How to Choose the Right Colours for Maximum Impact.
First impressions start with colour. Great Signage grabs attention, tells a story and sparks action.
When it comes to business signage, design is more than just logos and fonts—colour is a powerful marketing tool that can influence how people perceive your brand, make decisions, and even remember your business.
At DB Signs, we know that the right colour combination can turn a simple sign into a powerful brand asset. In this post, we’ll explore the psychology of colour in signage and how you can use it to your advantage.
Why Colour Matters in Business Signs.
Colour is one of the first things people notice in a sign. Studies show that up to 90% of first impressions about a product or business are based on colour alone. Whether you’re designing shop signage, vehicle wraps, or promotional banners, your colour choices can:
- Grab attention instantly
- Convey emotion and personality
- Increase brand recognition
- Influence customer behaviour
Think of McDonald’s red and yellow, or Starbucks’ green. These aren’t random choices—they’re psychologically strategic.
What Different Colours Say About Your Brand
Some of the worlds leading brands choose their colours very carefully. Below are some major brands and the colours they choose to evoke the certain emotions on how they want to be perceived.
Here’s a breakdown of popular colours and the emotions they typically evoke:
🔴 Red – Energy, Urgency, Passion
- Common in fast food, clearance sales, or anything that needs to grab attention.
- Works well for restaurants, retail, and sports brands.
🟡 Yellow – Optimism, Happiness, Warmth
- Invites feelings of cheerfulness and friendliness.
- Great for hospitality, children’s services, and casual dining.
🔵 Blue – Trust, Professionalism, Calm
- Instills a sense of security and stability.
Often used by corporate, medical, and tech companies.
Orange – Enthusiasm, Warmth, Energy, Happiness
- Often associated with joy, fun, and optimism.
- It can also be linked to creativity, adventure, and social interaction.
- Primarily due to its ability to convey energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. It’s commonly used in food and beverage, technology, sports, and retail industries. Orange is also associated with fitness, safety, and artistic/creative services.
🟢 Green – Growth, Nature, Health
- Represents sustainability and relaxation.
- Ideal for eco-brands, wellness centers, and outdoor products.
🟣 Purple – Luxury, Creativity, Wisdom
- A color often associated with premium or spiritual products.
- Common in beauty, fashion, and consultancy sectors.
⚫ Black – Sophistication, Power, Authority
- Sleek and high-end; works well with minimalist designs.
- Great for luxury brands, automotive, and tech.
⚪ White – Simplicity, Cleanliness, Modernity
- Offers contrast and space; makes designs feel clean.
- Used widely in healthcare, modern retail, and design services.
Choosing the Right Colour for Your Signage
When planning your signage, consider:
- Your brand personality – Are you bold and energetic, or calm and professional?
- Your target audience – What emotions are you trying to evoke?
- Your environment – Will your signage be indoors, outdoors, on a vehicle, or in a shop window?
- Contrast and readability – High contrast (like black on yellow) ensures your sign is legible from a distance.
💡 Pro tip: Colour combinations are just as important as the colours themselves. The wrong pairing can reduce readability or confuse your message.
Example of how use of colour can change a business.
Here’s a more detailed look at the situation:
The Problem: The existing sign was plain and uninviting, blending in with the surrounding buildings. It wasn’t drawing attention or creating a sense of warmth and welcome. The cafe owner wanted a fresh, new look to attract more customers.
The Solution: The cafe owner decided to repaint the exterior and replace the sign with a design that incorporated:
- Sunny Yellow: This colour evokes feelings of happiness, optimism, and energy, making the cafe more appealing and noticeable.
- Earthy Terracotta: This warm, reddish-brown colour adds a touch of sophistication and comfort, creating a welcoming atmosphere
The Result: The new sign had a significant positive impact:
- Increased Foot Traffic: The vibrant colours of the new sign made the cafe stand out and attracted more passersby.
- Positive First Impression: The warm and inviting colours created a positive first impression, encouraging people to enter the cafe.
- Enhanced Ambiance: The colour scheme created a warm and inviting atmosphere inside, enhancing the overall customer experience.
- Uptick in Sales: As a result of the increased foot traffic and positive first impressions, the cafe saw an increase in sales.
The cafe’s experience demonstrates how the strategic use of colour in signage can significantly impact a business’s success by attracting customers and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Need Help with Your Business Signage?
📞 Contact DB Signs today for a free consultation or drop by our studio. Let’s make your brand pop—with the perfect colours and designs tailored to your business.
