Dark Mode Design: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid

A few years ago, dark mode was a nice-to-have. Today, it’s a must.

Whether you’re designing a mobile app, website, or enterprise software platform, dark mode has gone from trendy to essential. Users expect it, especially on mobile and in low-light environments. And let’s be honest—when done right, dark mode just looks cool.

But designing for dark mode isn’t as simple as inverting colors or slapping on a black background. In fact, if you’re not careful, you can end up with a UI that’s hard to read, inconsistent, or worse—unusable.

In this post, we’ll explore the best practices for dark mode design, common mistakes to avoid, and real-world advice from our experience designing apps and platforms for clients across industries.

Why Dark Mode Matters (More Than Ever)

Before diving into the how, let’s talk about the why.

Dark mode isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about accessibility, user comfort, and modern user expectations.

Here’s why users love it:

• Reduces eye strain in low-light settings

• Saves battery life on OLED and AMOLED screens

• Creates a more focused, distraction-free interface

• Offers a sleek, modern look

  
  

For businesses, offering dark mode can improve user satisfaction and retention, especially among power users and night owls.

Dark Mode Design: Best Practices

Now let’s talk about how to get it right.

1. Use True Dark with Caution

While pure black (#000000) backgrounds can save battery on OLED screens, they can feel harsh or create too much contrast. Instead:

• Use very dark grays (#121212, #1E1E1E) to create a softer, more readable background.

• Pair with subtle lighter text—not pure white. Try #EAEAEA or #CCCCCC.

2. Focus on Contrast, Not Just Color

Just because your light text looks good on a dark background doesn’t mean it’s readable. Test for:

• Sufficient color contrast (aim for WCAG AA or AAA compliance)

• Readability in different lighting conditions

• Accessibility for colorblind or visually impaired users

  
  

Use contrast checking tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker during design.

3. Rethink Shadows and Depth

In light mode, shadows help elements pop. In dark mode, those same shadows can get lost.

• Use subtle glows or inner shadows to create depth

• Elevate elements using lighter borders or background tones instead of traditional drop shadows

4. Create a Separate Color Palette

Don’t just invert your existing colors. Build a separate dark mode palette:

• Adjust accent colors for visibility

• Test brand colors on dark backgrounds (some may need to be desaturated or lightened)

• Ensure consistent mood and tone across both modes

5. Let Users Choose (and Remember Their Choice)

Provide a toggle or system preference option to switch between light and dark. Even better:

• Save the preference locally

• Sync across sessions or devices if your app supports login

Common Dark Mode Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced designers fall into these traps:

1. Using Pure White Text

Pure white (#FFFFFF) on pure black is too much contrast, making reading uncomfortable. Instead, use soft light tones.

2. Forgetting About Images and Illustrations

Images designed for light mode can clash with dark backgrounds. Watch out for:

• Logos with dark outlines that disappear

• PNGs with white halos or borders

• Icons that lose meaning or detail in dark themes

  
  

Use transparent SVGs or provide separate versions of illustrations for both modes.

3. Not Testing in Real Environments

Designing in Figma is one thing—using the app on a phone at 2 AM is another.

• Test your UI in real-world lighting conditions

• Review across different screen types (LCD vs. OLED)

• Make sure hover states, tooltips, and modals are legible

  
  

4. Inconsistent Styling Across Modes

Inconsistencies in padding, font sizes, or element positioning between light and dark themes can make your product feel buggy or unfinished. Keep both modes in sync—visually and structurally.

Pro Tips from the Field

From our work designing UI/UX for SaaS platforms, fintech tools, and mobile apps, here are a few lessons we’ve learned:

• Use design tokens to manage your light and dark mode palettes programmatically

• Don’t forget email templates and notifications—they need theme support too

• Preview designs in both modes before sending for dev handoff

• Use real content, not placeholders, to test contrast and usability

Final Thoughts: Make Dark Mode Delightful

Dark mode isn’t a checkbox feature. It’s a thoughtful design challenge—and a real opportunity to improve the user experience.

When done well, it gives your product a polished, modern feel. But when rushed or poorly implemented, it can feel jarring and inconsistent.

At the end of the day, good dark mode design is about balance: aesthetics meets accessibility, functionality meets beauty.

Need Help Designing for Dark Mode?

Whether you're building a dark-mode-first product or adding it to an existing platform, we can help. Our team specializes in UI/UX design, product strategy, and front-end development, with a keen eye on accessibility and user experience.

Let’s build something your users will love—day or night.