What Makes the Best Blogs’ Design Stand Out [+ 4 Examples]

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Which of the images mentioned below appeals to you? The first or the second?

Two different representations of a blog post

Did you notice both have the same text but the representation is different? Even though we kept a simple one with plain text and no design at first. But we’re pretty sure your eyes stumbled upon the second initially. Why? The answer is simple and comprises around today’s blog post: best design blog.

There are different ways in which the best blogs’ design is accomplished. Examples include minimalist design, retro design, bold design, geometric design, artistic design, and dark mode design. Today we’ll talk about some of the best-designed blogs but with a different approach. It’ll give you just the right clarity and ideas for blog design inspiration. In turn, you’ll be able to start your personal blog on the right design foot or revamp an established one.

How Are the Best Blogs Designed?

Funny GIF of adding design elements in a site for the best blog design

Source: Giphy

Best blog designers take care of a whole lot of different aspects. Let’s be clear, it’s not just about writing and publishing compelling text on your blog. As the most popular blog website examples illustrate, blogs have truly evolved. 

With millions of blogs out there, people are drawn to those with well-structured content, stunning design, and clean layouts. That’s why Mark King is right on point when he says: “Design is the body language of your marketing. Don’t slouch.”

Key Elements of Excellent Blog Design

Key elements of excellent blog design

Below we’ll check out key elements of any top design blog.

Color Palette

The color scheme in the best blog site designs is visually appealing and consistent with the blog’s topic and branding. Remember: no color fits all. Certain palettes work better for certain audiences. Let’s take some interesting examples:

Blog TypeColor Palette
Technology blogsUse modern, bold colors like blue, black, and grey to reflect innovation.
Lifestyle blogsUtilize trendy, aesthetic colors like pink, gold, and teal for a stylish feel.
Wellness blogsOpt for calming colors like white, blue, and green to promote well-being.
Food blogsUse warm, enticing colors like orange, red, and yellow to stimulate appetite.

Layout

A clean, organized layout with easy navigation is another essential component of the best blogs’ design. Key sections like the header, navigation menu, sidebar, and content area should have a logical flow. Effective use of whitespace increases readability.

Content Length

When it comes to the best blogs, content length also matters. The ideal length of a short blog post (e.g. news, tips) is 500-800 words. On the other hand, long blog posts (e.g. detailed tutorials, in-depth guides) consist of 1500-2000 words.

Typography

Consistent typography throughout the blog reflects a professional appearance. Readable fonts are important for clarity and engagement. Moreover, keep the size and style of headings, subheadings, and body text distinct yet consistent.

Graphics 

To make the content more engaging, bloggers usually add crisp, sharp, and striking visuals to their posts. High-quality images and infographics break up text-heavy content. They also support the context of the content, making it easily digestible.

Mobile Optimization

With most people reading on smartphones, a responsive design is crucial. It ensures a seamless user experience across both desktop and mobile devices, making the blog accessible and user-friendly on any screen size.

4 Examples of the Best Blogs Designed to Impress

Let’s discuss different blog design examples with their X-factors in terms of great design. Get ready to collect a plethora of inspirational ideas from them!

Apartment Therapy – Aesthetic Design

Apartment Therapy has the best aesthetic blog design

Source: Apartment Therapy

As Lindon Leader says, ‘I strive for two things in design: simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things.’ Apartment Therapy, an excellent aesthetic blog, enacts this quote exquisitely. And this is exactly what makes a reader fall in love with this digital space. Maxwell Ryan started this blog with his brother Oliver Ryan in 2004 to help people make their 🏠s (or personal spaces) more beautiful. 

Apartment Therapy mainly focuses on home décor, interior design, planting, and lifestyle tips. Design-wise, it features a clean, airy approach focusing on white space and high-quality photos. The collapsible side menu for navigation helps readers pick any blog they want to read easily. Overall, this blog offers a visually appealing and user-friendly experience and is an inspiration for the best blogs design.

