I’ve written quite a bit about colour contrast in data visualisation before, but today I want to zoom in on a topic I see overlooked a lot: dashboard background choices.
Let me start with a simple truth: the background of your report shouldn’t be the star of the show. And yet, in my daily scroll through data visualisation posts and dashboards on LinkedIn, whether they’re part of portfolio pieces or data viz challenges, I come across some truly “bold” background choices.
From overly saturated gradients to full-bleed background images to neon colours straight out of a highlighter pack, it’s clear we still need to talk about what makes a dashboard look clean, readable, and professional.
Now, this isn’t just about accessibility, although that’s a huge part of it. It’s about understanding user interface (UI) design principles that make your reports intuitive and pleasant to use. Because even if your data is spot on, poor visual design can confuse your audience and dilute the impact of your insights.
This images below highlight common mistakes in background selection that can seriously impact a dashboard’s clarity and usability.
Neutral Backgrounds: Let the Data Pop
One of the simplest (and most effective) design choices we can make is to stick with a neutral background, think light greys, soft whites, or even gentle off-whites. Why? Because it gives the data visuals space to breathe.
A neutral canvas helps our charts and KPIs stand out, rather than getting lost in a sea of competing colours. The background is the stage, not the headline act. It should support, not distract.
The Risks of Dark Backgrounds: A Word of Caution
Dark backgrounds can look stylish and even help reduce eye strain in some cases, but they come with trade-offs. Text needs strong contrast to stay readable, and certain colours can look different or even distort, making data harder to interpret.
Reading light text on a dark background also takes more effort, which can slow users down, especially with complex dashboards. The same applies to websites, which is precisely why I switched my own site from a dark background to a lighter one.
Plus, screens display dark themes differently, so your report might not look the same everywhere.
If you’re weighing up whether to go light or dark, check out Elena Drakulevska post Dark-Mode Reports in Power BI: Cool or Confusing?
The Role of Colour Contrast: It’s Not Optional
From an accessibility standpoint, colour contrast isn’t just a “nice-to-have”, it’s essential. Poor contrast can make your report unusable for people with visual impairments, and even for users in low-light conditions or on lower-quality screens.
When aiming for inclusive design (which we all should be), our reports need to meet at least WCAG Level AA compliance, which is the most widely mandated level for legal compliance globally. Here’s what that means in practice:
- Text (body and small, up to 17 points: Must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against the background.
- Large text (above 18 points or if in bold, above 14) and non-text elements (including icons and graphics): Must have a contrast ratio of 3:1.
More about WCAG standards, check out the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 page.
Planning Your Colour Palette: Primary, Secondary, Accent
Good background choices are also linked to your overall colour palette strategy. In UI design, we often work with a combination of:
- Primary colours: These do the heavy lifting, used for key elements like titles, chart headers, and important values. They must stand out clearly against your background.
- Secondary colours: Used for supportive visuals or lower-priority content. These should be softer but still visible.
- Accent colours: Used sparingly to call attention to things like alerts, trends, or call to actions. These need high contrast to do their job effectively.
When our background is too loud or saturated, it competes with our primary and accent colours, making everything feel chaotic. But when it’s neutral and well-balanced, our visual hierarchy falls into place. It’s easier for users to follow the story, find the key message, and take action.
Recently, I came across a great tool for generating Power BI, BIBB Power BI Theme Generator. This tool not only helps you creating a theme that reflects your brand or style, but it also has a built-in colour contrast checker that evaluates both UI elements (like text and background) and data colours (used in charts).
It’s brilliant for building with accessibility in mind right from the start. And with its dummy dashboard showcasing a variety of data visualisations, you can preview how your chosen colours work in harmony before even opening Power BI.
Just a heads-up: the theme generator allows us to pick up to eight data colours, but just because we can doesn’t mean we should! Aim for 3–4 to keep things simple, clear, and easy on the eyes. Your readers (and their retinas) will thank you!
Final Thoughts
Let’s be honest, nothing crashes the vibe of a good dashboard, or any other digital interface, faster than a colour palette in chaos. A wild background or poor contrast doesn’t just hurt our eyes; it buries our message under a layer of visual noise.
By sticking with neutral backgrounds, ensuring proper contrast, and planning your colour palette around primary, secondary, and accent usage, you will not only create more beautiful dashboards, you’ll make them easier to use, more inclusive, and way more impactful.
And if you haven’t already, check out the Power BI Theme Generator by BIBB to play around with colours, test your contrast levels, and build a theme that’s as functional as it is stylish.
Your data deserves a stage that allows it shine, so let’s stop making the background the main character.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Until next time, let’s keep crafting accessible insights that make a difference!
P.S. I’m thrilled to be teaming up with the brilliant Elena Drakulevska for our pre-conference workshop at the PASS Data Community Summit 2025, taking place in Seattle, Washington, from 17-21 November.
Our session, “User-Centered Power BI Report Development: Enhancing UX and Accessibility”, is a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to apply UX best practices and digital accessibility principles to design reports that are intuitive, clear, and inclusive.
We’d love to see you there, it’s an incredible opportunity to level up your reporting skills and connect with the global data community.
Secure your spot now at Pass Data Community Summit.
