Best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps

Real-world examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps

Before getting lost in theory, let’s start with real examples. When people search for examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps, they’re usually trying to answer one question: What actually works in practice?

Here are several real examples (from 2024-era apps) that show different approaches:

• Slack lets users pick from predefined color themes for the sidebar or create a custom palette using hex codes. Their guide is simple: a preview panel, a list of presets, and a clear “Reset to default” option.
• GitHub offers light, dark, and system-based themes. Their settings screen explains what each option does and shows a live preview of code blocks and UI elements.
• Notion keeps it minimal with just light and dark themes, but the switch is everywhere: quick settings, account menu, and mobile. The simplicity is the guide.
• Figma and VS Code go heavy on themes: dozens of presets and an extension marketplace. Their guides emphasize search, previews, and favorites so users don’t get overwhelmed.
• Google Calendar uses subtle color customization: you can assign colors to calendars and events, effectively creating your own visual theme for your schedule.

These best examples all have one thing in common: they don’t just offer themes; they guide users through picking, previewing, and changing them without fear of “breaking” anything.

Why theme and color guides matter more in 2024–2025

Modern users expect personalization. Between dark mode support in operating systems and browser-level preferences, a static, unchangeable UI feels dated.

There’s also a serious accessibility angle. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12 million Americans over 40 have vision impairment, including color blindness and low vision (CDC vision data). That’s a lot of people who may struggle with low-contrast or overly bright interfaces.

When you design your own guide to changing themes and colors in web apps, you’re not just adding a nice-to-have feature. You’re:

• Reducing eye strain for users who work in your app for hours.
• Supporting color-blind and low-vision users with high-contrast and accessible palettes.
• Making your product feel more personal and on-brand for teams.

The best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps always connect customization with comfort, clarity, and control.

UX patterns: examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps

Let’s break down some common UX patterns, using real examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps that you can borrow.

Pattern 1: Simple light/dark with system integration

This is the new baseline. Apps like GitHub, YouTube, and Notion offer:

• Light theme
• Dark theme
• “Use system setting” or “Match device”

The system option is underrated. It respects the user’s OS choice and automatically switches when their device changes between light and dark. For your guide, a short note like:

“Match device: Uses your operating system’s light or dark setting automatically.”

…goes a long way in reducing confusion.

A strong example of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps here would:

• Show a mini preview of both light and dark modes.
• Let users toggle between them instantly.
• Save the preference in local storage or user settings.

Pattern 2: Preset brand themes for teams

Team-based tools like Slack, Asana, or ClickUp often let workspace admins pick from preset themes that match different moods or brand vibes.

In Slack, for instance, the sidebar can be switched between presets like “Aubergine” or “Clean & Minimal.” Each preset is a set of hex colors applied consistently.

For your app, a good example of guide to changing themes and colors might:

• Offer a handful of curated presets labeled with descriptive names (e.g., “Calm Blue,” “High Contrast,” “Midnight”).
• Include a short accessibility note like, “High Contrast is recommended for low-light environments or users with low vision.”

This is where you can link to resources like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the W3C (WCAG overview) so your guide doesn’t feel like it’s making random claims about readability.

Pattern 3: Full custom color pickers (with guardrails)

Some of the best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps give power users full control. Think Figma, Canva, or Notion’s page-level color controls.

Here’s how they avoid chaos:

• Users pick a primary color, and the app auto-generates lighter/darker variants.
• A small warning appears if contrast is too low (e.g., “This color may be hard to read for some users”).
• There’s always a “Reset to default theme” button.

If you’re adding a custom color picker, your guide should:

• Explain what each color affects: “Primary color changes buttons and links; background color changes panels and cards.”
• Show a live preview of a typical screen.
• Mention accessibility: you can reference tools and standards, such as the color contrast checker from the WebAIM project (WebAIM contrast checker).

Pattern 4: Event-level or object-level colors

Not every theme guide has to be about the whole app. Sometimes, color customization happens at the object level:

• Google Calendar: each calendar or event can have its own color.
• Trello: boards and labels use colors to signal priority or category.
• Jira: issue labels and statuses often rely on color coding.

In these cases, an example of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps would focus on meaning:

• Encourage consistent color semantics (e.g., red = urgent, green = done).
• Explain that color is a visual hint, not the only signal. For accessibility, pair color with text or icons.

This is backed up by accessibility recommendations from organizations like the National Eye Institute (NEI vision resources). Color alone shouldn’t carry all the information.

Pattern 5: High-contrast and accessibility-focused themes

A lot of modern web apps now include at least one high-contrast theme. Microsoft’s products, Google’s accessibility options, and many education platforms follow this pattern.

Strong examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps in this category:

• Clearly label the theme as “High Contrast” or “Accessibility-friendly.”
• Explain who might benefit: “Recommended for users with low vision or sensitivity to low-contrast text.”
• Maintain consistent spacing and layout, only changing colors and contrast.

