How do you use color in your blog?

[bbrian017]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Recently, I've been experimenting with the more subtle effects of color on the performance of a website. I wrote a post about my findings, and research on the psychology of color in websites:

The Psychology of Color in Webpages - Experiment Garden

This leads me to ask you: How do you use color in your blog or website? Do you think that particular colors can have special effects on your readers? How do you match the color of your blog with the audience of your blog?

I loved your article Nat!

This is the article I mentioned you in!

Design Strategies for Marketing your Blogs Brand

[Monkeyman09]

For different tabs or categories, a color theme could be used for each one. If it's a happy post, then use bright colors that coordinate with it. A sad post would get the same treatment.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by bbrian017

I loved your article Nat!

This is the article I mentioned you in!

Design Strategies for Marketing your Blogs Brand

Thanks Brian. I'm definitely glad that you enjoyed it.

[klutze]

For an overall theme I try to pick 3 colors and use a couple shades of each color.

As far as what color to pick, I look around at other related sites for inspiration and I try to pick colors that are generally associated to the topic. Finnaly, I narrow down the colors to what I find appealing

[Michigal]

Interesting article, Nathan.

I do disagree with some of the research mentioned. Men usually like the "warm" colors. Ask 10 men their favorite color, and I'd guess 8 would say red or orange. (My experience only though. ) Also I take exception with the "working class" designation, it makes color choice sound elitist. And it's not. Or worse, that "working class" people are simple. Not true.

I like how you combined the symbolism of the colors into your choices. Probably a lot of people do something like that subconsciously. BTW I like the entire design and color scheme of your site.

For myself the colors I chose have some symbolism to them. Dark blue for night, the gold in the header symbolizing the beam of a lighthouse. But the fact remains blue is just my plain favorite color...all shades of blue from robins egg to midnight.

[Nathan]

Thanks for commenting Michigal. From my experience and the studies that I have read about it seems that men tend to like cooler colors more than warmer colors. Of course there are always exceptions so it isn't a hard and fast rule. Also the preference for cooler colors may be a regional thing. In other countries there is bound to be a different preference set.

As far as the working class research goes, it is an unfortunate tendency that such studies based on wealth and social class are regarded as elitist. The interesting thing is that they are true and that they work.

If you do a little research on the subject you'll find that major companies use simple, plain colors to attract middle and poorer class people. In contrast, elitist companies use mixed colors and in-between shades to attract their audience. You'll find papers and research in which they say straight up "Use red, yellow, and other simple shades to attract a certain audience." Companies like McDonalds have tried everything and they know what works and what doesn't.

Why it works and what the meaning of its working is I don't go into. I don't think that it means that middle class people are simple. Rather I feel that middle and lower class people are conditioned to subconsciously like those colors and so they have a preference for them.

A lot of color symbolism is conditional, and is learned behavior. I wrote this article to show a little bit of my own research and my findings based on others research on the subject. If you take advantage of it then there are bound to be at least a few good side effects.

I'm glad you enjoyed the article.

[ThePiper]

I use flat black simply because I want the content to be the highlight...

[Nathan]

That works. However, you typically need a few splashes of color, as in Experiment Garden simply to make the blog memorable and interesting. If it is all black and white people won't remember your blog as distinct and fascinating.

[klutze]

Like Nathan mentioned, color is a great way to brand yourself with a unique blog that readers will remember.