Who else wants to know what kind of grey a brand should use for marketing? Color theory grey color tips.
Grey is a neutral color. It means grey color does not lie in the color wheel of pure colors. Let us explore the meanings of different shades of grey. Which type of grey should your brand use? Here are color theory grey color tips and concepts for designers.
Dark grey
Dark grey means grey that has a lot of blacks. Black is a mysterious color. So, dark grey is the color of mystery. It is solemn and strict.
Light grey
Light grey means grey that has a lot of white. White is a lively color. So, light grey is lively and youthful. It calms down viewers.
Grey arouses many emotions or rather stifles them.
Emotion #1. Compromise and indecision
You obtain grey when you mix black and white. It makes grey the color of compromise and indecision. But it is also impartial and is a neutral color.
Emotion #2. Calmness
Grey expresses no emotions. So, it is indifferent but calm. This calmness is different from the calmness of blue or green colors. So, you could use greys with blue or cool green undertones to accentuate the calm feeling.
Emotion #3. Reserved and sophisticated
Grey does not make you feel lethargic but represents reserved behaviour.
Grey is also the color of sophistication. Blue greys are very sophisticated colors. It is also the color of conservative mentalities. So, traditional and classic brands can rely on greys or blue-greys. Grey represents control.
Emotion #4. Maturity
Grey is also the color of maturity. It shows that you can depend on some brand. It is why higher management wears grey suits.
Renaissance and Baroque
The nobility used a lot of blacks during the Renaissance. Grey resonated with it. We find a lot of greys in Renaissance architecture and Baroque art. If your brand personality is classic then go for grey.
Silver foliage plants
If your brand personality agrees with grey color but you are afraid that too much grey will be dull then take a cue from nature. The silver foliage plants are grey but they shimmer and shine more than any other color in the garden. You too could keep the bias silver and add shimmer when you use greys.
Grey can dance in both light and dark backgrounds. Grey is a timeless color. You could use grey in the Call to Action webpage or landing page to convey a message. It will show that your brand is an authority in its domain.
Mix complementary colors to produce grey
Complementary colors are 180 degrees apart on the color wheel. You can mix complementary colors to produce grey.
Blue + yellow = grey
Blue + red + grey
Purple + green = grey
Blue + green = grey
All these greys have different undertones. Check out the color wheel to find what more colors to use.
Warm and cool grey
I will mix grey with yellows of various intensities to produce various warm shades of grey. Yellow is a warm color while grey is a neutral color.
Warm + neutral = warm
I will mix grey with blues of various intensities to produce various cool shades of grey. Blue is a cool color while grey is a neutral color.
Cool + neutral = cool
Negative meanings of grey color
Grey color means stifled energy. Grey is never the center of attraction. So, you mix grey into bright colors to mute them.
When you use grey, be careful not to use too much of it. Grey is also the color of poverty and disease.
You may keep the background grey and use other brighter color in the foreground. Or, you could use prominent grey borders.
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