About The Author Cameron Chapman is a professional Web and graphic designer with over 6 years of experience. She writes for a number of blogs and is the author of The Smashing … More about Cameron Chapman …

Color Theory for Designers, Part 1: The Meaning of Color

Smashing Newsletter Every week, we send out useful front-end & UX techniques. Subscribe and get the Smart Interface Design Checklists PDF delivered to your inbox. Your (smashing) email Subscribe →

There are few things in design that are more subjective—or more important—than the use of color. A color that can evoke one reaction in one person may evoke the opposite reaction in another, due to culture, prior association, or even just personal preference. [Content Update: August 2017]

Color theory is a science and art unto itself, which some build entire careers on, as color consultants or sometimes brand consultants. Knowing the effects color has on a majority of people is an incredibly valuable expertise that designers can master and offer to their clients.

Understanding Concepts And Color Terminology To use color effectively in your designs, you’ll need to know a few color concepts, as well as some color theory terminology. Read part 2 →

There’s a lot to it, though. Something as simple as changing the exact hue or saturation of a color can evoke a completely different feeling. Cultural differences can compound those effects, with a hue that’s happy and uplifting in one country becoming depressing in another.

Free 30-Day Trial The Ultimate Web Designer Toolbox We have teamed up with Envato to give our readers 30 days of free access to the industry's biggest subscription - Envato Elements. The subscription gives unlimited downloads to over 50 Million Assets such as WordPress Themes, Plugins, Photos and UI Kits. No download limits, and full commercial license. The first 30 days are on us! Get started now - cancel anytime. Download Now

This is the first in a three-part series on color theory. Here we’ll discuss the meanings behind the different color families, and give some examples of how these colors are used (with a bit of analysis for each). In Part 2 we’ll talk about how hue, chroma, value, saturation, tones, tints and shades affect the way we perceive colors. And in Part 3 we’ll discuss how to create effective color palettes for your own designs.

See Also:

Hex Color – The Code Side Of Color

Warm Colors

Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow, and variations of those three colors. These are the colors of fire, of fall leaves, and of sunsets and sunrises, and are generally energizing, passionate, and positive.

Red and yellow are both primary colors, with orange falling in the middle (making it a secondary color), which means warm colors are all truly warm and aren’t created by combining a warm color with a cool color. Use warm colors in your designs to reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm, and energy.

Red (Primary Color)

Red is a very hot color. It’s associated with fire, violence, and warfare. It’s also associated with love and passion. In history, it’s been associated with both the Devil and Cupid. Red can actually have a physical effect on people, raising blood pressure and respiration rates. It’s been shown to enhance human metabolism, too.

Red can be associated with anger, but is also associated with importance (think of the red carpet at awards shows and celebrity events). Red also indicates danger (the reason stop lights and signs are red, and that warning labels are often red).

Outside the western world, red has different associations. For example, in China, red is the color of prosperity and happiness. It can also be used to attract good luck. In other eastern cultures, red is worn by brides on their wedding days. In South Africa, however, red is the color of mourning. Red is also associated with communism.

Red has become the color associated with AIDS awareness in Africa due to the popularity of the [RED] campaign.

In design, red can be a powerful accent color. It can have an overwhelming effect if it’s used too much in designs, especially in its purest form. It’s a great color to use when power or passion want to be portrayed in the design. Red can be very versatile, though, with brighter versions being more energetic and darker shades being more powerful and elegant.

Examples

The bright red of the illustration on the homepage of Nacache Design’s site gives the page a ton of energy and vibrancy.

The bright pinkish red of the background on Ming Lab’s website is inviting and passionate.

The muted red on the Startup Lab website is energetic without being aggressive.

Bigsound Buzz’s website uses a monochromatic design of various shades and tones of red, which in this instance gives a poppy, retro vibe.

Build in Amsterdam’s website uses a vibrant red accent color that draws attention to the middle of the page immediately.

Orange (Secondary Color)

Orange is a very vibrant and energetic color. In its muted forms it can be associated with the earth and with autumn. Because of its association with the changing seasons, orange can represent change and movement in general. Orange is also strongly associated with creativity.

Because orange is associated with the fruit of the same name, it can be associated with health and vitality. In designs, orange commands attention without being as overpowering as red. It’s often considered more friendly and inviting, and less in-your-face.

