Colorful website design examples

Colorful website design: using colour with intent

Colour is the fastest way to give a website a mood. Colourful websites use bold palettes, gradients and contrast to create energy, recognition and emotion. The challenge is to be vibrant without becoming chaotic.

The websites above show how different brands build a palette and make it work.

How colourful sites stay readable

• A clear hierarchy of colour. One or two dominant tones, with others used for emphasis.
• Neutral breathing room. White, cream or dark areas that let bright colours stand out.
• Strong contrast for text. Bright backgrounds need dark or very light text, checked against accessibility guidelines.
• Consistent use. The same colours always mean the same thing, such as actions, highlights or categories.
• Colour as part of the brand. The best palettes feel specific to the company and are repeated in illustration, photography and typography.

Pair colour with other styles

Colourful pairs naturally with playful tone and illustrated artwork, and with bold typography. For a contrasting approach, compare the dark and simple websites.

Every site in the collection shows its colour palette and typefaces on its detail page, which makes it easy to study how a palette is built.