Can Colour Influence Users?

How does your website really communicate to people? When you have your website built for you, it’s often easier to accept a designer’s point of view. But when it comes to the colours involved, its time to expressive yourself.

For many years, colour has influenced our shopping habits. The fact that we all drive different coloured cars is a testament to that fact. Retailers have been using colour to affect the way we feel about a sales environment, packaging on products is also tailored to look aesthetically pleasing, and often colour is the first thing we are attracted to. But why do we see time and time again bland and lifeless websites?

During the creation of a website, it’s easy to go one of two ways: too little colour, or too much. Just because you have access to all the colours of the rainbow does not mean you should use them all, likewise, you should not be afraid to inject some life into a website that may be quite dry content wise.

Colours can instantly make someone interested in your site, or feel unwelcome. In fact a myriad of emotions can be created from overlooking this vital design element. Here are some colours, and the emotional consequence of them.

Red: Red is for the daring, however although it can signify fast, it also represents “danger”, “stop” or heat. Often red is used to imply a sales message – notable in retail shop windows. The same applies to your site.

Blue: This colour promotes trustworthiness, seriousness and calm. Often found on more business orientated sites, if a pale blue is used, the user tends to feel that the site is efficient, and reliable.

Green: This reminds people of money, commerce and selling. If used correctly it can identify sales messages like “order from us”, and puts users in a peaceful state of mind.

Yellow: Generally associated with playfulness, youth and movement, yellow can be used to highlight certain key words, but you must be careful not to use yellow on a white background, as it will be lost to the user.

Black: This is easily the most common colour in use on the internet. The vast majority if text appears in black, generally because text boxes are white in background and it’s far easier to read quickly. However, large slabs of Black colour on a website can look quite lifeless.

Purple: Often associated with royalty and justice, purple should generally be avoided as it also promotes uncertainty, and an unsettling feeling.

Neon: Popular with websites aimed at children, garish neon colours should be avoided if you intend to discuss serious issues that attract a more mature audience.

Neutral tones: Pastels and pale colours are great for attracting a more mature user. This type of colour looks great on folk music websites, or nature themed sites. Neutral tones are generally relaxing and charming.

It’s worth while to have a look for a colour chart on the web, so that you don’t make any mistakes like clashing colours.