Examples

Bitter Renter’s bright and bold home page takes full advantage of the energy that orange can provide to a design.

We Are Not Sisters’ dark orange, oversized typography makes an immediate impact.

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street’s subtle use of orange as an accent color shows it can be used in more elegant and conservative designs.

Sbjct mixes a subtle peach color with a dark orange for a more monochromatic design that still has a lot of energy.

Robin De Niro also uses a very light peach background with two shades of orange for the typography, in a much more understated design.

Yellow (Primary Color)

Yellow is often considered the brightest and most energizing of the warm colors. It’s associated with happiness and sunshine. Yellow can also be associated with deceit and cowardice, though (calling someone yellow is calling them a coward).

Yellow is also associated with hope, as can be seen in some countries when yellow ribbons are displayed by families who have loved ones at war. Yellow is also associated with danger, though not as strongly as red.

In some countries, yellow has very different connotations. In Egypt, for example, yellow is for mourning. In Japan, it represents courage and in India it’s a color for merchants.

In your designs, bright yellow can lend a sense of happiness and cheerfulness. Softer yellows are commonly used as a gender-neutral color for babies (rather than blue or pink) and young children. Light yellows also give a more calm feeling of happiness than bright yellows. Dark yellows and gold-hued yellows can sometimes look antique and be used in designs where a sense of permanence is desired.

Examples

Kettle’s not-quite-true-yellow is lively and vibrant without being overwhelming.

Deskpass uses a slightly darker yellow, giving it an eye-catching but slightly muted look.

Toyfight uses a bright goldenrod background, but otherwise keeps their design simple and straightforward.

Milano Contract District’s website is simple and minimalist, with all of the impact of the design coming from the bright yellow background.

Susa Ventures uses a goldenrod hue as an accent color in their typography to great effect.

Cool Colors

Cool colors include green, blue, and purple, are often more subdued than warm colors. They are the colors of night, of water, of nature, and are usually calming, relaxing, and somewhat reserved.

Blue is the only primary color within the cool spectrum, which means the other colors are created by combining blue with a warm color (yellow for green and red for purple).

Because of this, green takes on some of the attributes of yellow, and purple takes on some of the attributes of red. Use cool colors in your designs to give a sense of calm or professionalism.

Green (Secondary Color)

Green is a very down-to-earth color. It can represent new beginnings and growth. It also signifies renewal and abundance. Alternatively, green can also represent envy or jealousy, and a lack of experience.

Green has many of the same calming attributes that blue has, but it also incorporates some of the energy of yellow. In design, green can have a balancing and harmonizing effect, and is very stable.

It’s appropriate for designs related to wealth, stability, renewal, and nature. Brighter greens are more energizing and vibrant, while olive greens are more representative of the natural world. Dark greens are the most stable and representative of affluence.

Examples

The site for Memory is Our Homeland uses a blue-green hue that’s energized by the yellow typography without being too bright.

The Rhythm of Food’s site uses a bright kelly green that’s ideal for a site that ties together food and information.

Rich, hunter green makes a great accent color on an elegant restaurant website like Le Farfalle Osteria’s.

Anna Rosa Krau’s website has a soft sage green background, which works almost as a neutral for this portfolio.

HelloMind’s bright green background is youthful and gives a sense of growth (in line with their product for improving your brain function).

Studio Farquhar’s lime green accents are punchy and modern, and stand out in their minimalist layout.

Blue (Primary Color)

Blue is often associated with sadness in the English language. Blue is also used extensively to represent calmness and responsibility. Light blues can be refreshing and friendly. Dark blues are more strong and reliable. Blue is also associated with peace and has spiritual and religious connotations in many cultures and traditions (for example, the Virgin Mary is generally depicted wearing blue robes).

The meaning of blue is widely affected depending on the exact shade and hue. In design, the exact shade of blue you select will have a huge impact on how your designs are perceived. Light blues are often relaxed and calming. Bright blues can be energizing and refreshing. Dark blues, like navy, are excellent for corporate sites or designs where strength and reliability are important.

Examples

The bright blue background of the Future of Design Survey results website homepage stands out, and is then used as an accent color throughout the rest of the site.

