Data tables are some of the most color-sensitive elements in web design. They pack large amounts of information into a small space, and every color decision either aids comprehension or creates noise.
Zebra Striping: Subtlety Is Key
Alternating row backgrounds improve scanability by helping the eye track across long rows. But the contrast between alternating rows should be extremely subtle: a lightness difference of 2 to 4% at most. Your light base and a slightly tinted version of it (mix in 3 to 5% of your primary) work well.
Header Row Differentiation
The header row needs to be clearly distinct from data rows. A slightly darker background, bolder text weight, or both. The background color should be light enough that dark header text remains highly readable. Many designs use a tinted version of the brand color at very low opacity.
Status Colors in Table Cells
When table cells contain status indicators (active/inactive, pass/fail, high/medium/low), the color needs to be understandable at a glance while not overwhelming the row. Light background tints work better than solid colors: a cell with a light green background (#f0fdf4) says "success" without screaming it.
Borders and Dividers
Table borders need enough contrast to separate cells (3:1 against the background per WCAG 2.1 SC 1.4.11) but not so much that they dominate the visual space. A medium-light gray that is one step darker than your zebra stripe rows usually hits the right balance.