If you’re writing documentation or in-app help, pointing users to general accessibility guidance from the U.S. government’s accessibility resources (Section 508 guidance) can build trust.

Implementation basics: how to structure your own guide

Let’s talk about how to actually write and structure your own guide to changing themes and colors in web apps so it’s clear, modern, and not just a boring settings page.

1. Start with where to find theme settings

Users often ask, “Where did they hide the dark mode?” Your guide should answer that in the first sentence.

For example:

“To change your theme, open Settings → Appearance → Themes. From there, you can switch between light, dark, and high-contrast modes.”

Add a short description of each theme and, if possible, include a quick tip:

“If you’re working late, try Dark mode to reduce screen glare.”

This may sound obvious, but the best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps never assume users already know where settings live.

2. Explain how changes are saved and applied

Do theme changes apply instantly? Do users need to refresh? Are settings saved per device or per account?

Spell it out:

“Theme changes apply immediately and are saved to your account, so your preferences follow you across devices.”

Or, if you’re using browser storage:

“Your theme is saved in this browser only. If you switch devices, you can set your theme again in Settings → Appearance.”

Clear expectations reduce support tickets and frustrated users.

3. Show real before-and-after scenarios

Instead of just listing options, describe how they feel in use. For example:

• “In Dark mode, sidebars and backgrounds become charcoal gray while text remains bright for readability.”
• “High Contrast mode increases text contrast and adds outlines to buttons so they’re easier to spot.”

These kinds of descriptions turn your documentation into living, relatable examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps, not just a dry feature list.

4. Add a troubleshooting section

Things go wrong. Users get stuck. A solid guide anticipates that.

Common issues to address:

• “My theme keeps switching back to light.” → Explain conflicts with system settings or browser preferences.
• “The app looks different on my phone.” → Clarify if mobile uses a simplified theme set.
• “Some text is hard to read.” → Point users to your high-contrast or accessibility theme and invite feedback.

You can even link to external accessibility resources or general digital ergonomics advice. For instance, Mayo Clinic has guidance on reducing eye strain from screens (Mayo Clinic eye strain tips), which you can reference in your help center.

Technical tips that support better theme guides

Your documentation becomes much easier to write (and much more accurate) when your underlying implementation is solid.

Here are some technical practices that show up in the best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps:

• Use CSS variables (custom properties) for colors so switching themes is a matter of toggling a class or data attribute.
• Store theme preferences in a database for logged-in users and in localStorage for guests.
• Respect the browser’s prefers-color-scheme media query to auto-apply dark or light themes on first visit.
• Test your themes with a screen reader and a color-blindness simulator before you promise anything in your guide.

When your implementation is consistent, your guide can confidently say, “Every page in the app supports all themes,” and users won’t find random screens stuck in the wrong colors.

Pulling it together: writing your own best-in-class guide

If you’re about to sit down and actually write documentation or in-app help, here’s a simple structure that mirrors the best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps:

• Start with a short, friendly overview: why themes exist and who they help.
• Show users where to find theme and color settings.
• Describe each theme in plain language, with hints about when to use it.
• Explain how to customize colors (if allowed) and how to reset to defaults.
• Call out accessibility options clearly, not as an afterthought.
• Include troubleshooting tips and a link to more help.

If you can, sprinkle in real screenshots and short GIFs in your actual documentation (even though we’re not including them here). Visuals turn your written guide into something people can follow in under a minute.

In 2024–2025, users expect more than a single dusty “Appearance” page. They want a thoughtful, guided experience. By learning from the best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps—and by explaining your own options in clear, human language—you’ll give your users something surprisingly rare: control that feels easy, not intimidating.

FAQ: examples and practical questions

Q1. Can you give a simple example of changing themes in a web app?
Yes. A classic example of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps is a settings page with three options: Light, Dark, and Match device. The user picks one, sees the change instantly, and the app remembers the choice for the next visit.

Q2. What are some real examples of color customization that don’t overwhelm users?
Real examples include Slack’s sidebar color presets, Google Calendar’s event colors, and Trello’s label colors. Each keeps customization focused on a specific area instead of letting users change every single color at once.

Q3. How many themes should a web app offer?
Most apps do well with two or three core themes: light, dark, and sometimes high contrast. If you want more variety, use curated presets instead of unlimited random combinations.

Q4. How do I make sure my colors are readable for everyone?
Follow WCAG contrast guidelines and test your colors with a contrast checker like WebAIM’s. Also, avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning—pair it with icons, text, or patterns.

Q5. Are there best examples of guide to changing themes and colors in web apps that support accessibility?
Yes. Many education and government platforms now offer explicit accessibility themes. They label them clearly, explain who benefits, and provide links to accessibility resources so users understand why those options exist.