How to pick an accent color for a website redesign

A new accent color can make a redesigned website feel fresh, but it also has to work on buttons, links, and other interactive elements. A shade that looks good in a palette may disappear on a white background or become hard to read in a button.

Start with colors already used in your brand or interface, then check how each candidate works in real UI situations. The Color Picker can sample a color from anywhere on your screen and show its HEX, RGB, and HSL values.

Choose and test an accent color

1. Open the Color Picker on a computer in Chrome or Edge for full screen-picking support. Other browsers may offer a reduced version or no screen picker.
2. Find a few candidate colors in your existing brand materials, logo, or current website. Sample each color on screen and note its HEX value so you can compare the same shade later.
3. Put each candidate on a draft button, link, and focus indicator in the redesign. Check it against the actual background and text color, not just against other palette swatches.
4. Try the color in both the normal state and an interaction state, such as hover or keyboard focus. Keep the HEX value for the candidate that stays clear and fits the visual style.

Use the same browser and display while you compare options. Screen brightness, night mode, and color settings can change how a shade appears, so avoid choosing based on a single screenshot viewed on different devices.

What the color test tells you

The accent stands out on the page

If a button or link is easy to find without overwhelming nearby content, the color is doing its job. Accent color should guide attention, not compete with every heading and image. If the whole page feels loud, reserve the shade for interactive elements and a few important highlights.

Text on the accent is hard to read

The color may work as a button background but not with your chosen text color. Check the contrast between the text and the button fill. For standard text, the WCAG AA contrast target is 4.5:1. Large text, at least 18 points regular or 14 points bold, has a 3:1 target. A bright or saturated hue does not automatically provide strong contrast.

The accent disappears beside a background

A link or focus ring needs enough contrast against the colors next to it. For meaningful interface elements and graphical indicators, aim for at least 3:1 contrast with adjacent colors. If a link is identified by color alone, consider adding an underline so visitors can recognize it without relying only on color perception.

The sampled shade looks different in the mockup

Sampling gives you a color value from a visible pixel, but it does not guarantee that every display or browser will show that color identically. A color profile, image compression, transparency, or a nearby shadow can affect the pixel you sample. Sample a flat area of the color, then confirm the value in the design file or website style settings.

Refine the color before you commit

1. Check the background first. Test the candidate on the page's real background colors, including cards, navigation, and footers. If the site uses both light and dark surfaces, check each one rather than assuming one shade works everywhere.
2. Adjust lightness before changing the hue. If the color feels right but lacks contrast, make a lighter or darker version while keeping its general hue. HSL values can help you compare hue, saturation, and lightness separately. Recheck text and component contrast after every adjustment.
3. Use a separate focus treatment if needed. A button's fill color and a keyboard focus ring have different jobs. Make sure the focus indicator is visible around the control and against the surrounding page, even when the button itself uses the accent color.
4. Review color alongside other cues. Don't use the accent as the only sign that something is a link, selected, or in an error state. Underlines, borders, icons, and clear labels help people who cannot distinguish the color reliably.
5. Check the color in context. Review a real page at its usual size on desktop and mobile layouts. Look at primary and secondary buttons, visited links if your design distinguishes them, and any disabled controls. Disabled elements can be less prominent, but their text should still be understandable.

Keep color roles and values organized

A redesign is easier to maintain when one accent color is not used for every purpose. Decide which color marks primary actions, which one marks links, and whether a second shade is needed for hover or focus states. A consistent role helps visitors learn the interface, while too many similar accent shades can make actions feel unrelated.

Save the approved HEX value in your design notes or style guide, along with the background and text colors it was tested against. Keep adjusted shades as separate named values instead of silently changing the main color. That gives your team a clear reference when the design moves from mockup to website code.

For the final decision, compare candidates on the same real page and choose the one that remains readable and recognizable in every state where visitors need to act.