warm welcoming feeling for your users. Some researchers find that orange denotes cheapness. Yellow (Cheerful, Friendly, Stimulative, Attention-seeking): Yellow is an extremely versatile color depending on the which shade you choose. Light yellow is associated with the sun and hence communicates positivity and warmth. Dark shades of yellow (like gold) give the impression of antiquity and age. These darker shades are often related to the timelessness and wisdom.

Green, Blue, Purple

Green (Natural, Safe, Fresh): Green reflects a sense of environmentalism and closeness to nature. It also signifies growth, and that’s why it’s often associated with business. Green signifies a sense of right or wrong.

(Natural, Safe, Fresh): Green reflects a sense of environmentalism and closeness to nature. It also signifies growth, and that’s why it’s often associated with business. Green signifies a sense of right or wrong. Blue (Calming, Responsible, Trustworthy, Reliable): The color blue is often associated with calm and relaxing emotions. It’s also associated with strength and reliability, giving a sense of trust and professionalism. Blue emits feelings of inner security. That’s why you may see banks and technology businesses using the color. Social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all utilize the color blue on their networks.

(Calming, Responsible, Trustworthy, Reliable): The color blue is often associated with calm and relaxing emotions. It’s also associated with strength and reliability, giving a sense of trust and professionalism. Blue emits feelings of inner security. That’s why you may see banks and technology businesses using the color. Social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all utilize the color blue on their networks. Purple (Luxurious, Mysterious, Romantic, Spirituality): Historically linked to royalty, purple insinuates that a product is high-end.

Pink, Black, White, Gray