Colours possess a remarkable ability to evoke emotions and shape user behaviour in web design and branding. Using specific colours can achieve calming effects, elicit energy, or convey trust in a user experience.
Understanding colour psychology enables you to create a memorable and impactful brand experience that resonates with your online store customers.
In this article, you will learn more about colour psychology and how to best apply it to your Shopify store.
5 tips for choosing your website colours
According to studies, users decide if they like a product or service within 90 seconds or less, and this decision is based only on colour. So, avoid losing your visitors by tapping into colour psychology when designing your Shopify store.
Here are our top 5 tips on how to approach the use of colour on your website.
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Colours should align with your brand identity
Choosing the right colour palette is vital for your brand’s success. Your selected colours should align with your brand identity, target audience, and the emotions you want to evoke.
Consistency in colour usage across all touchpoints like websites, logos, marketing materials, packaging, and social networks is key when establishing brand identity and recognition.
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Colours should suit your industry
When choosing colours for your brand, industry relevance is essential. Consider your business niche since certain colours may be suitable for specific industries.
For example, bright and vibrant colours work well for fashion brands, while earthy and calming tones are ideal for wellness websites. Adapting the colours to your industry enhances your brand’s overall appeal.
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Consider the psychological effects
Consider the psychological impact of colours when designing your brand. Different colours evoke specific emotions.
For instance, red evokes excitement and passion, blue is known for evoking trust and calm, and green for freshness and trust. Utilising a colour palette that reflects these effects can strengthen your brand's message, ensuring a meaningful and memorable user experience.
Examples of how brands use colour psychology
Many brands have harnessed colour psychology to build a distinct brand presence; Coca-Cola and Apple are two among many.
Coca-Cola’s iconic red represents excitement and energy, which is consistently evident in their marketing materials.
Apple’s sleek white colour exudes purity and sophistication, which perfectly alights with their focus on innovation and user-friendly design. Yet another notable example is McDonald’s golden arches which evoke happiness and warmth.
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Use colours to create a visual hierarchy
Leveraging colours to establish visual hierarchy enhances web page design. Employ contrasting colours to direct user focus towards essential elements like call-to-action buttons, navigation menus, or key messages.
This strategic use of colours creates a seamless user experience that helps visitors engage more effectively with crucial aspects of your website.
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Keep colours readable and accessible
Maintaining readability and accessibility is vital when working with colours in web design. Make sure to use suitable contrasts between text and background colours to enhance readability. For example, if your background is light, use dark colours for the text.
Also, consider accessibility for users with visual impairments by using tools like colour contrast checkers to comply with accessibility guidelines. By prioritising readability and accessibility for your users, you will create a positive user experience for all your visitors.
Bonus tip: Keep analysing performance metrics
Our bonus tip for you is to prioritise continuous analysis of the performance metrics of your online store. Data analysis is crucial, so make sure to utilise A/B testing, also known as split testing.
By conducting these tests, you can gather valuable user feedback and use data to make informed decisions when designing and maintaining your Shopify store.
With these performance metrics, you can optimise your brand’s web design more effectively and consistently refine colour choices for a better user experience based on what actually works.
Key takeaway: Use colour psychology to your benefit
Utilise colour psychology to your advantage when designing your Shopify store. Different colours affect emotions, behaviour, and decision-making. Understand these effects to apply colours strategically in marketing, branding, design, and interactions.
Mastering colour psychology is a powerful tool to craft visually appealing and emotionally resonant websites that leave a lasting impression on visitors, leading to better engagement and success for your eCommerce.
Whether you want to optimise, create, or migrate your online store to Shopify, our seasoned experts are happy to help. We can help you handpick the perfect colour palette and hues as well as ensure that all key aspects of your Shopify store are up to date. Get in touch with us for a first call to discuss your needs.
