Social media icons don't have to use standard platform colors. Matching them to your brand creates a more cohesive visual identity and strengthens brand recognition.
After years of working with brand guidelines, I've found that customized social icon colors improve design consistency without sacrificing recognition. The key is knowing when to use brand colors and when to stick with platform standards.
Why Match Icons to Brand Colors?
Customizing social icon colors offers several benefits:
- Visual Consistency: Icons blend with your overall design instead of standing out as mismatched elements
- Brand Recognition: Reinforces your brand colors across every touchpoint
- Design Flexibility: Allows icons to work on any background color
- Professional Polish: Shows attention to detail in your brand presentation
Important Caveat:
Platform brand guidelines technically prohibit changing official colors. However, monochrome versions or subtle variations are generally acceptable for website use. For marketing materials or official partnerships, always use standard colors.
Three Methods for Customizing Icon Colors
Method | Skill Level | Flexibility | Best For |
---|---|---|---|
CSS Styling | Intermediate | Good | Icon fonts, simple SVGs |
SVG Editing | Advanced | Excellent | Custom implementations |
Generator Tools | Beginner | Good | Quick results, no coding |
Method 1: CSS Styling
The simplest approach is using CSS to change icon colors. This works well with icon fonts like Font Awesome:
/* Basic color change */
.social-icons a {
color: #667eea; /* Your brand color */
}
/* Different hover color */
.social-icons a:hover {
color: #4ade80; /* Your accent color */
}
/* Platform-specific colors using brand palette */
.social-icons .facebook {
background: #667eea; /* Primary brand color */
}
.social-icons .twitter {
background: #4ade80; /* Secondary brand color */
}
.social-icons .instagram {
background: #764ba2; /* Accent brand color */
}
CSS Filter Method for Images
For PNG icons, use CSS filters to adjust colors:
/* Convert to monochrome and colorize */
.social-icon {
filter: grayscale(100%) brightness(0.5) sepia(100%) hue-rotate(180deg) saturate(500%);
}
/* Simpler: just change opacity and add background */
.social-icon-wrapper {
background: #667eea; /* Your brand color */
border-radius: 50%;
padding: 8px;
}
.social-icon-wrapper img {
opacity: 0.9;
filter: brightness(0) invert(1); /* Makes icon white */
}
Method 2: Direct SVG Editing
For maximum control, edit SVG fill colors directly:
<!-- Original Facebook icon -->
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24">
<path fill="#1877F2" d="M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z"/>
</svg>
<!-- Customized with your brand color -->
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24">
<path fill="#667eea" d="M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z"/>
</svg>
CSS Variables for Easy Updates
Use CSS custom properties to change SVG colors without editing files:
/* Define brand colors as CSS variables */
:root {
--brand-primary: #667eea;
--brand-secondary: #4ade80;
--brand-accent: #764ba2;
}
/* Apply to SVG fills */
.social-icon-facebook {
fill: var(--brand-primary);
}
.social-icon-twitter {
fill: var(--brand-secondary);
}
.social-icon-instagram {
fill: var(--brand-accent);
}
Method 3: Using Icon Generators
Icon generators like NiftyButtons let you customize colors visually without touching code:
- Select your social platforms
- Choose "Custom Colors" option
- Enter your brand color hex codes
- Preview in real-time
- Export ready-to-use code
This approach is fastest when you need matching icons across multiple platforms and want consistent results without manual coding.
Color Theory Basics for Icon Customization
Monochrome Approach
Using a single brand color in different shades is the safest strategy:
- Primary Color: Use your main brand color for all icon backgrounds
- White Icons: Keep the icon symbols white for contrast
- Hover State: Darken by 10-15% for hover effect
Multi-Color Palette
If your brand has multiple colors, assign them strategically:
- Primary Platforms: Use primary brand color (Facebook, LinkedIn)
- Secondary Platforms: Use secondary color (Twitter, YouTube)
- Accent Platforms: Use accent color (Instagram, TikTok)
💡 Color Selection Guidelines
- Contrast: Ensure 4.5:1 minimum contrast ratio between icon and background
- Consistency: Use the exact hex codes from your brand style guide
- Testing: Check colors on both light and dark backgrounds
- Accessibility: Verify colors work for colorblind users
When to Use Custom Colors (and When to Avoid Them)
Use Custom Colors When:
- Icons are part of a tightly designed brand experience
- Your site has a strong color scheme that standard colors would disrupt
- You're using monochrome/minimalist design approach
- Icons appear on colored backgrounds where standard colors don't work
Use Standard Platform Colors When:
- Icons appear in marketing materials or ads
- You have official partnerships with platforms
- Maximum brand recognition is the priority
- Your brand colors are similar to platform colors (potential confusion)
Color Customization Checklist
Before implementing custom-colored icons:
- ✓ Verify brand color hex codes from your style guide
- ✓ Test contrast ratios for accessibility compliance
- ✓ Preview icons on all background colors used on your site
- ✓ Check appearance on mobile devices
- ✓ Verify hover states have sufficient contrast
- ✓ Test with colorblindness simulators
- ✓ Document color decisions for future reference
Helpful Tools and Resources
Color Tools:
- Coolors.co: Generate and test color palettes
- WebAIM Contrast Checker: Verify accessibility compliance
- Colorblindly: Simulate colorblind vision
- Adobe Color: Extract colors from brand assets
Implementation Tools:
- NiftyButtons: Visual icon color customization
- SVGOMG: Optimize and edit SVG files
- CSS Gradient: Create gradient backgrounds
Next Steps
Customizing social media icon colors strengthens brand consistency when done thoughtfully. Start by determining whether custom colors serve your brand better than standard platform colors.
If you choose custom colors, use your exact brand hex codes and verify accessibility. Whether you code CSS manually, edit SVGs, or use a generator tool, the goal is creating icons that feel like a natural part of your brand identity.
Customize Icons with Your Brand Colors
NiftyButtons makes it easy to create social media icons in your exact brand colors with a visual interface.
Customize Icons Now Email Signature Maker