Webmaster's panel

Reading time: 8 minutes

Published: June 15 2025

Kinga Edwards

15 June 2025

Dark Mode Design: Trends, Myths, and Common Mistakes

Dark mode: It’s the design trend that refuses to fade quietly into the background—literally and figuratively. Whether you’re a SaaS designer, developer, or just a user who prefers less glare after midnight, dark mode is everywhere: from phone settings to productivity apps, B2B dashboards to airline booking flows. And yet, despite its ubiquity, dark mode remains one of the most misunderstood (and, often, poorly executed) features in digital product design.

So, what’s driving dark mode’s continued popularity? What are the persistent myths, and—most importantly—where do teams still get it wrong? This article dives deep into the real state of dark mode design in 2025, busting some persistent myths, mapping out the trends, and, yes, calling out the common mistakes that still haunt user experiences everywhere.

Try out WebWave ->

Keep Reading ->

Why dark mode won’t die—and what’s fueling its adoption

Let’s start with why dark mode is more than a passing fad. The surge in demand goes beyond “it looks cool” or “Apple did it first.” Today’s users expect personalization everywhere, and color schemes are part of that demand for control. When designing for both light and dark modes, it’s essential to pick a color palette for your website that works in various environments and still reflects your brand. Add in claims of improved battery life, reduced eye strain, and a general appetite for novelty, and it’s easy to see why nearly every app, OS, and web platform now ships with some kind of dark theme.

Here are a few core drivers:

User autonomy: People want to choose how their interface looks—at work, at home, on every device.
Environment adaptation: Dark mode is often preferred in low-light or nighttime environments (think: reading in bed, coding late, or working in dim offices).
Device parity: As mobile operating systems and browsers normalize dark mode, users expect the same across their favorite apps and SaaS tools.
Modern aesthetics: Minimalism, sleekness, and visual drama—dark themes can signal innovation or just look “premium.”

But as with every trend, the reasons for adoption often diverge from the reality of how dark mode impacts usability, accessibility, and overall product experience.

The real trends in dark mode design

What are the best teams doing in 2025? Here’s what’s actually shaping dark mode in practice—far beyond simply swapping white backgrounds for black.

1. Adaptive dark mode, not just a color inversion

Today’s best products don’t simply invert every pixel and call it a day. Instead, they:

Adapt color palettes to preserve brand identity in both light and dark settings.
Adjust illustrations, icons, and even product shots so they “work” (and don’t look muddy) on dark backgrounds.
Use “dynamic dark mode”—that is, subtle gradations and overlays, not just pure #000 or #111.

2. System-level awareness and syncing

The most user-friendly apps now auto-detect system preferences (from Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or even browser settings) and default to dark or light mode accordingly. Some let users override this—crucially, they remember the choice and apply it consistently across devices.

3. Accessibility-first palettes

2025’s best dark modes aren’t just about style; they’re about function. Teams are finally paying attention to:

Contrast ratios (for text, buttons, icons)
Color blindness and vision impairments
How shadows, highlights, and depth translate in dark UIs

4. Animation and microinteractions tailored for darkness

It’s not just colors that need adjusting. In dark mode, the perception of movement, focus, and feedback changes. Animations and hover states that look subtle in light mode can become glaring or invisible in dark.

5. Focus on mood and emotional tone

Brands are learning to use dark mode as more than a toggle—it’s an opportunity to express mood, sophistication, and even playfulness (hello, Easter eggs that only appear in dark mode). Products are customizing not just their UIs but also the personality they project in dark.

Try for free ->

WebWave AI Writer

Generate your website copy with just one click.

Try for free ->

WebWave AI Writer

Generate your website copy with just one click.

Try for free ->

Dark mode myths: What everyone gets wrong

Every design trend attracts its share of urban legends. Dark mode is no exception. Let’s bust some of the most common misconceptions:

Myth 1: Dark mode is always easier on the eyes

While it’s true that, in low-light environments, dark mode can reduce eye strain, that doesn’t mean it’s universally superior. In bright or daylight settings, light mode actually offers better readability for most users. And poorly implemented dark themes—with low contrast or murky backgrounds—can be just as fatiguing as a too-bright screen.

Myth 2: Dark mode saves battery for everyone

OLED and AMOLED screens (common in smartphones) do use less power to display black pixels. But for most desktop users (on LCD monitors) or devices with traditional backlighting, dark mode offers little to no energy savings. Don’t sell “saves battery” as a universal benefit.

Myth 3: You just invert the colors and you’re done

The laziest dark modes simply flip the palette, but this results in awkward images, illegible icons, and “ghost” UI elements. True dark mode design is a ground-up, intentional process—one that treats each color, shadow, and element with care.

Myth 4: Dark mode is only for developers, gamers, or night owls

Sure, some audiences love it for coding at 2am. But adoption is wide and growing across all demographics—bankers, marketers, students, you name it. Don’t pigeonhole your audience, or you risk missing the majority’s preference.

Myth 5: Accessibility takes care of itself in dark mode

Actually, dark mode often introduces new accessibility issues. Insufficient contrast, color-dependent cues, and visual artifacts are common pitfalls. Designing for accessibility requires active testing in both light and dark schemes, and real user feedback—not just passing automated checkers.

Common mistakes that still plague dark mode design

Even in 2025, with all the guides, plugins, and frameworks out there, it’s shocking how many dark mode implementations fall flat. Here’s where teams most often get it wrong—and how to do better.

