Practical color guide
Pastel Color Palette Guide for Soft Web Design
Use pastel color palettes for calm, friendly interfaces while keeping text contrast readable.
Open related toolWhere pastel colors work best
Pastel colors are useful for backgrounds, cards, badges, illustrations and gentle brand accents. They work especially well for lifestyle, education, wellness and creative websites.
Contrast warning
Pastels are light, so small text directly on pastel backgrounds can fail contrast. Pair them with dark neutral text or use pastels as background accents.
Practical combinations
Try pastel blue with navy text, pastel pink with charcoal, pastel green with dark teal, or pastel yellow with deep brown.
Frequently asked questions
Are pastel colors accessible?
They can be accessible when used as backgrounds with dark text. Always test contrast before publishing.
What is a pastel color?
A pastel color is usually a high-lightness, lower-saturation color that feels soft and muted.