Light backgrounds for websites are a ubiquitous trend since, according to a plethora of research, people find it more attractive and easier to read. It is hard to argue with that, but it does beg the question: are there any advantages of a business or digital design agency using a dark background for your website?
Going Dark
In general, white website design appeals to a broader audience and the HTML and CSS code comes with a white background as a default. This is why many developers stick to it, without even thinking of making any changes. Have you ever wondered why books usually have white pages with black lettering? Exactly, it is ubiquitous on books and web pages. White space and black text seems so natural that no one questions it.
But we all know that there are exceptions to every rule. You may have even noticed that this site you are on right now uses a dark user interface. I will be honest and tell you that I have received several complaints over the years with my website colors, including some from digital design agency leaders, but much fewer recently. And you can't deny that the website stands out significantly compared to the average business blog or website.
Some of the biggest brands today are adding dark and light modes to their sites. “Dark mode” is basically a low-light UI with predominantly dark surfaces. Taking advantage of a design that uses two interchangeable color schemes has two essential advantages for user experience: dark mode helps to lower eye tension by changing screen brightness to current lighting circumstances and it conserves the mobile device’s battery power by cutting down on the use of light pixels.
Black Is Beautiful And Gray Is Great
If you think your website should have a dark background, it is best to get in touch with a digital design agency that can introduce this change seamlessly. You don’t want to ruin your website if it is already functioning well and providing your company with fresh leads and good conversion rates. Also, if your company still doesn’t have a website and you just decided that it is time to create one, gather all of your ideas and list them in a document and then take it all to a UX design agency that will perform the best work for you. Tell the team why you think a dark UI is the best solution for your site and see if the design team agrees or can offer a better option.
Understanding The Popularity Of White Backgrounds In UX Design
Let’s go back to books for a moment. It’s beyond question that dark letters on a light background reduce the cost of printed materials and improve readability, so UX designers started to copy this trend. However, dark web design is getting more and more popular among UX designers and, when used properly, it can have an elegant and creative appeal.
The thing is, having a darker background requires a lot of experimentation to find the right balance and keep it attractive to visitors. Using white font on a black background can bother users’ eyes, as it’s not that easy to read. On the other hand, the same goes for the light grey font color placed on a white background. It’s all about aesthetics and a nice contrast between the background and the font used. This, of course, requires more time spent on design, so it can generate issues, especially when you don’t want to miss a deadline.
Let’s be honest; white backgrounds are so ubiquitous because it is easier for designers, and many business owners believe that it will look more trustworthy in the eyes of their potential customers. In addition, the white color is often associated with sincerity, excellence, purity, and goodness. This is also one of the main reasons why most corporate websites are bright.
Another reason for picking a white background is because it is a neutral color. It doesn’t affect other website elements so it is easier to put all of them together. When a designer wants to use a wider color palette, it requires running more experiments which equals more time and money spent on a project. Overall, using a white background makes the entire process less complicated.
So, if you don’t want to experiment or you are not sure if you are good enough, use a light background, but you can also take a risk and make change work for you.
Benefits Of A Dark UI
Dark backgrounds are not suitable for every website and not every designer finds it easy to create a good-looking site with darker color schemes. This is because of less readability and having to experiment more to find a balance between background and other elements of the site. However, with a few proven tricks, they could express your creativity and create a website that comes with an enjoyable experience.
So, what are the reasons to use a dark background on your website? One of the main reasons is that it’s easier to browse websites with darker backgrounds for a longer time, as it doesn’t strain the eyes, especially in the evening or during the night. It doesn’t cause a disruption to the body's natural cycles that many people experience when using mobile phones near bedtime. This is why popular online platforms, such as Twitter and YouTube, have noticed the problem and now offer an option to switch to dark mode. It can also save battery life.
Darker colors are a better choice for certain industries — just think about most gaming companies. The same is true for, say, a metal band. And now think about Netflix’s website; can you imagine how it would look like with a light background? Did you know that black is often associated with elegance, prestige, and power? Overall, a dark background usually works better for interfaces based on graphic elements rather than content-heavy websites.
There are many ways darker design may be used to emphasize the nature of the business and its purpose. The thing is to use colors with high contrast between the text or pictures and the background. You need to put some extra effort to ensure that the final product will have good readability.
Conclusion: Selecting The Best Background For Your Website
As you can see, there are proven advantages of using darker backgrounds and you know why white backgrounds are so ubiquitous nowadays. Choosing an appropriate background plays a vital role in your website design, so think twice before you make a final decision. Still, a dark background is not that popular, but it can help you stand out from the competitors and create a website that will attract a number of new customers when used properly.
Now that you know the strong and weak sides of the dark-colored design for websites, it is up to you which background you will choose for your project. Think of the goal or effect you want to achieve and how you want your site to be viewed. Keep in mind that the darker colors can help you attract a younger audience, and remember that dark doesn’t always mean black.
