This isn’t a guide to choosing the trendiest color palettes—this is all about function and compliance. Because let’s face it, if your website isn’t accessible to everyone, it’s not a strong asset for your business.
Why Accessibility Matters (And Why Your Colors Are a Big Deal)
Your website should be a welcoming space for everyone, not an obstacle course. Web design needs to minimize or eliminate barriers that make it difficult—or impossible—for people with disabilities to navigate.
As you know, people experience the web in different ways:
- Blind or low-vision users rely on screen readers.
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing users benefit from captioning.
- Users with mobility impairments may use voice recognition software instead of a mouse.
And that’s just the beginning. Color contrast plays a crucial role in readability, navigation, and user experience—especially for people with low vision or color blindness. If your color choices don’t meet accessibility standards, important content may disappear into the background faster than free snacks in the office.
Testing Your Colors Like a Pro
Before you launch a site, put your colors to the test. We use tools like WebAIM to help ensure a palette meets accessibility standards, keeping text legible and compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Contrast Ratios: The Magic Numbers
- Normal text needs a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (think: standard paragraphs, menus, links).
- Large text (14pt bold / 18pt regular and up) needs 3:1 for readability.
- AAA Compliance? Go for 7:1 for maximum contrast for normal and 4.5:1 for large text accessibility to get the gold stars.
Here’s an example of how our color choices stack up when tested in WebAIM:
The Bottom Line
Accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have for usability, compliance, and inclusivity. Get your colors right, and you’ll be creating a website that welcomes every user. (And no one will have to squint or guess what that light gray text on a slightly darker gray background says. We see you, bad design choices. 👀)
Want to make sure your website is not just looking good, but working well for everyone? Let’s talk. We’ll make sure your brand shines without leaving anyone in the dark.