Justina Blakeney – Bohemian Design

Justina Blakeney runs a blog that has the best bohemian blog design

Source: Justina Blakeney

Justina Blakeney runs a vibrant Bohemian design lifestyle blog alongside her art studio Jungalow. This blog shows her eclectic and free-spirited personality perfectly! Justina believes that “Good design increases the quality of life”. Hence the blog’s color palette‘s earthy tones, jewel-toned accents, and plenty of greenery. This combination creates a refreshing, crisp, and eye-catching look. 

It’s safe to say that she does a great job of bringing the outdoors in. The layout is organic and artistic, with plenty of negative space, creating a dreamy and inspiring atmosphere. It, as a result, makes this blog an inviting, lively digital space. Have you noticed the blog’s logo subtly shifts colors once you hover your cursor over it?

Glamour Daze – Vintage Design

Glamour Daze has the best vintage blog design

Source: Glamour Daze

Glamour Daze is the perfect blog to follow for those who love to travel back in time and immerse themselves in vintage fashion and classic glamour. Stevie McGlinchey has run it successfully since 2009 as a designer and manager. The blog’s design features a retro-inspired theme with muted pastel tones and classic typography. What attracts us most is its menu bar with sections divided into different timelines, e.g., the 1940s era, 1950s era, and so on. 

It categorizes content by timeline to keep related content together. The blog covers vintage clothing, jewelry, makeup, and beauty tips. Each post features well-structured content with carefully crafted headings and subheadings. Moreover, polaroid-style imagery is an oomph factor that adds a nostalgic factor. 

The Verge – Dark Mode Design

The Verge has the best dark mode blog design

Source: The Verge

The Verge’s dark mode design makes it stand tall among the best looking blogs. It’s a leading tech and culture blog that mainly focuses on user comfort by keeping the background dark. It, as a result, increases the readability, reduces eye strain, and adds to its sleek vibe. The light text with high-contrast elements gives the blog a professional look. Run by Vox Media, it covers news and reviews on gadgets, science, culture, business, and politics. 

Did you notice their blog posts are color-coded to reflect their unique design, style, and content vibe? The blog’s commitment to staying at the forefront of trends and its user-friendly interface and multimedia-rich approach keep readers coming back for more. So, get design inspiration and stay updated on trends by following this blog now!

How to Design Your Blog for Maximum Impact

Cute and catchy design illustration saying "make it simple"

Source: Freepik

Let’s keep it simple and straightforward. Design a blog with your readers in mind, not how you think they should interact with it. That’s because people ignore designs that ignore people. Now we’ll see below the best practices for designing beautiful blogs.

  • Clear intent: Tailor the design to reflect the blog’s niche, ensuring the homepage clearly communicates its purpose.
  • Clean layout: Use a simple, clean, and easy-to-navigate structure. Avoid clutter – prioritize logical flow with headers and bullet points to keep it easily readable.
  • Mobile responsiveness: Ensure the blog features function well on both desktop and mobile devices. Test the design on different screen sizes to see if it works fine.
  • High-quality visuals: Use high-resolution infographics, charts, or pictographs. They enhance the blog’s visual appeal and provide additional support to the content.
  • Fast loading speed: Nobody prefers a slow website, right? Optimize images and use efficient coding practices to ensure fast loading speeds of web pages.
  • Easy navigation: Implement intuitive navigation with menus and categories. Enhance accessibility with a prominent search function for important content.
  • Consistent branding: Maintaining a cohesive blog identity is essential, including the logo, colors, and aesthetics aligned with the blog’s content. 

Wrap Up

Great content is undoubtedly the heart and soul of any successful blog. However, presenting it with a great visual appeal makes it truly successful. Today, we explored the significance of best blogs’ design, discussing elements like color palette, layout, typography, and graphics. Undoubtedly, it’s a user-centric design that elevates content quality from average to exceptional.

Excellent design truly shines when paired with amazing blog post ideas! So, focus on gathering plenty of fantastic ideas to make your blog posts enjoyable for readers and keep them coming back for more. Use our completely free Blog Post Idea Generator to get tons of customizable ideas!

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