Ah, colours. They’re fun, they’re fabulous, and they can make or break your brand. Whether you’re picking shades for your website, social media, or marketing materials, getting your colour palette right is one of the easiest ways to make your brand look polished and cohesive.

Let’s dive into the basics of colour palettes, hex codes, accessibility, and that all-important button colour – and keep it joyful and stress-free!

What’s a Colour Palette, Anyway? 🌈

Your colour palette is like your brand’s wardrobe. It’s a carefully selected set of colours that you’ll use consistently across everything – your website, emails, social media posts, and more.

A good palette usually includes:

✨ Primary colours – The stars of the show, used most often (think logo and key visuals).

✨ Secondary colours – Supporting actors to add depth and variety.

✨ Neutral colours – Background heroes like whites, greys, and blacks.

Hex Codes: The Secret Sauce 🔢

Ever seen something like #FF5733? That’s a hex code – a 6-digit code that tells your computer exactly which shade of orange (or blue, or green) to use. Hex codes are your best friend for consistency.

If you’ve ever tried to match a shade “by eye” (spoiler alert: it never works), you’ll love this. Just grab the hex code for your brand colours and use it across your website, Canva designs, or social media platforms.

👉 Pro Tip: Use a tool like Coolors or Adobe Color to explore and save hex codes for your palette.

Accessibility: Colours Everyone Can See 👁️

Not all colours are created equal when it comes to accessibility. Some combinations can be hard to read – or worse, completely invisible – for people with visual impairments.

To make sure your brand is easy to engage with:

🌟 Use high contrast between text and background colours.

🌟 Avoid colour pairings that might be hard for colourblind users (like red and green).

🌟 Test your palette with tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker.

Accessible design isn’t just kind – it’s professional.

Why Your Button Shouldn’t Be Your Primary Colour 🔘

Here’s a common mistake: using your primary brand colour for everything, including your call-to-action (CTA) buttons. While it seems logical, it can make your buttons blend in rather than stand out.

Instead, pick a contrasting colour for your buttons – one that catches the eye but still works within your palette. For example:

💡 If your primary colour is blue, try orange or yellow for buttons.

💡 If your primary colour is pink, a bold green might work.

This small change can dramatically improve clicks and conversions.

How to Choose a Button Colour That Works

1.Look at your existing palette and pick a colour that contrasts with your primary shade.

2.Test it on your website to make sure it stands out without clashing.

3.Check the contrast to ensure it’s readable for all users (see accessibility above).

Your Colour Checklist ✅

✅ Choose 3–5 colours for your palette: primary, secondary, and neutral.

✅ Save hex codes for all your brand colours to keep things consistent.

✅ Test your colours for accessibility using a contrast checker.

✅ Pick a contrasting button colour that stands out from your primary shade.

✅ Apply your palette consistently across all platforms and designs.

Feeling inspired?

If you want to create a cohesive, accessible colour palette that works everywhere, I’d love to help. Let’s chat! Book a Free Clarity Call Here

What do you think? Joyful enough? Let me know if you’d like to tweak anything!