Have you ever looked at a design and felt something was just... off? Maybe the colors clashed so badly that you had to look away. The best graphic designers near Beaumont TX know the secret to creating visually appealing designs lies in choosing great color palettes and knowing which combinations to avoid. Some color duos can make text unreadable, trigger negative emotions, or even make an entire design look cheap and unprofessional.
The wrong colors can ruin a brand’s credibility, confuse the audience, or make an artwork unpleasant. Some colors don’t work well together, no matter how much you like them. They can make things hard to see, too bright, or just not fun to look at. In this blog, we’ll uncover the worst color combinations that professional designers steer clear of. By the end, you’ll know exactly which colors to dodge so your designs always look polished, balanced, and easy on the eyes.
The best graphic designers near Beaumont TX, Avoid Red and Green
Red and green scream Christmas. While they work beautifully for holiday promotions, they are a terrible choice for branding, websites, or professional designs. This combination creates a strong contrast that can be harsh on the eyes. It’s also problematic for colorblind individuals who struggle to distinguish between red and green. These two colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel, making them very intense when placed side by side. If you must use these colors together, tweak the shades—opt for muted tones or add a neutral color like white or black to balance the contrast. Using softer versions, like olive green and deep red, can make the look easier on the eyes.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide experience some form of color blindness. This makes combinations like red and green or blue and purple difficult for them to distinguish.
Blue and Red – The War of Contrast
Red and blue are strong colors, but they create a visual war. The high contrast makes the text difficult to read, especially in digital formats. This pairing also vibrates when placed side by side, causing eye strain. The human eye struggles to focus on these colors because they send mixed signals. If you need both colors, choose a dominant one and use the other sparingly. Adding a neutral like gray can soften the effect and make the design more digestible. Even switching one to a pastel shade can make a big difference in how it looks.
The International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction revealed that high-contrast color combinations like red and blue create visual vibration, leading to eye strain and discomfort when viewed for long periods.
Yellow and White – The Invisible Text Trap
Yellow is a bright and happy color, but pairing it with white is a recipe for disaster. The lack of contrast makes text nearly impossible to read, especially on screens. Yellow loses its impact when placed next to white, making designs look washed out. Light colors need contrast to be seen properly. Instead, use a darker shade like black, navy, or dark gray to ensure visibility. Even a subtle drop shadow can help, but it’s best to avoid this combination altogether. If you must use yellow with white, try a bold outline or background that makes the yellow stand out better.
Neon Colors Together – The Overkill Effect
Neon pink and neon green? Eye burn.
Neon yellow and neon blue? Chaos.
Neon orange and neon purple? Just no.
Neon colors together make things too flashy and confusing.
Too many bright colors make the text unreadable.
Neon colors demand attention, and when multiple neons are used together, they become overwhelming. The best graphic designers near Beaumont TX use neons sparingly—usually as accent colors against darker backgrounds. If you must use neon colors, limit them to one bold pop and balance them with muted or neutral tones. Mixing neon with black or gray can help reduce eye strain and make your design easier to look at.
Brown and Black – The Dull Disaster
They blend into each other, making designs look muddy.
This combo lacks energy and vibrance.
It isn’t easy to create contrast unless the shades are drastically different.
These colors are too close and make the designs look dull.
Using them together makes the text hard to read.
While brown and black are rich, earthy tones, they don’t pair well in design. Instead, mix brown with lighter neutrals like beige or cream. If you need black, try adding white or a bright accent color for contrast. A good way to make these colors work is to use different textures or patterns to create separation.
Purple and Green – The Unnatural Clash
This mix often appears unnatural and unbalanced.
It can remind people of bruises or mold—two things you don’t want associated with your brand.
It is hard to make text readable when layered.
These colors fight for attention and look messy.
They don’t create enough contrast to stand out well.
Purple and green are both dominant colors, and together, they create a chaotic visual experience. If you love both shades, choose softer tones—lavender with sage, for example. Even better, separate them with a neutral to maintain harmony. A light pastel version of each color works better than both bright, bold versions.
Red and Yellow – The Overpowering Duo
Red and yellow are high-energy colors. They are bold, loud, and often associated with fast food brands like McDonald’s. While this combination can work for restaurants, it’s a bad choice for anything requiring readability or sophistication. The intensity of red and yellow together can feel aggressive and overwhelming. This color mix is exciting but also tiring for the eyes. Instead, balance them with white or black to tone down the loudness. Using one of them as an accent color instead of both being dominant can make your design easier to look at.
A study by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) found that over 85% of users struggle to read light-colored text on a white background, making combinations like yellow and white or pastel pink and beige a poor choice for readability.
Pink and Orange – The Clash of Warmth
Pink and orange sit close together on the color wheel, which makes them visually competitive. When used together, they lack contrast, making designs look flat and hard to read; therefore, the best graphic designers near Beaumont TX don’t use them. This combination can also feel overly playful, which isn’t ideal for professional branding. Both are warm tones but don’t create enough variation to stand out. If you want a warm color palette, introduce a neutral shade like white, beige, or soft gold to break up the intensity. Making one color slightly darker can also help separate them visually.
Color choices can make or break a design. Even if a color looks great, pairing it with the wrong shade can cause chaos. The best graphic designers near Beaumont TX always consider contrast, readability, and emotional impact before finalizing a palette. If you want your designs to stand out for the right reasons, avoid the color combinations we’ve discussed. Colors should be easy to see, make text readable, and feel pleasant to the eye. Want to create designs that pop without hurting the eyes? Stick to well-balanced, high-contrast color schemes that enhance, rather than confuse, the viewer’s experience. Which bad color combo have you seen in the wild? Could you drop a comment and let’s discuss?
