Studies have shown that colours can influence up to 90% of an individual’s initial impression of a product or environment.
Source: Colorlib
If you’re a designer and feel like your colour choices are just “okay,” the only thing you need to explore is the colours of the rainbow. I’ve worked on enough branding and visual projects to know that the right colour doesn’t just look good, it makes people feel something. That’s where the rainbow steps in as a complete palette that can guide powerful design choices.
Each colour in the rainbow isn’t random. It speaks to something deeper: emotion, function and identity. Whether you’re designing for impact or just need a colour that sticks, understanding the rainbow can unlock ideas you didn’t know were missing.
In this blog, I’ll break down what the colours of the rainbow actually mean, how they came to be and how you can use the colours of the rainbow to design work that stands out and connects.
The History and Science Behind Rainbow Colours
If you’ve ever wondered why the rainbow has exactly seven colours or where the order comes from. The story actually begins with science and with a guy who saw more than just light.
Back in the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton passed sunlight through a prism and discovered what we now call the visible spectrum. What amazed me most was how he didn’t just see a blend of colours; he defined seven distinct bands. And no, that number wasn’t a scientific rule. Newton chose seven because he believed the number had symbolic meaning, like in music (seven notes in a scale).
With Newton’s color theory we ended up with the now-famous order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Or as most of us learned it ROYGBIV.
These colours weren’t randomly picked as they represent the way light bends and separates based on its wavelength. It’s fascinating how what started as a physics discovery has become a design framework we still use today!
Understanding the Colour Wheel
If you’ve ever picked colours for a design and something just felt off, it probably comes back to the colour wheel and one of the most important tools in any color wheel for graphic design setup. I’m telling you, this one tool has helped me fix more design misfires than anything else. Find out more about this:
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colours
When I’m explaining colour basics to clients, I always start here. Primary colours: red, yellow and blue are the base. They can’t be made by mixing other colours. From these, you get secondary colours: orange, green and violet. Then comes the tertiary set, like red-orange or blue-green, which are made by mixing a primary with a nearby secondary. This full wheel is what lets you build any colour palette with intention.
Complementary, Analogous and Triadic Colour Schemes
When you’re creating a unique design, just keep these combos in mind. Complementary colours are directly opposite to each other, for example, red and green for example. When you add this combination, your design gets an instant punch and perfect contrast. Analogous colours sit next to each other, like blue and green. Go for this combination when you need a smooth and subtle design. Then there’s the triadic scheme, which uses three evenly spaced colours, like red, yellow and blue. This one keeps things energetic without going overboard.
The Role of the Colour Wheel in Design Harmony
I’ve seen so many designs go wrong because the colours weren’t speaking the same language. The colour wheel helps fix that. It shows you not just which colours look good but which ones work together emotionally. Whether you’re using all the colours of the rainbow or just pulling out a few, the colour wheel keeps your design grounded, balanced and more memorable.
Exploring the Seven Colours of the Rainbow
If you’ve ever asked, “how many colours in a rainbow” or wondered what they actually represent, this is where it gets useful. ROYGBIV isn’t just a catchy memory trick. Each of the colours of the rainbow has its own psychological weight, and if you’re designing with impact in mind, this is where you start making intentional decisions. Let’s find out more about the emotional impact of colors.
Red: Emotion and Urgency
Red is bold. I use it when I want to create urgency, energy or drive. It grabs attention and works great for buttons, warnings or anywhere you need someone to act fast. Think of sale banners, emergency alerts or food branding. It’s not subtle, but it works.
Orange: Creativity and Enthusiasm
This one’s the happy middle between red and yellow. It brings warmth, creativity and friendliness. I’ve used it in wellness, kids’ brands and even app onboarding screens where I want users to feel excited without being overwhelmed.
Yellow: Optimism and Attention
Yellow catches the eye instantly. It’s one of the colours of the rainbow that screams positivity. It’s great for highlights, callouts and anything meant to feel fresh or inviting. Just don’t overuse it as it can tire the eyes if there’s too much.
