Canva Design Basics: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

• Spot the three most common design mistakes that make Canva projects look unprofessional
• Use Canva's built-in tools to create clean, readable designs
• Apply simple spacing and contrast rules to make your designs stand out

Introduction

Starting out with Canva feels exciting until you realise your designs don't look quite right. Most beginners make the same three mistakes: cramming too much onto the page, choosing colours that clash or disappear, and mixing fonts that don't work together.

The good news? These problems are easy to fix once you know what to look for. This chapter shows you exactly how to spot these issues and use Canva's tools to create designs that look professional from the start.

Lessons

Lesson 1: Fixing Overcrowded Designs

When you're excited about a design, it's tempting to add everything at once. This creates a cramped, messy look that's hard to read.

Step 1: Before adding elements, write down the main message you want to communicate. Stick to this single focus.

Step 2: Open Canva and choose a template. Notice how professional templates use plenty of empty space around text and images.

Step 3: Use Canva's grid system by clicking "Elements" then "Grids." This gives you clear sections for placing your content.

Step 4: Follow the rule of thirds. Imagine your design divided into nine equal sections. Place important elements where the lines cross.

Step 5: Use the spacing tool in Canva's toolbar to add breathing room between elements. Aim to keep at least 20% of your design free of content.

Lesson 2: Creating Better Contrast

Poor contrast makes text hard to read and important elements easy to miss. Good contrast makes everything pop.

Step 1: Choose your background colour first. Light backgrounds work well for most designs.

Step 2: For text, use dark colours on light backgrounds and light colours on dark backgrounds. Avoid grey text on coloured backgrounds.

Step 3: Test your contrast by squinting at your design or stepping back from your screen. If you can't read the text clearly, the contrast needs work.

Step 4: Use Canva's colour wheel tool to find colours that work well together. Click on any colour, then choose "See all" to view the full palette.

Step 5: When placing text over images, add a semi-transparent overlay or use Canva's text background feature to ensure readability.

Lesson 3: Keeping Fonts Consistent

Using too many different fonts makes designs look chaotic and unprofessional. Consistent font choices create a polished look.

Step 1: Pick one font for headings and one for body text. That's usually enough for most designs.

Step 2: If you need a third font, use it sparingly for accents or special elements only.

Step 3: Stick to the same font for similar elements throughout your design. All headings should match, and all body text should match.

Step 4: Use Canva's font combination suggestions by clicking "Text" then "Font combinations." These are professionally paired options that work well together.

Step 5: Create hierarchy using different sizes and weights of the same font rather than switching to completely different fonts.

Practice

Create a simple social media post about a local event using these guidelines:

1. Choose a grid template from Canva
2. Add your main message using no more than 10 words
3. Use only two fonts throughout the design
4. Test your contrast by viewing the design at 50% zoom
5. Leave at least 20% of the design as empty space

Notice how these restrictions actually make your design process easier and your results look more professional.

FAQs

How much empty space should I leave in my design?
Aim for at least 20% of your design area to be free of text or graphics. This prevents overcrowding and helps important elements stand out.

What should I do if my design still looks unbalanced?
Use Canva's alignment tools to distribute elements evenly. Select multiple elements and use the "Align" options in the toolbar to line them up properly.

Can I use more than two fonts in complex designs?
It's better to stick with two fonts and use different weights (bold, regular, light) or sizes to create variety. This maintains consistency while adding visual interest.

How do I know if my colours have enough contrast?
Blur your eyes slightly when looking at your design. If you can still distinguish between text and background easily, your contrast is good.

Jargon Buster

Contrast: The difference between light and dark elements that makes text readable and designs visually appealing.

Fonts: The style and appearance of text characters. Different fonts convey different moods and levels of formality.

White space: Empty areas in a design that aren't filled with text or images. Also called negative space.

Grid system: A framework of invisible lines that helps you align and organise elements in your design.

Font hierarchy: Using different sizes and weights of fonts to show which information is most important.

Wrap-up

You now know how to avoid the three biggest design mistakes that trip up beginners: overcrowding, poor contrast, and inconsistent fonts. These fundamentals will improve every design you create in Canva.

The key is to start simple and resist the urge to add everything at once. Use plenty of space, choose colours that work well together, and stick to two fonts maximum. Your designs will look more professional immediately.

Ready to build on these basics? Check out our advanced Canva techniques course: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership