How to Use Spacing to Improve Your Website
TL;DR:
- Cramming content into every corner makes your website look cluttered and stressful
- Proper spacing between text and images helps users process information and navigate easier
- Important elements need generous space around them to stand out
- Clean, spacious layouts look professional and deliberate
Most websites try to cram too much onto each page. The result? A cluttered mess that overwhelms visitors and makes them bounce.
Good spacing isn't about having empty areas to fill. It's about giving your content room to breathe so people can actually focus on what matters.
Why Spacing Matters
A packed screen doesn't mean you're using space effectively. When everything competes for attention, nothing gets it.
Proper spacing does three things:
- Makes content easier to read and scan
- Helps users understand what's important
- Creates a sense of quality and professionalism
Think of it like a conversation. If someone rattles off information without pausing, you tune out. Your website works the same way.
How to Create Better Spacing
Use margins and padding properly
Margins create space around elements. Padding adds space inside elements. Both prevent your content from bumping into each other.
Fix your line spacing
Text crammed together is hard to read. Add some breathing room between lines so people can actually process what you're saying.
Pick your battles
Not everything needs to be big and bold. Choose what's most important and give it extra space. Everything else can be smaller and closer together.
Guide Attention with Space
Space acts like a spotlight. When you surround something with extra room, it naturally draws the eye.
Your call-to-action buttons, key messages, and value propositions should have generous space around them. This makes them impossible to miss.
Less important elements like disclaimers or secondary navigation can sit closer together. Users will still find them when needed, but they won't distract from your main message.
Pixelhaze Tip: Step back from your screen regularly while designing. What catches your eye first? If it's not what you want people to focus on, adjust your spacing.
FAQs
Why does spacing matter for user experience?
Proper spacing makes content easier to read and navigate. When users can quickly find what they need, they're more likely to stick around and take action.
How much space should I leave between elements?
There's no magic number. Start with consistent spacing throughout your site, then add extra room around your most important elements.
Does spacing affect how professional my site looks?
Yes. Generous, consistent spacing signals quality and attention to detail. Cramped layouts look rushed and unprofessional.
Jargon Buster
Padding: Space inside an element, between the content and its edges
Margins: Space outside an element's boundary that separates it from other elements
Readability: How easy your content is to read and understand
User Experience (UX): How people feel when using your website
Wrap-up
Good spacing isn't about aesthetics. It's about function. When you give your content room to breathe, users can focus on what matters instead of feeling overwhelmed.
Start with consistent spacing across your site, then add extra room around your most important elements. Your visitors will thank you for it.
Ready to improve your website design skills? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more practical web design training.