Versett uses a bright blue as the primary color on their website, along with a number of other bright hues to differentiate different sections.

Deep Mind’s website uses various shades of blue for its background, giving it a trustworthy, authoritative feel.

Purple (Secondary Color)

In ancient times, the dyes used for creating purple hues were extracted from snails and were very expensive, so only royals and the very wealthy could afford them.

Purple is a combination of red and blue and takes on some attributes of both. It’s associated with creativity and imagination, too.

In Thailand, purple is the color of mourning for widows. Dark purples are traditionally associated with wealth and royalty, while lighter purples (like lavender) are considered more romantic.

In design, dark purples can give a sense wealth and luxury. Light purples are softer and are associated with spring and romance.

Examples

The first project in Filippo Bello’s portfolio uses a purple color scheme that adds to the sense of creativity.

The site for the One Shared House documentary uses a vibrant shade of purple and hot pink accents to give a sense of energy, creativity, and imagination.

On Content Stack, reddish purple works great as an accent color against a neutral background, and draws attention to important page elements, like buttons.

Purple is the perfect hue for a creative endeavor like KIKK Festival 2016.

Neutrals

Neutral colors often serve as the backdrop in design. They’re commonly combined with brighter accent colors. But they can also be used on their own in designs, and can create very sophisticated layouts. The meanings and impressions of neutral colors are much more affected by the colors that surround them than are warm and cool colors.

Black

Black is the strongest of the neutral colors. On the positive side, it’s commonly associated with power, elegance, and formality. On the negative side, it can be associated with evil, death, and mystery. Black is the traditional color of mourning in many Western countries. It’s also associated with rebellion in some cultures, and is associated with Halloween and the occult.

Black, when used as more than an accent or for text, is commonly used in edgier designs, as well as in very elegant designs. It can be either conservative or modern, traditional or unconventional, depending on the colors it’s combined with. In design, black is commonly used for typography and other functional parts, because of its neutrality. Black can make it easier to convey a sense of sophistication and mystery in a design.

Examples

The faded black (technically dark gray, but close enough to black that it makes sense to classify it as such) of the DUA website works beautifully in such a minimalist design.

Anonymous Hamburger Society’s black background is a perfect canvas for the amazing food photos on the site.

Many of the images on Timothy Saccenti’s portfolio are dominated by black, which is also the color of the transparent menu, giving the entire site an edgy, modern feel.

Minimal design with black used as an accent color gives Heco’s site a super modern feeling.

The black hue used here along with the animation gives it an edgy, almost creepy feel.

White

White is at the opposite end of the spectrum from black, but like black, it can work well with just about any other color. White is often associated with purity, cleanliness, and virtue. In the West, white is commonly worn by brides on their wedding day. It’s also associated with the healthcare industry, especially with doctors, nurses and dentists. White is associated with goodness, and angels are often depicted in white.

In much of the East, however, white is associated with death and mourning. In India, it is traditionally the only color widows are allowed to wear.

In design, white is generally considered a neutral backdrop that lets other colors in a design have a larger voice. It can help to convey cleanliness and simplicity, though, and is popular in minimalist designs. White in designs can also portray either winter or summer, depending on the other design motifs and colors that surround it.

Examples

Black & Wood uses white as both a background and an accent color (in their typography, for example), giving the site a very clean feel.

The mostly white background of Nuno Coelho Santos’s website contributes to the modern aesthetic.

Skylark’s website uses white typography to lend the site a cleaner feeling without going minimalist in the design itself.

Spent uses white typography to lend a modern yet soft look to the site.

Dwell uses white as an accent color on their splash page, a very unique but effective choice for something that includes a CTA.

Gray

Gray is a neutral color, generally considered on the cool end of the color spectrum. It can sometimes be considered moody or depressing. Light grays can be used in place of white in some designs, and dark grays can be used in place of black.

Gray is generally conservative and formal, but can also be modern. It is sometimes considered a color of mourning. It’s commonly used in corporate designs, where formality and professionalism are key. It can be a very sophisticated color. Pure grays are shades of black, though other grays may have blue or brown hues mixed in. In design, gray backgrounds are very common, as is gray typography.

Examples

The Round website is very modern, with various shades of gray used to delineate different sections of the site.

