The Non-Designer’s Guide to Picking Brand Colors

ByLoretta Raine

Struggling to choose brand colors that actually look good together? This simple, beginner-friendly guide walks you through the exact steps to build a beautiful palette, minus the overwhelm.

If you’ve ever chosen your brand colours and then realised your graphics look a bit like a circus tent in a windstorm… you’re not alone.

Most creators aren’t designers, and that’s perfectly fine.
The problem isn’t your taste, it’s the lack of a simple structure.

Creatives usually make three common mistakes:

  1. Picking colors you like individually, not colors that work together.
    • Loving teal, coral, neon pink and mustard doesn’t make them best friends on a canvas.
  1. Choosing too many colors
    • Three to five colors is the sweet spot.
  1. Using colors inconsistently across graphics
    • Even great colors look messy when the shades change constantly.

The good news?
You only need a few simple rules to pick a professional-looking palette.

the Rules to Picking Colors

Step 1: Start with one ‘Emotion’ color

Every brand has a vibe – a feeling.
That feeling should guide your primary color choice.

Ask yourself:
“What do I want my brand to feel like?”

Here are quick shortcuts:

  • Calm + gentle: soft blues, dusty pinks, lavender, cool neutrals
  • Bold + modern: charcoal, white, deep navy, electric accents
  • Creative + playful: bright teals, coral, sunshine yellow
  • Cozy + warm: sage, terracotta, cream, coffee browns

Your primary colour is your anchor.
Everything else will build around it.

💡 Quick Tip: If your brand threw a party, what color would the balloons be? Now choose that color.

Step 2: Build the Rest of Your Palette the Easy Way

Once you have your anchor color, use the 60/30/10 rule:

  • 60% Primary colour
  • 30% Secondary colour
  • 10% Accent colour

Use these FREE tools to generate matching colors:

  • Coolors.co: auto-generates 5-color palettes
  • Canva’s Color Palette Generator: upload an image you love
  • ColorHunt.co: curated palettes in every aesthetic

Look for colors that:

  • Share similar undertones (warm/cool)
  • Don’t clash or vibrate
  • Support your brand personality

Keep it simple – three to five colors maximum.

Step 3: Test Your Palette in Real Designs (Most People Skip This!)

Never trust a color palette until you’ve seen it in action.

Test it in:

  • A Pinterest pin
    • Primary color as the background.
    • Secondary for design elements.
    • Accent for buttons or pop text.
  • A square social graphic
    • Try the accent color as the background.
  • A simple mock website banner
    • Check that text remains readable.

Ask yourself:

  • Does this look calming or chaotic?
  • Do the colours feel like your brand?
  • Is the text easy to read?

If your eyes hurt: revise.
If your shoulders relax: keep it.

Step 4: Avoid These Common Color Traps

Even a great palette can fall apart if used incorrectly. Watch for these:

  • Using two very bright colors together
  • Pairing muted colors with highly saturated ones
  • Using black text on bright backgrounds
  • Letting accent colors take over
  • Ignoring contrast & accessibility

Good colors only work when used well.

Step 5: Save Your Color Palette (This Is Where Consistency Begins)

Once you’ve finalised your colors, save all hex codes.

Add them to:

  • Canva Brand Kit
  • A simple brand board
  • Your website theme settings
  • Template files
  • A notes app or Google Doc

You’ll reuse these colors constantly, so keep them visible and accessible.

💡 Quick Tip: Create a single Canva template (Pinterest pin, Instagram square, or PDF cover) and update only text when creating new content. Your brand will look instantly cohesive.

Step 6: Need Inspiration? Use These Palette Ideas

  1. Neutral Calm
    • Soft beige · Warm grey · Dusty rose · Chocolate accent
    • Perfect for journaling, planning, printables, or lifestyle creators.
  1. Bright & Playful
    • Teal · Yellow · Soft coral · Navy accent
    • Great for kid-focused brands or fun, high-energy creators.
  1. Modern Minimalist
    • Charcoal · Off-white · Cool beige · Gold accent
    • Ideal for business, productivity, and template sellers.
  1. Cozy Cottagecore
    • Sage · Cream · Peach · Terracotta
    • Lovely for self-care, homestead, and magic/garden-themed brands.

Brand Color Checklist

Choose one primary “emotion” color

  • Add 1–2 supporting colors
  • Choose a subtle accent
  • Apply the 60/30/10 rule
  • Test graphics in Canva
  • Save hex codes
  • Add to Canva Brand Kit
  • Use consistently

Simple. Beginner-friendly. Zero circus vibes.

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