Have you ever made a layout that was perfectly…so-so? :o) I tend to do it all the time, unfortunately. But, I’ve discovered that a shot of unexpected color is often the perfect cure for an otherwise ordinary page.
Take this sample, for example. I pulled colors from my photos…blues, greens, and browns. I combined, everything looks pretty darn good, but it lacks that ‘wow’ factor. I decided I needed to add more color. In studying my photo, orange would have been a nice addition to the page, since it is a color found in my daughter’s life jacket.
However, I wanted to add something UNEXPECTED so my layout would be a bit more vibrant. How do you like the new version? I decided to add shots of reds and yellows, and I really like the way it turned out! The page feels a lot more energetic—which is good for a sports-based layout.
So, how did I decide what colors to add? I simply placed various scraps of paper on my page until I found something that really stood out—the red. Once I added the red, I saw that yellow would compliment it and add even more energy to the page. Had I not gone this route, I was considering adding navy blue as another accent. It would have looked good, but would have given a calmer feel to the page. One tip on adding unexpected color to a layout…consider placing the elements that are the most vibrant in a visual triangle—as I did here with the yellow elements.
Next time you’re stuck on a layout, try adding some unique colors to the page and let me know how it turns out! Make sure to upload your layout to MM's idea gallery.
