color + contrast: turn your color palette into a powerful design tool
You’ve got a brand color palette—but now what? If you’re unsure how to actually use those colors in your social media, client documents, or even on your website, you’re not alone. A well-chosen palette is just the beginning; how you apply it determines whether your content is clear, compelling, or...kind of chaotic. In this post, I’ll walk you through a simple way to use color contrast and hierarchy to bring clarity, focus, and rhythm to your visuals—no overthinking required.
Featured Font :: Fifty Fifty
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Here’s an example of “high priority” messaging that would benefit from super high contrast:
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Here’s another example of “high priority” messaging that would benefit from high contrast:
We’re gettin’ fancy now! Tone-on-tone brings elegance and refinement to your brand message - just make sure you use it for something slightly less important. A bio section on your home page is a perfect example. It’s there if someone is interested in reading more, but it isn’t essential to understanding what your website is about.
Some messages are meant to be spoken softly. If you want to communicate something quietly/politely, consider using less contrast for a more muted look. By using a variety of contrast, you’ll be able to guide the eyes of your readers, showing them what to read first (highest contrast), next (medium contrast), and last (low contrast).
Here’s where you really start looking a pro! For non-essential info, like writing “Testimonial”—or, in this case, “Kind Words”—directly above a client’s testimonial, try using really LOW contrast to treat the type as a decorative element. Light text on a darker background is more difficult to read, but in this case, seeing/reading “Testimonial” is less important than the actual words of your client. Notice how your eyes move to the dark text first, even though it’s smaller? Magic.
When you understand how to use color hierarchy, your palette becomes more than pretty—it becomes powerful. With just a few contrast tweaks, you can guide the eye, create focus, and make your brand look sharp and intentional. Keep this framework handy the next time you’re designing, and watch your visuals do the heavy lifting.
