A practical approach.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
One main colour, one accent, and neutrals for text and backgrounds.
Three colours used consistently look deliberate. Seven look accidental.
WHERE TO START
If you have a logo, take the colours from it.
If not, choose one colour that suits the business and build around it.
CONTRAST MATTERS MOST
Text must be readable. Dark text on a light background is the safest choice and the one most visitors find easiest.
Light grey text on white is a widespread mistake that makes sites genuinely hard to read, particularly for older visitors and on phones outdoors.
THE ACCENT COLOUR
Use it for one thing: the action you want people to take. If every element is the accent colour, nothing stands out.
WHAT TO AVOID
Bright colours as large background areas Text over busy photographs without a darkening overlay More than two font colours in body text
TESTING
Look at it on a phone, outdoors, in daylight. That is harder than any screen test.
Check contrast with an online contrast checker.
