Changing the color of your Wix navigation menu can instantly give your website a fresh new look. If you are not sure how to do it, you have come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the process of how to change navigation menu color Wix step by step.
Before you begin, make sure you are logged into your Wix account and have your site editor open. A simple color adjustment can transform your site’s appearance. Let’s get started with this easy update for your website design.
Understanding Your Wix Navigation Menu
Your navigation menu, also called the page menu, is a fundamental part of your website’s design and structure. It guides visitors through your content, helping them find what they need quickly. The color of your menu is a major visual cue that contributes to your site’s overall feel and brand identity.
Wix provides a high degree of flexibility for customizing your site navigation. You can change the menu’s color, style, layout, text, and much more. This control allows you to create a navigation experience that perfectly matches your website branding.
Think of your menu as more than just a list of links; it’s an interactive element that sets the tone for user interaction. A well-chosen color scheme can make your site feel professional and cohesive. Conversely, a poor color choice can make it appear jarring or difficult to use.
Steps to Change Navigation Menu Color in Wix
Altering your menu color is a straightforward process inside the Wix editor. Following these steps will help you update your site’s look in just a few minutes. We will cover the basic color change for the menu’s background.
1. Access the Editor
Your journey begins in the Wix Editor, the platform’s central hub for all design changes. From your Wix Dashboard, find the site you want to work on. Click the ‘Select & Edit Site’ button, which will take you to the editor.
2. Find the Navigation Menu
Once the editor loads, locate the navigation menu on your page. In most Wix template designs, the menu is in the header at the top of the page. Click directly on the menu element to select it, which will highlight it with a blue border and display a small toolbar.
3. Open the Design Options
With the menu selected, a small set of options will appear. Click the paintbrush icon labeled ‘Design’. This action opens the design panel, which is your primary tool for altering the visual appearance of the menu.
4. Customize Your Design
Inside the design panel, you will see a collection of preset menu designs. You can choose one of these presets if you like, but for a custom color, look for the ‘Customize Design’ button at the bottom of the panel. Clicking this button opens up a more detailed set of options for the selected menu design.
5. Select the Fill Color & Opacity
A new window will appear, showing options for different states like ‘Regular’, ‘Hover’, and ‘Clicked’. Make sure you are on the ‘Regular’ tab. Look for an option called ‘Fill Color & Opacity’ and click on it to modify the background color.
6. Pick Your New Color
Clicking the color box next to ‘Fill Color’ opens the color picker. Here, you can select from your site’s theme colors, add a new color using the picker, or enter a specific HEX, RGB, or HSB value. This feature is perfect for matching your exact brand colors.
As you select a color, you will see a live preview of it on your menu. This immediate feedback helps you see how the color interacts with other design elements. You can also adjust the opacity slider here to make the menu background semi-transparent.
7. Apply the Changes
After you have found the perfect shade, simply click outside of the color picker to apply it. The color you chose is now set for your menu’s regular state. You can repeat this process for the ‘Hover’ state to create an interactive effect for visitors.
8. Save and Publish Your Work
The final, crucial step is to save your progress. Click the ‘Save’ button in the top-right corner of the editor. After saving, it’s a good idea to click ‘Publish’ so the changes go live for your visitors to see.
Tips for Choosing the Right Navigation Menu Color
Picking the right color for your navigation menu involves more than just selecting a personal favorite. The choice affects readability, user experience, and your overall brand perception. Here are some pointers to help you make an effective decision.
Align with Your Brand Identity
Your menu color should be part of a cohesive color palette that reflects your brand. Use your logo’s colors or your established brand guidelines as a starting point. This creates a professional and unified look across your entire website.
If you don’t have a defined color scheme, consider the mood you want to convey. Colors have psychological associations that can influence how visitors perceive your business. For example, blue often suggests trust and stability, while green can imply growth and nature.
Prioritize Readability with Contrast
The most important factor is readability. Your menu’s font color must have sufficient contrast with its background color. If visitors can’t read your menu items, the navigation becomes useless.
Use a contrast checker tool online to test your color combinations. These tools often use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to give you a pass or fail score. Sticking to these guidelines helps people with visual impairments use your site effectively.
A high contrast ratio, such as black text on a white background or white text on a dark blue background, is generally a safe bet. Avoid combinations like yellow text on a white background, which can be very difficult to read. This is a critical part of good web accessibility.
| Color | Common Associations | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Trust, calm, stability, professionalism. | Corporate, finance, tech, and health websites. |
| Red | Energy, passion, urgency, excitement. | E-commerce (for sales), food, and entertainment. |
| Green | Nature, health, growth, wealth. | Environmental, health, and finance websites. |
| Yellow | Optimism, warmth, happiness, attention. | Creative industries, call-to-action buttons. |
| Orange | Friendliness, enthusiasm, confidence. | Creative brands, e-commerce, and subscription services. |
| Purple | Luxury, creativity, wisdom, royalty. | Beauty, wellness, and high-end product brands. |
| Black | Power, elegance, sophistication, modernity. | Luxury goods, fashion, and photography portfolios. |
| White | Simplicity, cleanliness, minimalism. | Minimalist designs, tech, and health sectors. |
Test Different States
Your navigation menu has multiple states: regular, hover, and clicked (or active). Each state should be visually distinct. For instance, the hover state tells a user they are about to select an item, improving the user experience.
