What Principle of Design Uses Noticeably Different Elements to Create Interest?

Ever land on a website and instantly feel like, yep, this is the one? Then click onto another and you’re bored out of your mind? Happens all the time. And one of the biggest reasons behind that gut reaction? Contrast.

It’s one of those basic design things that’s stupidly powerful. But so many people overlook it when building a website. Let me break it down.

Why Contrast Matters (A Lot) In Web Design

At its core, contrast is just putting two different things side by side so one stands out. Simple. But when done right, it guides your visitors’ eyes exactly where you want them.

I mean:

• Highlight your call-to-action buttons

• Make your text easy to read

• Separate key sections so it’s not one big messy blob

• Help people focus on what actually matters

Honestly, most visitors decide in seconds whether they’ll stick around. If your design doesn’t pop? They’re gone.

The Different Types of Contrast You Should Be Using

Alright, contrast isn’t just about colour. There’s a whole toolbox here. Let’s run through a few.

1) Colour Contrast

This is the obvious one. Light on dark. Dark on light. High contrast between colours makes stuff jump out.

Last month, I was helping a client who runs an online fitness gear store. We swapped their grey “Buy Now” buttons for bright lime green on a dark background. Sales clicks jumped 17% within two weeks. No crazy A/B testing. Just proper contrast.

Some simple ways to nail colour contrast:

• Use bold colours for CTAs

• Keep text high contrast for easy reading

• Don’t go wild—too many colours can feel like a circus

2) Size Contrast

Bigger things naturally grab attention. Your eye can’t help it.

Headlines should be noticeably larger than body text. Buttons bigger than regular links. Your hero image? Massive compared to the content that follows.

You’re basically telling the visitor: hey, look here first.

Quick rule of thumb:

• Headlines 2-3x bigger than paragraph text

• Primary buttons 20-30% larger than secondary buttons

• Hero banners take up at least 60% of the screen on load

3) Shape & Form Contrast

Most websites are boxy—rectangles everywhere. So adding circles, rounded buttons, or odd shapes creates a visual break.

I worked on a landing page last year for a Melbourne recruitment firm. We used circular staff headshots right next to rectangular testimonial cards. Sounds small, but it broke up the layout and made the content feel approachable.

Ways you can play with shapes:

• Round buttons for CTAs

• Circular icons next to features

• Soft edges vs sharp boxes for different sections

4) Texture & Depth Contrast

Flat design can feel clean. But sometimes a little depth makes all the difference.

Drop shadows, subtle gradients, layered images—all these tricks give your design that bit of “touchability.” Makes things feel clickable. Interactive.

For example:

• Soft shadow on buttons (not those heavy 2005 drop shadows)

• Light gradient backgrounds behind pricing tables

• Textured hero banners for a bit more character

5) Functional Contrast For User Experience

Good contrast isn’t just about looking pretty—it’s about helping people actually use your site.

Here’s where contrast does the heavy lifting for UX:

• Guiding where eyes go first

• Helping people navigate easily

• Reducing cognitive load (aka: making things dead simple)

If users don’t have to think too hard? They stay longer. They click more. They convert better.

Contrast Plays a Huge Role in Accessibility Too

This bit gets overlooked way too often.

There are people who physically can’t read low-contrast text. Colour blindness. Low vision. Poor lighting. You name it. If your contrast sucks, you’re basically shutting the door on a chunk of your audience.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) actually give clear ratios for contrast. Honestly, you don’t need to geek out over every decimal point—but aim for:

• Dark text on light backgrounds (or vice versa)

• Avoid light greys on white (the worst offender)

• Make sure buttons stand out clearly

If you want a tool, I sometimes use Stark for quick accessibility checks. Super simple.

Quick Best Practices For Using Contrast Without Screwing It Up

Look—it’s easy to go overboard. I’ve seen people add so much contrast it turns into a flashing neon nightmare. Don’t be that guy.

Here’s my go-to list:

• Keep balance: not everything needs to scream for attention

• Be consistent: use the same styles across your site

• Test it: mobile, tablet, desktop—it can look very different

• Watch your brand: make sure contrast still aligns with your identity

And yeah, sometimes it’s worth bringing in a second pair of eyes (I’ve had clients spot things I completely missed).

Conclusion

Contrast is one of those simple design levers that, when pulled right, makes your website instantly more usable, more beautiful, and more profitable.

Here at Chromatix, this stuff’s baked into every site we build. Because pretty sites are nice, but effective sites pay the bills.

Ready to revamp your website with effective contrast? Contact us today and we’ll map out the next steps together.