How to Adjust Your Brand Colors for Website Accessibility

…and why that floating blue button won’t cut it.

Let’s cut straight to the chase about those brand colors you’ve invested in. 👀

That soft, ethereal millennial pink that perfectly captures your brand’s sophistication? That barely-there beige that speaks luxury? They’re stunning on your mood board, but as a brand strategist and web design expert, I need to tell you something crucial: they’re likely causing serious compliance issues on your website.

The Reality of Pretty Colors vs. Accessibility Standards

Here’s the thing – while your delicate color palette might be giving you heart eyes, it could be creating significant problems for your website visitors. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) aren’t optional suggestions – they’re crucial standards that determine whether your site is legally accessible and genuinely usable for everyone.

Don’t panic yet. You won’t have to completely abandon your brand colors. But you do need to understand how to implement them correctly. (And I can tell you right now, installing one of those trendy accessibility overlay widgets isn’t the solution – we’ll get to that inconvenient truth shortly).

WCAG: More Than Just Another Acronym

Let’s get technical for a moment, because this matters. WCAG isn’t just bureaucratic red tape – it’s the global standard for web accessibility, developed by experts who understand both user needs and digital implementation.

These guidelines govern everything from text and images to sounds and code structure, and they’re non-negotiable for businesses serious about their digital presence.

Understanding Color Contrast: The Numbers That Matter

Here are the hard facts: WCAG requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text to achieve Level AA compliance. This isn’t arbitrary – it’s based on extensive research about visual perception and accessibility needs.

In human speak? Your text needs to be easy to read against its background, no exceptions.

Making colors accessible isn’t just for users with visual impairments. Compliant colors actually improve readability and engagement across the board. Think of it like learning Julie Horne’s perfect lip filler technique: what’s good for one set of lips will benefit many other lips.

That white text on a dreamy millennial pink background? If it’s not hitting these numbers, it’s not just failing standards – it’s failing actual people trying to read your content.

Look at the below color contrasts. Which line of white text is easier to read?

What This Actually Means for Your Website

Here’s exactly what these requirements mean for your site:

• Normal text (smaller than 24px): 4.5:1 contrast ratio required
• Large text (24px or larger): 3:1 contrast ratio minimum
• Bold text (19px or larger): 3:1 ratio acceptable
• Icons and essential graphic elements: Must meet these same standards

And here’s something we need to be crystal clear about: that floating accessibility widget with the wheelchair icon? It absolutely cannot—and will not— fix your contrast issues. That’s not an opinion – it’s a technical limitation of how the overlay technology works (or doesn’t work, in this case).

The Only Valid Solution

The solution requires expertise, not shortcuts. You need a web designer who:

• Has experience implementing WCAG guidelines
• Understands color theory and accessibility requirements
• Uses professional accessibility testing tools to verify adherence to guidelines
• Can maintain your brand’s visual impact while ensuring accessibility standards are met

An accessibility checker tool I use consistently to check my work on client websites is WAVE, and for color contrast specifically I like WebAIM.

Professional Implementation Without Aesthetic Sacrifice

As someone who works with these standards daily, I can assure you there are sophisticated ways to preserve your brand’s visual identity while making your website accessible:

• Strategic color adjustments that maintain brand recognition
• Using darker variations for text
• Being strategic about color placement to ensure proper contrast
• Keeping those original colors where they make sense

The Bottom Line (Because Money Talks)

Let’s address the bottom line directly: non-compliance isn’t just an accessibility issue – it’s a significant business risk.

You know what’s more expensive than hiring a qualified web designer who understands accessibility? Getting served with an ADA lawsuit because your website isn’t compliant. Those accessibility overlay widgets? They’re a liability masquerading as a solution.

Moving Forward with Website Accessibility

Your website needs to be gorgeous AND accessible – and yes, you can have both. But it takes more than just hoping for the best or relying on quick fixes. It requires intentional design choices, proper testing, and sometimes, making tough decisions about how to adapt your brand colors for the web.

The fact is, accessibility isn’t a checkbox to tick – it’s a fundamental aspect of professional web design that ensures everyone can experience your brand the way you intended. And isn’t that what great branding is all about?

Want to make sure your website is both stunning AND accessible? Let’s chat about getting your site up to standards without sacrificing an ounce of style. Because trust me, nothing looks better than a website that everyone can actually use. 💅