🧱 Neumorphism: What It Is and How to Use It in Modern UI Design

In the fast-evolving world of design trends, Neumorphism (or Neomorphic design) stands out for its subtle, soft, and tactile aesthetic. It's sleek, minimal, and gives UI elements a futuristic, almost 3D look—without actually leaving the flat design world.

In this blog, we’ll explore what neumorphism is, where it works best, and how you can use it effectively in your own projects.

🤔 What is Neumorphism?

Neumorphism (short for "new skeuomorphism") is a design style that blends flat design and skeuomorphism. It mimics physicality with soft shadows and highlights to make UI elements look as if they’re embedded into or extruded from the background—like buttons that look "pushed in" or "popped out."

It uses:

• Monochromatic color schemes

• Soft shadows (light and dark)

• Minimal contrast

• Subtle depth and layering

It’s most commonly used for buttons, cards, toggles, and input fields, creating a soft, modern, and slightly futuristic look.

🛠️ How to Create Neumorphic Designs (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Pick a Base Color

Choose a soft, neutral background color (e.g. light gray, pale beige, or pastel blue). Neumorphism relies on low contrast, so avoid bold or saturated hues.

Example:

css
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background: #e0e0e0;

Step 2: Add Light and Dark Shadows

Create the illusion of depth using two shadows:

• Light shadow: Top-left direction (highlight)

• Dark shadow: Bottom-right direction (shadow)

Example using CSS:

css
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box-shadow: 
  5px 5px 15px #bebebe,   /* dark shadow */
  -5px -5px 15px #ffffff; /* light shadow */

This combination makes the element look like it's “popping out.”

For a “pressed in” effect (like an active button), reverse the direction:

css
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box-shadow: 
  inset 5px 5px 15px #bebebe,
  inset -5px -5px 15px #ffffff;

Step 3: Add Rounded Corners and Padding

Neumorphism loves rounded edges—they enhance the soft and tactile feel.

css
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border-radius: 20px;
padding: 20px;

Step 4: Use Minimal Colors

Keep typography and icons simple. Use dark or white text depending on the background, but maintain low contrast overall.

If you need to use multiple colors (e.g., in an app), stay within a muted color palette to maintain consistency.

Step 5: Test for Accessibility

⚠️ Warning: Neumorphism isn’t very accessible by default. The low contrast and subtle shadows can be hard to see for users with visual impairments.

To improve accessibility:

• Increase contrast slightly on important interactive elements

• Add labels and hover/focus states

• Combine with traditional design elements when needed

🎨 Tools to Create Neumorphic Designs

You don’t need to start from scratch. Try these online tool:

• https://www.digitdok.com/neumorphism-generator