White Space in Web Design: What It Is and How to Use It

When you think about your website’s web design, I bet white space (“air”) isn’t on your list. 😎

Contrary to what you might think, white space (“air”) is not emptiness. In fact, white space is one of the most powerful creative elements in web design.

If you’re wondering what white space is and what role it can play in your website’s design, keep reading. In this article, we’ll define white space and talk about the benefits of using it. We’ll also look at some examples for clarity.

What is “white space” in web design?

White space is the space around and within web design elements such as images, logos, and text. Below are examples of different types of white space:

• Wide page margins

• Spaces between text blocks and between letters (kerning)

• Space inside or around images

White space gained popularity in the first half of the 20th century. Since then, artists and designers have recognized its importance and versatility, regularly incorporating it into their work.

When designing a website, white space can balance the visual layout, guide visitors’ attention to key parts of the site, and even improve user interaction. White space does not always have to be white or solid in color.

In the example below, the gradient background is considered white space because it frames the object. The space between the menu links in the site header is also white space:

What are the benefits of using “white space” in web design?

Although white space may be “invisible” to the viewer, it plays an important role in the user experience, benefiting both website visitors and the brand:

• Improves readability: With the right amount of space between letters, words, and lines, visitors can quickly read and understand your content.

• Creates harmony: The modern internet often feels noisy and cluttered, and a well-balanced website with a minimalist design and plenty of white space can help visitors feel safe, comfortable, and focused.

• Strengthens the brand: As a design element, white space can convey your brand’s personality and style.

• Helps with organization: When designing a website, using white space can help establish a visual hierarchy. White space helps create connections between the content on your pages, improving your site’s usability.

• Encourages visitors to take action: White space helps highlight important calls to action (CTA), guiding visitors, for example, toward booking a meeting or purchasing a product.

Best practices for using white space in web design

Whether you are customizing a website template or creating a site from scratch, use the following spacing guidelines when adding new content to your design:

1. Use both micro and macro white space

Micro and macro white space serve different purposes on your website.

Micro white space refers to the spacing around small elements on a web page, such as text. It is essential for improving readability. Even the smallest change in this spacing can worsen or improve readability.

Macro white space refers to larger areas of space on your website, such as the space between different sections on a page or between images in a photo gallery. It is essential for improving user experience by increasing visibility and organizing your content.

Don’t overdo it

As you already understand, white space can improve your website’s design. But the opposite can also happen. To make sure every use of white space serves a specific purpose, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does this space look too empty?

2. Can visitors easily read and understand what they see?

3. Is it clear where visitors’ eyes should focus?

4. Does the white space interfere with surrounding elements or enhance them?

So what is the ideal amount of white space on a website? In addition to your personal design preferences, make sure there is enough free space to attract and guide your visitors’ attention.

3. Manage visual hierarchy with white space

A website’s visual hierarchy helps users move smoothly from one block to another. Cluttered website layouts make it difficult for visitors to understand which elements they should focus on.

White space highlights the most important parts of the page, clarifying the visual hierarchy for visitors and increasing their satisfaction when interacting with your brand.

The example below contains three types of services that can be arranged in several ways. The right combination of white space creates a clear visual hierarchy, making it easier for visitors to read the description of each service and book an appointment.

4. Pay special attention to the white space around your CTAs

The most user-friendly websites include a call-to-action button:

• for a restaurant website — “Book a Table”;

• for eCommerce businesses — “Buy Now”;

• for a blog website — “Subscribe.”

You should surround your website’s CTA (call-to-action button) with white space. This doesn’t mean you need to isolate your content, but you should add enough white space so visitors can easily find it without distractions.

Call-to-action buttons are not the only design elements that benefit from white space. Think about website forms: if visitors cannot easily find a contact form or a checkout form, they may abandon the process altogether.

5. Don’t forget about mobile devices

Since there is less room to work with on smaller screens, white space also has a strong impact on mobile websites

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For example, take the “About Me” page sample below. Under the large “About me” heading, there are two paragraphs. On desktop, this looks good thanks to the wide page margins.

However, when you switch to the mobile version, notice how the margins become narrower. When viewing the website on a mobile device, these paragraphs may appear too long on a narrow screen.

The solution? On mobile devices, start by considering the user experience. To improve readability, increase the font size or add additional paragraph breaks. Then begin experimenting with white space to improve the appearance of your mobile website.