The gray background on the For Office Use Only website is so subtle it almost appears white, and gives the site a very modern feel.

Gray takes on a sophisticated yet down-to-earth feeling on the Shinola website.

Gray is a perfect background color for a portfolio of illustrations.

Brown

Brown is associated with the earth, wood, and stone. It’s a completely natural color and a warm neutral. Brown can be associated with dependability and reliability, with steadfastness, and with earthiness. It can also be considered dull.

In design, brown is commonly used as a background color. It’s also seen in wood textures and sometimes in stone textures. It helps bring a feeling of warmth and wholesomeness to designs. It’s sometimes used in its darkest forms as a replacement for black, either in backgrounds or typography.

Examples

Trefecta uses warm brown as an accent color for buttons and CTAs, an unexpected choice given the modernity of the rest of the design.

The cream background and brown typography of Yasuhiro Yokota’s portfolio site is warm and earthy, while still serving as just a good a backdrop for design work as shades of gray.

Off & On Barber Shop uses various brown elements for the bulk of their site, giving it an old-fashioned feeling.

Umbert Cessari’s website uses various shades of brown for accent colors throughout, giving it an earthy appeal.

Green Rebel’s website uses brown for much of their typography and graphics throughout, as well as in some of the textures, lending an organic feel.

Beige and Tan

Beige is somewhat unique in the color spectrum, as it can take on cool or warm tones depending on the colors surrounding it. It has the warmth of brown and the coolness of white, and, like brown, is sometimes seen as dull. It’s a conservative color in most instances, and is usually reserved for backgrounds. It can also symbolize piety.

Beige in design is generally used in backgrounds, and is commonly seen in backgrounds with a paper texture. It will take on the characteristics of colors around it, meaning it has little effect in itself on the final impression a design gives when used with other colors.

Examples

People Map’s website uses a more gold shade of tan, giving the site an upscale feel, especially when combined with the site’s typography.

Plane Site’s warm tan background color feels modern without feeling minimalist.

La Pierre Qui Tourne’s website uses a variety of shades of tan for their primary color palette, alongside some great brights for a very fun feeling design.

The Mile Inn site combines modern typography with a beige and black color palette for a site that feels retro and hip.

The tan accent color used on this site is entirely unexpected and gives it a Mid-Century Modern look.

Cream and Ivory

Ivory and cream are sophisticated colors, with some of the warmth of brown and a lot of the coolness of white. They’re generally quiet, and can often evoke a sense of history. Ivory is a calm color, with some of the pureness associated with white, though it’s a bit warmer.

In design, ivory can lend a sense of elegance and calm to a site. When combined with earthy colors like peach or brown, it can take on an earthy quality. It can also be used to lighten darker colors, without the stark contrast of using white.

Examples

The barely-there ivory background of Stefanie Bruckler’s portfolio site is a welcome change of pace from the typical neutral gray, giving it a timeless look.

Rich cream feels like a very modern and even edgy accent color when used with a black background.

Cream is an unexpected background color choice for a website focusing on those in the tech industry, but gives it a warm, human touch.

Considering how odd the film The Lobster is, their use of a pale off-white background for the website is an unexpectedly subdued choice that feels very modern.

Sweet Magnolia Gelato’s rich cream background is a perfect neutral for a warm and inviting design.

In Brief…

While the information contained here might seem just a bit overwhelming, color theory is as much about the feeling a particular shade evokes than anything else. But here’s a quick reference guide for the common meanings of the colors discussed above:

Red: Passion, Love, Anger

Passion, Love, Anger Orange: Energy, Happiness, Vitality

Energy, Happiness, Vitality Yellow: Happiness, Hope, Deceit

Happiness, Hope, Deceit Green: New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature

New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature Blue: Calm, Responsible, Sadness

Calm, Responsible, Sadness Purple: Creativity, Royalty, Wealth

Creativity, Royalty, Wealth Black: Mystery, Elegance, Evil

Mystery, Elegance, Evil Gray: Moody, Conservative, Formality

Moody, Conservative, Formality White: Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue

Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue Brown: Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability

Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability Tan or Beige: Conservative, Piety, Dull

Conservative, Piety, Dull Cream or Ivory: Calm, Elegant, Purity

Further Resources

The Whole Series