How colour can influence user experience

Colour can have a massive influence on our mood, so when drawing up a colour scheme for a design it's vital to get the combinations and intensity of colours right, to control the mood of the viewer, project the right image for the website and enhance the usability of the site.

Different colours conjure up various emotions and feelings:

Blue

This is the most popular colour in the world, regardless of cultural connotations. The darker end of this colour scale radiates domination and strength, while the lighter shades reflect a feeling of fantasy and dreamlike states.

Red

The colour of love, passion, rage and warning. It can be a hard colour to work with due to its intensity, so it should be used with care and caution - too much of it can be an eyesore. It?s definitely a colour that attracts attention and so can be used to highlight important messages on a site.

Orange

A colour associated with stimulation, enthusiasm and creativity. It's one of the more unpopular colours in the spectrum but is also a colour that can get you noticed. Similar to reds, it's best used sparsely.

Green

Conjures up an association with relaxation and peace. The image of forests, grass and nature springs to mind when we think of the colour green. It's considered a docile colour.

Brown

Brown, like green, is considered a peaceful colour, linked with tress, leaves and nature in general.

White

Linked with simplicity, sophistication and elegance, white is the most popular choice of background for a website. It is also referred to as negative space - the space in-between letters and graphical elements. The use of white space in web design is frequently overlooked. Using the right amount of white space can make all the difference between an eye-catching site and one that is an eyesore.