Stunning Color Combinations Drawn from Notable, Prize-Winning Website Designs
In the world of web design, the choice of colour schemes can make or break a website's visual appeal and user experience. This article delves into the 50 best website color schemes that have been inspired by Awwwards-winning designs. While a direct list of 50 specific palettes from Awwwards alone isn't fully indexed, we've compiled a list based on recent expert compilations and award-winning design examples.
Bold and Vibrant Colour Combinations
The best colour schemes often feature bold, experimental colours with thoughtful contrasts, evoking strong moods and effectively conveying brand stories. Here are some distinctive patterns and themes:
- Strong Contrasts and Bright Accents A vibrant yellow (#ffde22) background paired with red/pink/orange accents (#ff414e, #ff8928) and white overlays evokes energy and warmth, perfect for attention-grabbing and creative sites.
- Vintage-Inspired Palettes with Modern Twists A “70’s inspired” scheme combining deep mountain shadow blue (#101357) with soft pink (#fea49f), goldenrod yellow (#fbaf08), and teal-ish blue (#00a0a0) is trendy for nostalgic yet fresh websites.
- Cool Blues and Purples with Metallic Feel Combining deep blue (#0f2862), muted red (#9e363a), purple shadows (#091f36), and slate greys (#4f5f76) creates a tech-savvy, sophisticated look seen in award-winning creative portfolios.
- Natural and Earthy Tones with Pops of Color For immersive, cinematic experiences, darker “forest mode” palettes with rich natural greens and vivid contrasting highlights simulate nature and depth in websites.
- Experimental, Psychedelic, and Festival Vibes Sites like KIKK Festival use bold concentric circles with saturated colours for a psychedelic effect, mixing unexpected bright hues with dynamic typography and 3D effects that evoke strong emotions.
- Futuristic Space-Themed Palettes Star Atlas website uses cosmic colours with portal blues, deep space blacks, and clean minimalistic text colours to balance immersive visuals and readability in game studio sites.
Notable Color Schemes Inspired by Awwwards Winners
| Color Scheme Name | Key Colors (Hex) | Description | |----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 70’s Inspired | #101357 (Mountain Blue), #fea49f, #fbaf08, #00a0a0, #007f4f | Nostalgic, fresh, colorful | | Lightning Blue Purple | #51d0de, #bf4aa8, #d9d9d9 | Vibrant purple-blue gradients, modern feel | | Metallic Blue, Purple, Red | #0f2862, #9e363a, #091f36, #4f5f76 | Dark, sophisticated tech look | | Apricot Avalanche | #6B7A8F, #F7882F, #F7C331, #DCC7AA | Warm, earthy with bright accents | | Strong Contrast Trustworthy| #1561ad, #1c77ac, #1dbab4, #fc5226 | Balanced blues with warm red-orange pop |
Beyond palettes, award-winning sites excel with UI choices like using colour to enforce hierarchy and clarity, balancing vibrant colours with white or muted tones, and injecting personality that matches brand identity and user expectations.
To explore dozens more, design platforms referencing Awwwards use Instagram and Behance showcases featuring interactive, colourful UI shots and mood boards from recent winners. For a comprehensive list beyond these examples, design-specific blogs like Hook Agency’s 101+ schemes and award highlight compilations on Icons8 are excellent resources.
In summary, the best website color schemes inspired by Awwwards-winning designs combine bold, experimental colours with thoughtful contrasts, evoke strong moods (from psychedelic to serene natural), and strategically use colour psychology to define brand experiences.
- In the fashion-and-beauty industry, vibrant color combinations similar to those used in the "Vintage-Inspired Palettes with Modern Twists" section can be seen in makeup brand websites, creating a nostalgic yet fresh aesthetic.
- Food-and-drink establishments often incorporate the "Cool Blues and Purples with Metallic Feel" color scheme, as it gives off a tech-savvy, sophisticated look that aligns with modern culinary trends.
- Home-and-garden shops might lean towards the "Natural and Earthy Tones with Pops of Color" scheme to create an immersive, cinematic shopping experience that reflects the beauty of nature.
- Lifestyle blogs might draw inspiration from the "Lightning Blue Purple" color scheme, as its vibrant purple-blue gradients provide a modern and visually appealing backdrop for various content types.
- Travel websites could benefit from the "Strong Contrasts and Bright Accents" scheme to evoke energy and warmth, encouraging users to explore new destinations with an eye-catching design.
- Car dealership websites can utilize the "Apriot Avalanche" color scheme, with its warm, earthy tones and bright accents, to create a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the charm of their vehicles.
- Pet stores might find inspiration in the psychedelic color scheme of websites like KIKK Festival, as its bold and experimental use of colors can help capture the playful and energetic nature of pets.
- Online shopping platforms can follow the example of the Star Atlas website, incorporating cosmic colors and dynamic visuals to create a unique and engaging shopping experience for users.
