Why use muted colours?
Muted colours are known for their ability to shift tone, creating a more sophisticated, rural aesthetic. They’re reminiscent of Romantic (think Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa) and Impressionist (Monet’s Water Lilies) paintings.
But that doesn’t make them an outdated choice for modern pieces. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using muted colours in your artwork:
- Create a serene and soothing atmosphere. They’re perfect for pastoral, landscape paintings and portraits, and more natural, ‘organic’ brands.
- Promote visual harmony and balance. Muted colours can gently set the scene with natural hues without overwhelming the viewer.
- Allow other design elements to stand out. Creating muted, peaceful backgrounds can make a piece’s subject more impactful. Think The Birth of Venus or Woman with a Parasol, for example.
- Reduces eye strain in UI design. Using softer, more desaturated colours in backgrounds and graphics can reduce visual stress and even have a calming effect.
The psychology of muted colours.
Muted colours aren’t just nice to look at – any use of colour can generate certain psychological effects. This makes colour choice quite an important step, especially when deciding what muted colours to use in design.
According to colour psychology, every shade has some sort of conscious or subconscious association with an emotion, event, place or brand, and their symbolic influences are quite literally all around us.
With this in mind, here are a few things muted colours may evoke in your audience. You may want to consider these when deciding whether muted colours are the right choice for your project or brand:
- Calming and peaceful.
- Safe, familiar and nurturing.
- Nostalgic and warm.
- Classic and sophisticated.
- Neutral and harmonious.
- Natural, serene and evocative of growth.
Vivid vs. muted colours.
Vivid colours are essentially the opposite of muted colours. They often have completely different uses, and are used to convey a range of emotions and intentions that are a little more lively and upbeat than their muted counterparts.
Here are some tips on how and when to use them.
When to use vivid colours.
- To create contrast and draw attention.
- When a bold and energetic feel is desired.
- To convey a strong emotion – such as excitement, joy or urgency.
- To enhance certain visuals or key focuses.
- When targeting certain audiences – for example, young children.
Combining vivid and muted colours.
- Use muted colours as a base and vivid colours sparingly for emphasis.
- Control where you direct the user’s attention with vivid colour accents.
- Create contrast and harmony where needed, using complementary vivid and muted colours.
How to create muted colours.
There are multiple methods when creating muted colours, whether you’re painting or using them in graphic design. Even if you’re not working with paints, online tools allow you to mix and create your own colour palettes in a few seconds.
Here are a few ways to build out your muted colour palette.
