A guide to making your colours work for you (instead of against you)
You know that feeling when you land on a site and everything just… clicks? The colours feel balanced, the design breathes, and nothing feels like it’s shouting at you or hiding in plain sight. That harmony isn’t an accident — it’s the result of a thoughtful colour palette. If you’re designing WordPress themes, defining a standard colour palette is like giving yourself a head start every time. It’s your shortcut to consistency, accessibility, and (let’s be honest) fewer design headaches. Let’s dig into why a standard palette is worth your time, how to create one, and how to make sure it works with you, not against you.
Why Bother with a Standard Palette?
It’s tempting to pick colours on the fly, but a defined palette offers some solid benefits:
- Consistency: Your themes feel intentional and polished. Think of it as your design signature.
- Efficiency: No more starting from scratch each time. Your palette becomes your creative toolkit.
- Accessibility: Good contrast and thoughtful choices mean more people can actually use your sites. (Looking at you, WCAG 2.1 guidelines.)
- Professionalism: A cohesive design communicates care and attention to detail.
It’s like having a trusty set of paints — you know exactly what you’re working with.
The Building Blocks of Your Colour Palette
I like to break a palette into four core categories, keeping things simple and versatile:
- Primary Colours: Your dominant hues — the stars of the show. Use these for headers, buttons, or links.
- Secondary Colours: Supporting players that add depth. Great for highlights, menus, or interactive elements.
- Neutral Colours: Here’s where things get more nuanced:
- Base: Your main backgrounds. Think full pages, sections, or panels.
- Surface: For elements that float above the background — cards, modals, or subtle UI blocks.
- Contrast: Foreground elements like text and headings.
- Muted: A softer variation for secondary text, captions, or anything that needs to take a backseat.
- Accent Colours: These are your pops of flair — banners, notifications, icons. Use them sparingly, like seasoning.
Best Practice Tip:
The 60-30-10 Rule is your friend. Distribute your colours like this:
- 60% Base and Surface (backgrounds)
- 30% Primary and Secondary (UI elements)
- 10% Accent (calls to action, icons)
This keeps your design balanced and easy on the eyes.
A Simple Guide to Creating Your Palette
Here’s a practical way to get your palette in shape:
- Start with Intention:
What vibe are you going for? Warm and inviting? Cool and professional? Bold and energetic? Your colour choices should reflect that mood. - Pick Your Primary Colour:
This sets the tone. For example:- Blue: Trust, calm, professionalism.
- Green: Growth, nature, balance.
- Red: Energy, urgency, passion.
- Add Secondary Colours:
Choose 2-3 that complement your primary. Tools like Adobe Color, Paletton,or Coolors can help with this. - Define Your Neutrals:
- Base: A soft background.
- Surface: A subtle variation for elements like cards.
- Contrast: Strong text colour.
- Muted: For secondary text.
- Accent Colour:
A pop of colour to draw attention. - Check Accessibility: Use tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to make sure your text is easy to read. The minimum contrast ratio for body text is 4.5:1 (thanks, WCAG).
Or just ask ChatGPT :-)
Using Your Palette (and Sticking to It)
- Consistency: Use the same colours for the same elements. Buttons are always Primary, headings always Contrast — that sort of thing.
- Document It: Make a quick style guide with hex codes and examples. Tools like Figma or Sketch make this easy.
- Test It Out: Preview your colours on different screens and in dark/light modes. Real-world testing is key.
- Don’t Overdo It: Stick to your palette and avoid adding too many variations. Simplicity wins.
Final Thoughts
A standard colour palette isn’t just a design tool — it’s a creative compass. By splitting neutrals into Base, Surface, Contrast, and Muted, you get more control and clarity in your designs. You’ll save time, reduce frustration, and create WordPress themes that feel cohesive, accessible, and unmistakably yours.
What’s in your palette these days? I’d love to hear what works for you, or any combos you’re excited about.
Tags
DesignSystemsColourPalettesWebDesignWordPressAccessibility`