8 practical ways you can improve the design of your website yourself
Designing a website can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re new to web design. In my work, I’ve seen many websites that can be transformed from amateur to professional with simple tips. Here are eight quick and practical tips to make your website more visually appealing and user-friendly.
1. Let the elements breathe!
Give your website some ‘ white space’: there should be enough white space between elements (titles, images, icons, etc.) to make the content easy to read and understand. Excessive density makes information difficult to follow. Don’t be afraid to use white space – it makes a website visually cleaner and more appealing.
Practical tip – Unfold your page and see if each element has enough room to breathe. If the content feels too tightly packed together, add white space (padding and margin) between the elements.
2. Keep the navigation menu simple
The menu must be intuitive and easy to understand. Don’t add too many links to the main menu – it’s good practice to have a maximum of 7 links. You can put the rest of the information in a submenu, footer or sidebar to avoid confusing the user. Simple and logical navigation will ensure a smoother user experience.
Practical tip – Reduce the number of links in the menu and check whether each link is really necessary for the user. Any additional information could be moved to the footer or to other sections.
3. Invest in quality images
Professional photos add personality and credibility to a website. If possible, use the help of a photographer or create carefully selected, high-quality images that support the message of the website. Light and composition play a big role here. Stylized photos taken in a natural setting often work best.
Practical tip – Swap out any generic or low-quality photos for professional photos. Make sure the size of the images is optimised for fast loading.
4. Don't use icons that can be found on every website.
Traditional icons can detract from the overall impression of a website. Avoid icons that are too generic and that you see on every other website. Instead, look for unique icons from platforms like Canva, The Noun Project or Flaticon. Simple but custom icons give a website a more professional look.
Practical tip – Remove all the icons found in the web design program and replace them with icons that support the content of the page.
5. Choose simple and readable funds
Keep the following principles in mind when choosing fonts:
- Do not use more than two fonts.
- Combine different styles (e.g. serif in headlines and sans serif in body text).
- Use to highlight text bold or underline functions.
- The font of the text should be simple and legible. For headings, you can choose a more prominent but not overly decorative font. Remember that the font should support the content, not overshadow it.
Practical tip – Check that all fonts are readable on smaller screens and that the contrast between the font and background is sufficient. Also make sure that all fonts for headlines and body text are the same size.
6. Stick to a consistent colour palette and contrast.
The colour palette of your website should reflect your brand and create the desired mood. Too many colours will make the page cluttered and difficult to read. Two or three primary colours are enough. It’s also important to keep contrast – light background and dark text or vice versa. If you add an image background to the text, use an overlay (transparent layer) to ensure that the text is legible. If in doubt about whether the contrast is sufficient, it probably isn’t.
Practical tip – Look at the colours you use on your website, and if necessary, narrow down the selection. Also make sure you use the same colours for similar elements to keep structure.
7. Mobile-friendliness is not negotiable
More than half of web visits are made on mobile devices, so make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Test your website on your phone and check that all text, buttons and images display correctly. Are the CTA buttons easy to find? Is the menu readable and user-friendly?
Practical tip – Open your website on your phone and click through all the buttons. If you see something that needs fixing, make changes to the website.
8. If your company has a brand book/CVI/visual identity created by a designer, please use it for the website design.
If you have a brand book or visual identity created by a professional, be sure to use it when designing your website. This will keep the overall website design in line with your brand image and make further development easier.
Practical tip – Review your brand guidelines and check that the colours, fonts and styles used on your website match your brand identity.
Does your website need a refresh? Take a moment to take a critical look at your website. Is your website well structured and mobile-friendly?
If you go through these 8 points and apply them to your website design, you will achieve remarkable results. Your website will become more user-friendly and visually appealing. These simple but important improvements will help you avoid common web design mistakes and give your site a professional and thoughtful look.
Remember that in addition to being beautiful, a website must also be functional, easy to navigate and informative to support the growth of your business and the needs of your target audience. If you need any help or advice, feel free to get in touch!