1. Poor contrast and unreadable text

This is the cardinal sin. On a dark background, using mid-grey or muted colors for text may look elegant, but it’s usually hard to read—especially for users with low vision, tired eyes, or older monitors. Likewise, blue-on-black, dark green on navy, and similar combos kill legibility.

How to fix it: Use tools like WCAG contrast checkers, but go further—test on multiple devices and in different lighting conditions. Prioritize white or off-white (#FAFAFA) for text, reserve saturated colors for accents, and never put two low-contrast colors together.

2. Ignoring branding and losing identity

A generic dark theme can make your product feel like a knockoff of every other app. If your brand is bold and colorful in light mode, don’t let it fade into a sea of grays at night. This is one of the most overlooked online boutique tips—maintaining a strong visual identity across themes is key to trust and recognition.

How to fix it: Define a unique, brand-consistent color palette for dark mode. Consider keeping your primary color as a highlight, adapting logos for dark backgrounds, and customizing illustrations. Some brands even use unique dark-mode Easter eggs—subtle patterns, color gradients, or mascot appearances.

3. Flatness and loss of depth

Shadows, layers, and subtle gradients that create depth in light mode often disappear in dark mode. The result? Interfaces that feel flat, lifeless, and confusing.

How to fix it: Rethink your use of elevation, shadows, and highlights. Use lighter, semi-transparent overlays and gradients to suggest depth. Add subtle borders or glows to differentiate components and interactive elements.

4. Inconsistent images, icons, and illustrations

Not all graphics play well on a dark background. PNGs with invisible white backgrounds, SVGs with dark outlines, and screenshots with glaring white edges ruin the immersion.

How to fix it:

Create dark mode–specific versions of images and icons when needed - you can use an AI image generator for this.
Use vector graphics that adapt to theme changes.
Avoid mixing screenshots from light mode into dark-themed UI; instead, design a consistent visual language for both modes.

5. Over-reliance on pure black and white

While #000000 and #FFFFFF look crisp, pure black backgrounds can feel harsh and make light text “vibrate.” Most modern dark modes use deep gray or blue-tinged backgrounds (#181A20, #222C36, #242424) with off-white text for a softer, more elegant appearance.

How to fix it: Experiment with very dark grays as your base, using subtle gradients or overlays to break up monotony. Use off-whites and light grays for text, and reserve pure white for highlights or critical attention points.

6. Neglecting hover, focus, and active states

Buttons, links, and interactive elements need clear states in both modes. If you just invert the background, you risk invisible focus rings or hover effects that are too subtle.

How to fix it: Define and test every state—hover, active, disabled, selected—in both modes. Use contrasting accent colors or glows to reinforce focus and interactivity.

7. Not letting users control or override dark mode

Some products force dark mode (or light mode) based on system or device settings, with no user override. This can frustrate people who prefer the opposite.

How to fix it: Always give users the choice, and remember their preference across sessions and devices. This is basic respect for accessibility and comfort.

8. Forgetting about print, exports, and screenshots

Some users need to print documents, export screenshots, or generate reports from your dark mode UI. If you don’t account for this, they may end up with unreadable prints or ugly images.

How to fix it: Provide a print-optimized, light-background version of exports, or let users toggle export mode easily.

Best practices for getting dark mode right

So, how do you design a dark mode that works for real people in the real world? Here are some guidelines to elevate your approach:

Start with a design system: Build light and dark variants from the same foundation, so updates and fixes are consistent across both.
Involve real users: Test dark mode not just in-house, but with your user base—especially those with accessibility needs or older hardware.
Document everything: Make sure your developers, designers, and content creators understand the principles behind your dark mode—not just the hex codes.
Iterate continuously: Treat dark mode as a living feature, not a one-and-done project. Monitor feedback, usage stats, and support tickets for new friction points.
Think cross-platform: Ensure your color, branding, and depth cues translate well on web, mobile, desktop, and even smart devices.
Balance delight and clarity: It’s tempting to go wild with effects in dark mode—neon highlights, bold gradients—but never at the cost of usability.

Emerging frontiers: What’s next for dark mode?

Looking forward, dark mode will only get more sophisticated—and expectations will keep rising. Here’s what’s coming down the pipeline:

Ambient adaptation: UIs that shift not just between “light” and “dark,” but adapt to time of day, user mood, or even weather conditions.
Personalized themes: More granular control, letting users fine-tune background shades, highlight colors, and text contrast.
Accessibility as default: Regulations and standards are catching up—expect strict requirements on contrast, readability, and color usage.
AI-driven design tweaks: Some platforms are already experimenting with on-the-fly adjustments to color and contrast based on user behavior.

Final thoughts: Why dark mode is a feature, not a checkbox

It’s tempting to see dark mode as just another line on the product roadmap. But for many users, it’s a daily default—a mark of care, polish, and attention to detail. Nail it, and you delight a growing, loyal user base. Miss the mark, and you risk looking out of touch (or just plain annoying).

Dark mode isn’t about following a fad. It’s about meeting users where they are, offering comfort and choice, and sweating the details so your product feels “right” at any hour. Much like well-structured Public speaking classes, great design teaches clarity, confidence, and thoughtful delivery. As you design, remember: clarity beats cleverness. Function always comes first.

If you treat dark mode as an integral part of your design DNA—not a tacked-on afterthought—you’ll win not just on aesthetics, but on accessibility, brand loyalty, and the kind of everyday magic that makes users choose your product again and again.

And in a world that’s always changing—sometimes, what matters most is letting people see things in a whole new light… or, just as happily, in the dark.

AI web design tutorial

How to become a web designer?

What is a white label website builder?