You can change the background or font color for the hover state. A subtle change, like a slightly lighter or darker shade of the regular color, is often effective. This creates a smooth and intuitive feel as visitors explore your site navigation.
Advanced Customization Options
After you have figured out how to change navigation menu color Wix, you can explore other ways to customize your menu. The Wix editor offers many settings to refine your design. These advanced options can further elevate your website’s appearance and functionality.
Customizing Font Color and Style
Just as you changed the background color, you can also change the menu’s font color. In the same ‘Customize Design’ panel, look for the ‘Text’ section. Here, you can select a new font color, change the font style, and adjust the font size.
Maintaining good contrast between the font and background is vital here. If you choose a dark background, opt for a light font color. This makes your menu links clear and easy to read for everyone.
Modifying the Mobile Menu Color
Your website’s mobile menu, often called the hamburger menu, can be customized separately. To do this, switch to the mobile view by clicking the phone icon at the top of the Wix editor. Click on the mobile menu to select it and then click the ‘Design’ icon.
From here, you can change the color of the hamburger menu icon itself. You can also customize the appearance of the menu when it’s open. This includes the background color of the menu container and the text color of the links.
Creating Hover Effects
An interactive hover state makes your menu feel more responsive. In the ‘Customize Design’ panel, click on the ‘Hover’ tab. Here you can set a different fill color or text color that appears only when a user’s cursor is over a menu item.
This simple effect provides important visual feedback. It confirms to the user which item they are about to click. This is a small detail that contributes to a professional and polished user experience.
Using Velo by Wix for Code-Based Changes
For users who want maximum control, Wix offers a platform called Velo. Velo allows you to add custom JavaScript and use APIs to modify your site’s behavior and design beyond the standard editor options. While this requires coding knowledge, it opens up nearly limitless possibilities.
With Velo, you could create complex menu animations or change the menu’s color based on the time of day or other conditions. This is an advanced option for those comfortable with code. For most users, the built-in design options in the editor are more than sufficient.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with a user-friendly platform like Wix, you might occasionally run into issues. Here are a few common problems that can occur when you try to change your menu color and how to resolve them.
Menu Color Is Not Changing
If you have followed the steps but the color does not update, you may have a different element selected. For instance, you might be accidentally editing the header background instead of the menu background. Double-check that you have clicked on the menu itself before opening the design panel.
Another possibility is that your site has a ‘Frozen’ header, which can have its own settings. Check your header settings to see if any overrides are in place. Sometimes, an element from the Wix App Market can also interfere with menu styling.
Changes Don’t Appear on the Live Site
If you saved your changes but don’t see them on your live website, the issue is likely related to publishing or cache. First, be certain you clicked the ‘Publish’ button after saving. If you did, try clearing your browser’s cache, as it might be loading an older version of your site.
The Mobile Hamburger Menu Color is Wrong
Many people forget that the mobile menu needs to be edited separately. If your desktop menu looks great but the mobile version is off, switch to the mobile editor. From there, you can select the hamburger menu and customize its open and closed state colors.
FAQs About Customizing Your Wix Menu
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about changing your Wix menu’s appearance.
Q: Can I change the color of just one menu item in Wix?
A: The standard Wix menu doesn’t allow you to change the color of a single menu item through the design panel. All items share the same style for consistency. To achieve this, you would need to use custom code with Velo by Wix or use a workaround like creating a button that looks like a menu item and linking it to a page.
Q: How do I revert to my Wix template’s original menu color?
A: In the ‘Design’ panel for the menu, you can select a different preset design to reset your customizations. Alternatively, you can look for a ‘Reset to theme’ or ‘Reset design’ option within the ‘Customize Design’ window. You can also find your site’s original color palette in the theme colors and re-select it.
Q: Will changing my navigation menu color affect my website’s SEO?
A: Changing the color itself has no direct impact on SEO. However, if your color choice results in poor readability and a bad user experience, it could indirectly affect SEO. High bounce rates and low time-on-page can signal to search engines that your site is not helpful, so always prioritize clarity.
Q: Do I need to know code to change my Wix menu color?
A: No, you do not need any coding knowledge. All the essential color changes for your menu’s background, text, and hover states can be done visually through the Wix editor. The Velo platform is only necessary for very advanced, custom functionalities.
Q: Can I use a gradient for my menu background?
A: Yes, you can. In the ‘Fill Color & Opacity’ settings within the color picker, you will find an option for ‘Gradient’. You can choose from preset gradients or create your own custom gradient with different colors, styles, and angles for a more dynamic look.
Learning how to change navigation menu color Wix is a simple yet powerful way to refine your website’s look and feel. With the detailed steps and tips provided, you can easily create a menu that looks fantastic. A well-designed menu also improves your site’s overall usability.
While you master the Wix development side of things you should look into hiring a Wix SEO company to help you grow online, give us a call today.
Your navigation menu is a central component of your website’s user experience and brand presentation. Taking the time to adjust its color scheme contributes to a more professional and cohesive online presence. Your visitors will appreciate a site that is both attractive and easy to browse.
Now that you have this information, feel free to experiment with your site’s design. Try different color combinations and interactive elements to see what best reflects your brand. A few small tweaks can make a big difference.
