Google made $200 million more just by tweaking their link color.
Sounds crazy, right? But color psychology in web design is that powerful.
The question is: Are your colors helping or hurting your conversions?
Dive into color psychology and learn how to apply it easily to boost engagement, trust, and conversions.
Why Colors Matter in Web Design (More Than You Think)
Colors are one of the first things visitors notice on a website.
They instantly create impressions, trigger emotions, and influence decisions—often before a single word is read.
So, let’s try something real quick:
👀 Close your eyes and imagine this—a website with bright red text on a neon yellow background, buttons flashing in five different colors, and everything screaming for attention.
Got the image? Alright, now shake that off.
Now, close your eyes again and imagine a sleek website with a deep blue background, crisp white text, and a few well-placed golden highlights.
Smooth, calm, professional.
Can you feel the difference?
That’s the power of color psychology in web design.
Used correctly, colors can boost engagement, build trust, and even increase conversions.
(And if you want a website that does all that—without the neon chaos—let’s talk 😉.)
The Psychology of Colors: What Each Color Communicates
Every color sends a message. Here’s a quick breakdown of what different colors make people feel:
Blue → Trust, calm, professionalism.
Used by banks, corporate websites, and tech brands to convey reliability.
Can feel cold or distant if overused.Red → Energy, urgency, passion.
Great for call-to-action buttons or limited-time offers.
Can feel aggressive if used too much.Yellow → Optimism, warmth, friendliness.
Works well for highlighting key areas but should be used sparingly.
Too much can be overwhelming.Green → Nature, relaxation, stability.
Often used for eco-friendly brands and financial sites.
Dark green can also feel luxurious.Orange → Energy, creativity, enthusiasm.
Perfect for brands that want to feel approachable and dynamic.Purple → Luxury, creativity, sophistication.
Frequently seen in beauty, fashion, and artistic industries.-
Black, Gold & Gray
- Black → Modern, sleek, powerful. Can feel heavy if overused.
- Gold → Luxury, exclusivity, premium quality.
- Gray → Neutrality, professionalism, balance.
Choosing the right colors isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about how you want your audience to feel.
Real-World Example: My Own Website
When designing my own website, I chose a dark theme with turquoise accents.
Here’s why:
✅ Dark backgrounds feel modern, sleek, and professional.
✅ Turquoise (a shade of blue) conveys trust, calmness, and reliability—exactly the qualities I want to project.
✅ It’s also my personal favorite color, making my brand feel authentic and unique.
💡 Fun Fact: Google ran a "41 shades of blue" experiment to determine the best link color.
The winning shade reportedly increased their revenue by $200 million per year—just by optimizing their link color.
Not bad, right? 😄
But I didn’t stop at turquoise.
I wanted more depth and personality, so I incorporated orange, purple, and green as secondary colors.
Each of these highlights key qualities of my services:
- Orange → Creativity & innovation
- Purple → Premium quality & uniqueness
- Green → Balance & reliability
Common Mistakes When Choosing Colors
Avoid these color pitfalls if you want a website that looks great and converts well:
❌ Bad Color Combinations – Some colors just don’t work well together (e.g., red and green, yellow and purple).
❌ Low Contrast – Text should always be easy to read. Avoid light gray text on white backgrounds!
❌ Too Many Colors – A cluttered color palette confuses visitors. Stick to 1-2 primary colors + 1-3 accents.
❌ Random Color Choices – Every color should have a purpose. Don't pick colors just because they look cool—make sure they align with your brand message.
Final Thoughts: How to Use Colors Effectively
Colors do more than make your website look nice—they shape user experience, trust, and conversions.
🔹 Choose colors that align with your brand identity.
🔹 Use contrast wisely for readability.
🔹 Keep it simple—too many colors can overwhelm users.
🔹 Test different color schemes to see what resonates best with your audience.
By using colors strategically, you’ll create a visually appealing, memorable, and high-converting website.
And some (not-so-)subtle ads: :DD
🚀 If you want help designing a website that actually works, I'd be thrilled to offer you any help I can: Per Starke Web Development
Top comments (1)
What colors are you using on your website? And why? Curios to know!