Green: Growth and Stability
If your design needs to say “balanced,” green is the way to go. It’s strongly tied to nature, health and finance. I’ve found it perfect for dashboards, eco-conscious brands or anything that wants to feel reliable but also alive.
Blue: Trust and Calmness
This one’s a favourite for a reason. Blue builds trust. Banks, software companies, and healthcare brands love it because it’s calm and dependable. I use it when a brand wants to feel professional without being cold.
Indigo: Intuition and Perception
Indigo sits between blue and violet and often gets overlooked. But if you’re working on something more spiritual, educational or deep. For me, it’s perfect and carries a quiet confidence, so great for subtle depth or contrast within designs.
Violet: Luxury and Imagination
This is the colour I turn to when the brief calls for elegance, magic or creativity. It’s associated with royalty and imagination. For beauty, wellness or anything meant to feel premium, violet adds that soft edge of mystery and sophistication.
Applying Rainbow Colours in Design
Now that you know what the colours of the rainbow mean, let’s talk about how to actually use them. I’ve seen great designs fall flat just because the colours didn’t fit the message. When used well, rainbow colours guide emotion, focus and response.
Creating Effective Colour Palettes
Start with your goal. Are you trying to excite, reassure or inspire? Once that’s clear, build your palette from one dominant rainbow colour and support it with complementary or analogous tones. I like using a tool like Adobe Color to experiment, but I always check everything on the actual design before calling it final.
Let’s say your brand leads with green for trust and stability. You might balance it with a splash of yellow for optimism or a touch of blue for calm clarity. Each of the colours of the rainbow should earn its place.
Using Colour to Evoke Desired Emotions
If your landing page isn’t converting, ask yourself: How do the colours make someone feel?
- Red pushes action and is great for urgency.
- Blue builds calm and is ideal for trust.
- Violet suggests luxury and is strong for beauty or fashion.
- Orange creates excitement and is useful for startups and promotions.
The key is using colour to reinforce what you’re saying, not compete with it. For example, a form asking for sensitive info should lean on calming colours, not high-energy ones.
Case Studies of Successful Rainbow Colour Usage
Here are some of the common examples where popular brands use rainbow colors.
Google’s Logo: Simple, yet it shows how all the colours on the rainbow can live together without chaos. Each letter has its own shade, creating familiarity and approachability. It proves that harmony doesn’t mean dull.
Slack’s Interface: Uses a mix of indigo, green and purple, not typical for productivity tools. It breaks the cold, blue-heavy standard and makes the product feel modern, creative and human. That’s a rainbow and colours used with personality.
Ben & Jerry’s Packaging: Combines yellow, red, blue and green in playful ways. The colours scream flavour and fun, especially in limited edition tubs. If you want your product to pop off a shelf, study this.
FAQs About Colours of the Rainbow
Is pink a colour of the rainbow?
No, pink is not part of the natural rainbow spectrum. The rainbow shows visible light split by wavelength, and pink doesn’t appear because it’s a mix of red and violet, which don’t sit next to each other in the spectrum.
Can you see all seven rainbow colours with the naked eye?
In most rainbows, you can spot the main colours, but indigo and violet can be hard to see clearly, especially if the light isn’t strong. Weather, brightness and angle all affect visibility.
Are rainbow colours the same across cultures?
Not always. Some cultures recognise fewer than seven colours in the rainbow, and names for the shades may vary. The seven-colour model is mostly based on Western science and Newton’s theory.
Can rainbow colours be used for accessibility in design?
Yes, but with care. Make sure there’s enough contrast between colours and avoid relying on colour alone to convey important info. Always check how designs appear for colour blindness and low-vision users.
Final Thoughts: Why Rainbow Colours Still Matter in Modern Design
The colours of the rainbow aren’t just for kids’ books or weather apps; if you’re a designer, they’re a complete palette packed with meaning. Whether you’re building a brand, designing an interface or refreshing your visuals, the colours of the rainbow in order help you say more without saying a word.
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