Create your monochromatic multimedia website

A monochromatic color scheme is a palate composed of a single color and any tint or shade of that color from complete white to complete black.

Why should we avoid a monochromatic color scheme? Using only one color (with different tints and shades) can make a design look flat and unexciting. Limited contrast can make it hard to distinguish elements, especially in web design and UI/UX.

The three monochromatic colors are a hue, then the hue mixed with white, and the hue mixed with black. Monochromatic colors can also be the hue mixed with gray, but this is not required.

By using variations of a single color, you can create a visually cohesive look for your project. A busy design can feel less overwhelming with monochromatic colors. A simple color palette can help to pull a design together and make it feel more unified, even if thereʼs a lot going on.

Designers will often do this by taking a typically bright base color (like red, in the example below) and creating a palette with primarily darker shades and less saturated (i.e., less intense) variations.

The downside of monochromatic palettes is that they can end up being boring and lacking visual interest. To avoid that, make sure thereʼs enough contrast between light and dark hues. Another strategy to liven up a monochromatic scheme is to add a solid neutral like white or black.

The most apparent downside to a monochromatic color scheme is that it can be confining. Thereʼs not much room for personality when youʼre limited to such a narrow set of colors. Itʼs also a design thatʼs lacking in contrast.