How To Choose A Color Pallette
How I choose the right color palette for a brand
Picking the perfect color palette for a brand isn’t just about what looks good-it’s about choosing colors that tell a story, spark emotion, and make a lasting impression. whether your building a brand from scratch or giving it a fresh look, here’s how I approach color selection in a thoughtful and strategic way.
Why Color Is a big deal?
Colors do a lot of heavy lifting in branding. they shape how people feel about your business, influence your decisions, and help you stand out. Think about how instantly recognizable brands like Coca-Cola or Facebook are-color plays a huge role in that.
Step 1: Know your brand inside and out
Before I even think about colors, I get clear on the brand’s personality.
For example:
What does the brand stand for?
What kind of vibe should we give off?
Is it fun and quirky, or sleek and professional?
For Example:
A trustworthy, corporate brand might lean towards blues and grays.
A youthful, energetic brand might go for greens and oranges.
A luxury brand might choose deep purples or golds.
Step 2: Tap into color psychology
Colors carry meaning. Here’s a quick cheat sheet I use:
Red: passionate, bold, urgent.
Blue: calm, reliable, trustworthy
Green: Natural, fresh, balanced
Yellow: cheerful, optimistic, attention grabbing
Purple: creative, luxurious, mysterious
Black: elegant, powerful, timeless
White: clean, simple, pure
I pick colors that reflect the emotions i want the brand to evoke.
Step 3: Look at the landscape
I always check out what others in the same industry are doing. It helps to:
Spot common trends
Find ways to stand out
For instance, tech brands often use blue to signal trust, while wellness brands might use green and neutrals to feel grounded and natural.
Build a Color Palette that works
A good palette usually includes:
Main Color: the star of the show
Supporting colors: To add depth and flexibility
Accent colors: for highlights and calls to action
Neutrals: for background and text
I use tools like Adobe Color , Adobe Express, or Coolors to play around and see how they look together.
Step 5: Test it everyw.here
Colors need to work on all platforms-web, print, social media, and packaging.
I make sure they’re readable and accessible.
They look good in both light and dark modes.
They stay consistent no matter where they appear.
My Final Tips:
Keep it simple - 3 to 5 colors is usually plenty.
Document everything-HEX, RGB, and CMYK codes.
Be consistent-use your palette across all brand materials.