The Battle of the Palette: Balancing Form and Function
Chuck: Let’s look at this practically. If I open your website and see neon green text on a white background, the first thing I notice isn’t the content—it’s the eyestrain. Color is definitely about style, but from where I sit, it’s also a crucial function of the user interface.
Kim: Exactly. Choosing a color scheme is often the first place DIY website builders get stuck. It’s tempting to just pick your favorite colors, but we have to think about how those colors work together and how they welcome the visitor.
Chuck: Right. Kim handles the “welcome” part. I handle the “make sure they can actually read it” part.
Kim: That’s why we work best as a team. A great website needs to satisfy the “Art” (that’s me) and the “Science” (that’s Chuck).
The Psychology: Setting the Mood (Kim’s Take)
When I hop on a call with a new client or visit their shop, I can usually pick up on their vibe immediately. Your website needs to convey that same feeling digitally. Colors act as a shortcut to the brain, evoking emotions before the user even reads a single headline.
- Blue: Trust, stability, professionalism. It’s a staple for our corporate and service-based clients for a reason.
- Red: Urgency, passion, energy. Great for a “Call Now” button, but it can be overwhelming if used too much.
- Green: Growth, health, money. Obviously a go-to for landscaping and finance, but also great for wellness brands.
- Black & White: Luxury, sophistication, minimalism.
If you run a compassionate service like a funeral home or a therapy practice, a loud, high-contrast palette might send the wrong message. You have to match the palette to the expectation of the customer.
The Science: Contrast and Accessibility (Chuck’s Take)
While Kim is dialing in the emotional resonance, I’m looking at the metrics. Specifically, I’m looking at the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Here is the reality: a significant portion of the population has some form of color blindness or low vision. If you put light gray text on a white background because it looks “modern,” you might be unintentionally blocking users from reading your offer.
Google notices this, too. Mobile usability scores rely heavily on legible font sizes and color contrast. I stick to high-contrast pairings to ensure the site performs well. It’s not just about rules; it’s about math. We use tools to verify that the hex code of your background and the hex code of your font have enough separation to be readable by everyone; and by search engine bots.
The Golden Rule: 60-30-10
Kim: So, how do we mix these colors without it looking messy? We use the 60-30-10 rule. It’s a classic interior design concept that translates perfectly to web layouts.
- 60% Primary Color: This is your base. Usually a neutral like white, cream, or a soft gray. It provides plenty of “white space” for the eyes to rest.
- 30% Secondary Color: This supports the primary color. It’s usually your main brand color (like the Team 218 Blue). We use this for headers, footers, and graphical elements.
- 10% Accent Color: This is the “pop.” It’s used for Call-to-Action buttons. It needs to stand out so the user knows exactly where to click.
Chuck: From a development standpoint, this rule keeps the code efficient. We don’t want to engage in “rainbow spaghetti” code.
With Divi 5’s new global variables, it’s actually incredibly easy to set these colors and change them throughout the site so we get it just right. If we decide that the “Secondary Blue” needs to be a shade warmer, we tweak the variable in one spot, and the entire website updates instantly. This consistency makes the site load faster and makes future updates or rebranding much easier to manage.
Final Thoughts
Kim: Think of your color scheme as your business’s digital outfit. You want to look put-together, professional, and approachable.
Chuck: And you want to make sure that outfit is functional. If you’re staring at a color wheel and feeling stuck, don’t worry about it.
Kim: We can help. Whether you need a fresh look or a total rebrand, Team 218 is here to blend the art and the science for you.
Chuck: We’ll make sure it looks good and works perfectly.
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