Start with text and background
Accessibility starts with readable text. Before choosing button colors, gradients, or decorative accents, find a strong text and background pair. If body text is hard to read, the rest of the interface will feel weaker no matter how attractive the palette is.
Use contrast results
Use Relationship Map to compare color pairs. Look for combinations that pass AA for normal text and AAA for important or long-form content when possible. Save lower-contrast pairs for decoration, borders, or large visual areas.
Check interactive elements
Buttons, links, tabs, form fields, and selected states need enough contrast to be recognized quickly. A primary button should stand out from the page, and its text should stay readable in normal, hover, active, and disabled states.
Do not rely only on color
Status states should not depend on color alone. Use text, icons, labels, spacing, or shape changes so success, warning, and danger states are understandable even when colors are difficult to distinguish.
Test both light and dark modes
A palette can be accessible in light mode and fail in dark mode, or the other way around. Check both modes if your product supports themes. Pay special attention to muted text, borders, disabled controls, and subtle surfaces.
Use the palette with restraint
Accessible UI is usually easier when the background and text system is stable and accent colors are used intentionally. Keep the loudest colors for actions and highlights, not for every surface on the screen.