The White Space: How Web Designs Go Wrong

The White Space: How Web Designs Go Wrong

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Every web designer or client seeking the perfect website must think about the "nothing" of the design. The "nothing" is what we call white space. It is the area around and between the different elements of your website. It's the negative space surrounding text, images, contact forms, and all other design elements.

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Believe it or not, white space can make or break a web design. In this article, we'll tell you why.

Less is More: Yes, in Web Design too!

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First things first, whitespace does not mean literal white space. It refers to the absence of content (text, images, videos, logos, forms, etc.) on the page. It can have any background color as long as there's no element on top of it. This skincare brand's website is an excellent example of a white-space design that's not white per se.

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Whitespace can transform a website from outdated and challenging to visually appealing and functional. White space on a website translates into enhanced readability and user experience.

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The primary function of whitespace is to keep your design uncluttered and visually appealing. When you have enough whitespace around your elements, the content will have enough breathing room for the user to focus on them.

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Find the sweet spot!

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While less is more, an excess of white space can have a counterproductive effect. Too much white space will make your website feel unfinished and unprofessional. Take your time to add and remove elements as the design develops.

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The elements (content) of the website are the positive space, and the whitespace is the negative space. The goal is to create harmony between them and avoid overpowering each other.

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Whitespace is the guiding star: Creating Hierarchy

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Whitespace can separate different sections on your website. This makes it easier for customers to understand the structure and avoid getting confused.

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By using whitespace you can separate different elements and draw attention to the relevant areas. This will guide the viewer's eye through the design and make it easier for them to understand your website.

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Another technique for using whitespace to guide the eye is by using alignment. Aligning elements consistently creates a sense of order, making it easier for visitors to understand the layout.

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One way to use whitespace to guide the eye is by creating contrast between different elements. For example, you can use a large amount of whitespace around a headline to make it stand out and grab the viewer's attention.

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These techniques make the website more visually appealing and improve the user experience by making it easy for visitors to navigate. You can also check out some trends and insights to improve on that!

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Improving Readability

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One of the most important ways white space improves readability is by creating clear visual breaks between different elements. This can help the viewer to focus on one piece of information at a time, making it easier for them to understand and absorb the text.

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Another way white space improves readability is by making it easier for the viewer to distinguish between different levels of information. For example, using whitespace to separate headings from body text can help the viewer understand the structure of the content and find the information they're looking for.

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Using white space effectively can also help to make the text more scannable since most people don't read web pages word-by-word. Instead, they scan for specific information. Whitespace surrounding headings makes that easy for users.

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By making the website "scannable" it is more likely users will engage better with the content because they will find what they're looking for.

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Whitespaces allow for web design to be user-friendly, aesthetic, and functional.

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By incorporating white space effectively in web design, you can create a website that stands out and provides visitors with a seamless and memorable online experience. The goal of web design is to create an engaging and memorable online experience. White space can help you achieve that goal and make your website shine.

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As a Clermont, Florida-based design studio, we would love to use our expertise to create the perfect website for you!