Best PowerPoint Color Schemes
4 minutes read
Learn the best colors for PowerPoint presentations and sample PowerPoint color schemes that help you create a powerful message.
Great designs aren’t an accident. Talented designers make conscious decisions about color and the message that it sends to an audience. As you prepare to speak, you’re probably building a PowerPoint presentation to support your points. Choosing the best colors for your presentation requires careful thought. You need to match the content and mood of your speech.
In this tutorial, you’ll see the best PowerPoint color themes that you can use for an impactful message. Then, we’ll look at PowerPoint color scheme ideas that are ready to use from Envato Elements.
The Importance of Color in Every Presentation
PowerPoint helps you build supporting slides for a speaking engagement. Every slide should tie into the message that you’re delivering. The colors that you choose will play a part in supporting this message.
Let’s explore how color impacts your presentation. We’ll also discuss how to choose the right colors.
1. Color Sets the Mood
Color sets a mood for any presentation. Consider the difference between a slide that starts with bright fluorescent colors and one that opens with a grey tone. They’re sure to create different expectations for the content before you even begin to speak.
As your audience sees the first slide, they’ll start to form expectations. Matching the color palette to your message ensures a successful presentation. Here are a few basic color moods to keep in mind:
- Red evokes passion and intensity.
- Light blues and greens create a calming effect, reminiscent of nature.
- Yellow feels optimistic and energizing.
- Purple conveys a sense of luxury and exclusivity.
Instead of searching for the “best” color for PowerPoint presentations, focus on using colors that complement your message.
2. Color Palettes
While selecting a single color is important, combining them into a cohesive color palette is even more critical. Most presentations will feature a mix of colors; thus, the color palette plays a significant role.
Monochromatic color schemes utilize one central color in various shades, like the example below:
Complementary color schemes cross the color wheel for visual appeal. Think of the reds and greens around the holidays or the purple and gold uniforms of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Another option is a triad scheme, which uses three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel. This approach ensures that the colors complement each other rather than clash.
3. Top Color Trends for 2019 (and How to Explore Them)
As you think about color as a conscious choice in your presentation, it’s helpful to explore trending PowerPoint color schemes. Adobe Color is an excellent tool for this purpose, allowing you to create cohesive palettes that fit your key colors.
10 Best (Trendy) PowerPoint Color Scheme Combinations (2019 PPT Guide)
Now that we’ve covered the principles of generating PowerPoint color scheme ideas, let’s dive into pre-built templates featuring the best colors for PowerPoint presentations available on Envato Elements.
With a subscription, you unlock thousands of templates, each showcasing effective PowerPoint color schemes that can elevate your presentation. Here are ten of the best PowerPoint color schemes:
1. Gradient Complements
Using a gradient is a great way to blend multiple colors, as seen in the Analysiz PowerPoint template, where blues and reds blend seamlessly.
Gradients can effectively bring together colors that may not typically pair well.
2. Shades of Seafoam
Cool tones like light blues and greens can create a calming atmosphere, perfectly exemplified in the popular The X Note template.
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3. Monochrome Color Shades
The Pezia template showcases a monochromatic color scheme, using various shades of a single color to lead the viewer’s eye effectively.
4. Approach With Seriousness
Combining yellow and black creates an engaging color scheme suitable for serious content, as demonstrated in the Company Profile template.
5. Shades of Pink
For presentations with softer tones, consider the STYLE Multipurpose PowerPoint theme, which employs shades of pink for a touch of elegance.
6. Earth Tones
If your presentation focuses on the environment, earth tones captured beautifully in the Mandalika PowerPoint template may be the ideal choice.
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7. Highlighting Success
A single bright hue can create an engaging impact, as seen in the Blendu PowerPoint template, showcasing a vibrant green accent.
8. Pastels Plus
The Color Fun template captures pastel shades with increased contrast, providing a visually appealing palette.
9. The Color of the Year Palette
For 2019, Pantone named Living Coral as the color of the year, which is perfectly represented in the Living Coral PowerPoint theme.
10. Spectrum of Colors
Finally, the Spectrum template balances a wide array of colors, creating an attractive presentation without overwhelming the audience.
Choosing the best colors for PowerPoint presentations is an essential step in the design process. With the ideas presented here, you’re well on your way to creating visually engaging presentations that resonate with your audience.