Colour psychology for business branding: How to choose the right colours

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Colour says a lot about your business — so when you’re designing your logo and brand identity, make sure you’re sending the right message and setting the right tone. Environmental psychologists have been thinking about these sorts of associations for a long time. They’ve conducted rigorous scientific research into how seeing certain colours influences the way we think and behave. Here, we’re ranking colours from most to least popular based on Vista customer orders. You’ll also discover scientific data relating to many different colours and how to apply colour psychology to your small business branding — along with plenty of insights from Dr. Sally Augustin.

Blue

According to Vista’s data, blue is the most popular colour selected by their customers for marketing materials. “At a global level, if you ask people what their favourite colour is, they’re more likely to tell you it’s blue than any other colour”, Dr. Augustin says. “Researchers aren’t sure why blue is so popular, but we think its status may have something to do with the fact that during our early years as a species, the things that we valued were blue — for example, skies during good weather and water holes seen from a distance are both blue.”

Blue is generally associated with competence and trustworthiness. Those associations make blue colour schemes good options for businesses in the finance sector, as well as for businesses that require customers to place a lot of trust in them — maybe a veterinary office or a medical practice.

Black

“Black is a widely used and preferred shade”, Dr. Augustin explains. “Since many associate black with strength, sophistication, tradition and formality, its popularity isn’t surprising.” Black can be a great choice for your retail or fashion business if you want to convey sleekness, sophistication and luxury.

White

White is one of the most versatile colours out there — it can work for almost any industry since it’s so neutral. On its own, white represents modernity, simplicity and cleanliness. It’s a great brand colour choice for small businesses in the technology and health industries, as well as for high-end retail companies. White also makes a great accent colour if your primary brand colour is especially vibrant.

Green

“Seeing green, even briefly, has been tied to enhanced creative thinking, so using it in marketing materials may be a good idea if people need to do a little creative thinking to understand your appeal”, Dr. Augustin says.

Green is associated with nature and environmental responsibility, which can make greens good for businesses that prioritise their carbon footprint. Green is also linked to spring and rebirth, making it a good option for small businesses that help people start new lives — maybe you’re a dietitian or a tutor. “Marketing health or education products may also benefit from blue’s association with competence and trustworthiness”, Dr. Augustin adds.

Red

Red is linked to love, danger and excitement. “Research has shown that looking at red can degrade our analytical reasoning, but seeing red on a wall or similar surface does give us a burst of strength”, Dr. Augustin explains. “It’s the perfect colour to look at as you lift weights.” Science also says that red stimulates the appetite — so it can be a great fit for eateries of all kinds.

Pink

Pink represents romance and femininity, so it’s ideal for small businesses that target women as their primary customer base. And since there are so many shades of pink, it’s very versatile — it has a youthful energy that works well in many technology and fast-food brands.

Purple

Purple blends the excitement of red with the calmness of blue, which can help your brand appear luxurious, innovative or feminine. Purple isn’t as widely used as pink in brands geared towards women, but it’s definitely a feminine colour and can be great for your small business if you specialise in beauty, skincare or luxury retail.

Orange

Orange is an energetic colour, blending the excitement of red with the friendliness of yellow. Consider using orange in your branding if you want to communicate energy and boldness — maybe you’re a gym, travel company, or even a toy shop. Similarly to yellow, orange is perceived as a ‘cheap’ colour — so if you’re trying to communicate that you’re a high-end brand, consider using a different hue.

Grey

In between black and white, grey represents balance and neutrality. Grey is a great colour choice for professionals, like lawyers, financial planners and accountants, since it’s serious and has a corporate feel.

Yellow

What colour are people least likely to select as their favourite? Yellow. It’s generally pretty unpopular and is one of the colours least likely to be selected for marketing materials by Vista customers worldwide. “Despite being less favourable, there are always exceptions where yellow can be used as an accent colour to help stand out”, Dr. Augustin says.

If you use yellow as your primary logo colour, you’re communicating cheerfulness, accessibility, energy and friendliness. And unlike the luxuriousness of black, yellow is associated with affordability. So, yellow can be a great fit if you’re opening a fitness studio or casual eatery, or want to convey that your offerings are budget-friendly.

Brown

“Brown is linked in our minds to ruggedness”, Dr. Augustin says. We see a lot of utility businesses using brown, like construction companies or package delivery services, as well as more ‘earthy’ brands. This colour can make your branding appear more masculine, too, so it’s a good option if you’re targeting a male audience — maybe with a men’s clothing line or custom woodworking business.

What this means for your business

“The meanings we attach to colours are affected by the specific experiences we have with them, so select accordingly”, Dr. Augustin advises. “For example, if a popular new cartoon character is yellow, expect a few more positive responses to yellow than usual.” She recommends reviewing the brand colours you’re considering with your friends, family and prospective customers before you make a final decision.

“Remember, the colours you select send important messages. Choose wisely and apply what environmental psychologists have learned about the science of seeing colours.”