[Debate] The Grey Skin Look

[Serpent]

I think it depends on what other colors you have on top of the gray skin. My site has a graybackground but I spruce it up with like a teal and some other colors. I (and others I've asked) like that it is easy on the eyes. It also helps that my background is stripy instead of just a single color.

But I have also seen sites with gray backgrounds that have been absolutely boring, which I leave pretty quickly. I personally don't like really bright skins, as I find them hard on my eyes. I prefer dark or gray skins.

[Ambuu (v2)]

I agree with Serpent ^

If you can pull off a grey skin and have some colors that compliment it, then it works out well. All grey does seem a tad boring.

[Cubaser]

I also think it depends on how it's used - I rarely use gray skins simply because the subjects my proboards have don't fit the grey theme. If it were a depressing sort of forum, or dark, then it may work better, but I think that color adds life, and life is attractive to the eye. To me, grey skins are a bit monotone, and they're all over the place to boot; if there isn't enough contrast in the greys, everything can also blend in easily with one another. I have a friend whose eyes aren't that great, and without the definition of different colors, things blend very easily.

I myself don't use very vibrant colors, but sort of washed-out colors that lean towards grey, but aren't grey at all; this can be nice, since it's not jarring to the eyes but it's not depressing or hard to distinguish either.

[gkai]

Grey is a awesome color. It is subtle and calming.

[inkdweller]

I think grey is functional and safe - so along with white and perhaps some shiny saturated (but monotonous) buttons it's great for proffesional looking bussiness related forums. Like this one here.

However in general I think it's a boring eyesore. A well though out and colorful scheme, balanced between nuetrals or other is my preferance. Colors are very important for forums I'm sure we all know - and must be chosen carefully to be in the best interest of your returning visitors. A general rule of thumb I follow is: always a bit of bright color somewhere, & never use the absolute "most" of any color. By most I mean like completely saturated. And as for black backgrouns, anything that's completely #000000 is ugly in my opinion.

[johnthesquid]

I think a grey skin, if done correctly can look really nice. For example, slightly insanes old skin, now that was nice! I do agree however that it is a bit overdone.

I really don't like those forums that look cyber/alien. It just reminds me of being on the internet in 2003. I think if you choose a colour that isn't too bright and contrasted and stick to that colour, just use lighter or darker shades of it for forum links ect, it looks nice.

Example: