Fix Clashing UI Colors in 3 Simple Ways

These colors look so bad next to each other

Here’s why it happens!

Clashing colors often occur when their perceived brightness (luminosity) is too similar, causing visual tension. To fix clashing UI colors, try changing the layer blending mode to “Luminosity” to analyze brightness differences.

Option 1: Reduce saturation

Highly saturated colors can compete for attention, creating a chaotic visual effect. By reducing the saturation, you can achieve a more balanced look and fix clashing UI colors.

Option 2: Increase contrast through perceived brightness

Adjust the brightness levels of warm and cool colors:

• Warm colors should be shifted toward luminosity peaks for better visibility.

• Cool colors should be adjusted toward luminosity bottoms for improved contrast.

Option 3: Add whitespace between colors

Introducing whitespace between clashing elements creates a visual buffer, reducing eye strain and helps fix clashing UI colors. This approach is particularly effective in logo design.

Supercharged luminosity tip

Traditional contrast checkers may sometimes fail in edge cases, such as white text on light blue or orange backgrounds.

For example, WCAG contrast checkers might recommend black text for these colors, even though white text is often more legible. To address this, consider using Accessible Perceptual Contrast (APCA)— a new method for calculating and predicting readability contrast, solving for these edge case color pairings

Conclusion

It doesn’t have to be complicated to try and fix clashing UI colors. By reducing saturation, increasing contrast through brightness adjustments, or adding whitespace, you can create visually appealing and accessible designs. Remember, harmonious color schemes not only improve usability but also elevate the overall user experience.