How I'd create a color palette (step-by-step)

Hey Reader,

Ever feel like you’re totally lost when it comes to your brand colors?

Maybe you’re constantly switching things up, unsure of where to start, or just don’t know how to make your colors work for you.

Yesterday I was on a 1:1 strategy call with one of my newest Brand Boss members, and we were chatting about her brand colors, or lack thereof...

She had attempted to put a few palettes together but was getting nowhere.

If you aren't vibing with your brand colors - or maybe you're like my friend and can't seem to create a decent palette to save your life - you're in luck.

The design fairy you've been searching for is here (Hi - that's me!) to share some quick tips that will simplify it all and give you a little sprinkling of inspiration you need to create your own stand-out brand color palette!

Let me Introduce You To My Signature Color Palette Mixology Method

Before I get into the steps, I want to address the BIGGEST problem I see with color palettes.

You end up with a collection of colors that are pretty, or bright, or bold, and poppy...

But dang...

They are hard to design with!

This is a big problem because if you can't figure out how to use them in your graphics, or when to use what colors, you end up with a hot mess design that is flat-out overwhelming in all the wrong ways.

Which usually brings you back to searching for colors that might work a little better.

It's an endless cycle.

After designing for more than half of my life now, I've learned a thing or two about creating the perfect color palette - and one that you'll actually be able to use with ease and enjoyment.

And that's when I came up with my signature Color Palette Mixology Method.

IMPORTANT: Before you start creating your color palette, you have to understand your brand's personality, style, vibe, and tone.

"Okay, Kristin...How do I do that?"

First things first... Start with a mood board.​
A mood board helps you turn the vision to you have for your brand into something visual. Once you know your brand's personality, (exotic, minimal, feminine, boho, elegant, etc) you can begin collecting images, textures, and colors that resonate with your vision.

The magical thing about this (and why it's a step you shouldn't skip) is that you can usually pinpoint a color or two that appears in your mood board that you’re most drawn to.

Here's a visual example of what I'm talking about.👇

The dominant color in this mood board is green, which tells us that it might be a great place to start.🙌

Now onto building your color palette

Once you have a color or two to start with, you can start adding in additional colors. I recommend having 5 colors in total.

Here’s the breakdown:

Start with two core brand colors​
These are your two main colors, the ones that will set the vibe and tone for your brand. These are the colors you should pull from your mood board. They should pair well and complement each other. Think of these as your "extrovert colors".

Next, add in a light neutral and dark neutral​
These are your "introvert colors". They’re not meant to grab attention but to create dynamic, balanced, and more professional graphics.

Your light neutral can be an ivory, gray, or a very light tint of one of your core colors – perfect for a subtle photo overlay.

Your dark neutral can be a dark gray, brown, green, etc. or a deep shade of one of your brand colors – great for a more dramatic look. (Add white text on a dark background and it's sure to POP!)

The majority of your graphics can be neutral, with pops of your core brand colors. This will always result in a more professional look.

In the example below, notice that dark blue and light gray are most prominent in the graphics. Imagine if they were created using just orange, teal, and yellow. They would be pretty overwhelming, right?👇

Finally, choose your action color​
This is your attention-grabbing, unexpected color, often used for buttons, calls to action, and other important elements. Use it sparingly to ensure it stands out when needed.

Your action color needs to also pair well with your core brand colors - and you definitely don't want it to be too similar. We're looking for the diamond in the rough, here.💎

My signature Color Palette Mixology Method results in amazing color palettes nearly every time.

Let me remind you:

Your color palette isn't just a collection of pretty colors.

It should not only represent your brand personality, be relevant to your niche, and resonate with your ideal audience, but it also needs to be easy to use. Having a handful of pretty colors is great, but they need to be practical for your designs.

Want to dive deeper into creating the perfect color palette, choosing fonts, and learning all things branding, graphic design, and Canva?

Join me for my free, on-demand training, Design Class 101: From Chaos to Canva Confident!​

It's a 1-hour training jam-packed with branding, design, and Canva know-how for online entrepreneurs who want to look and feel professional online.

​>>Click here to sign up.

Once you sign up, check your inbox for an email from me called "Here's the link to Design Class 101!" and dig in!

I can almost guarantee that it will change how you think about designing for your business - for good!

I can't wait to see what you create!❤️

xo,
Kristin

P.S. Next week, I'm going to dig into another helpful tip I use for testing out your color palettes to ensure they'll be easy to use. Stay tuned!