Making a blog design visually interesting (1) - Getting started
The first part of this series dealt mainly with just getting started so that you have something to work with. Now that you have something that now resembles a bit like a blog I hope or you need more help than I can give you. If you do, then that is great as we can move on to adding the details that makes the design of a blog interesting.
The following things are what I found to be effective in adding visual interest without being too distracting. Done in the right way it can add a lot to your blog.
1. Cute icons
Adding relevant icons next to links makes it more interesting and likely that the user will notice it and click on it. It is easy to get carried away with this and add an icon everywhere, resist that temptation. Be careful about this and only add icons next to things you want people to actually pay attention to. Too many icons everywhere will undermine the whole point of adding them.
2. Gradients
Gradients work very well on the web in order to give websites more visual interest. Gradients look great next to solid colors because the contrast is even more pronounced. Avoid adding gradients everywhere and use it subtly when you do.
3. Textures
Textures have a similar effect as gradients as it adds interest to otherwise plain color. These can be subtle as well with patterns in the background or more pronounced as in wood background. I like to use some light texture in the backgrounds that is noticeable, but not sticking out too much. You probably already noticed I use it on this blog as well.
4. Color
The way to add visual interest with color is to use it to emphasize some things more than others. A muted color scheme, which is defined by having low saturated colors, is great because when you use a saturated color it really creates a lot of emphasis. There is a lot of ways to go with this, be creative and use the colors to draw the user’s eyes around to what you want them to pay attention to.
5. Images
Large slabs of text is very daunting and a turn off to most readers, especially so online where reading speed has been shown by tests to slow down by about 25%. Adding interesting images in your post can help a lot in this area or using avatars also adds visual interest. In the following example, the design uses a large header that adds a lot of interest and personality. For this blog it works well because of it’s style, but I don’t recommend it to everyone as it only works for certain blogs.
Conclusion
Remember when it comes to adding visual interest and some general flair to your blog that a little goes a long way. Don’t over do it and never ever add blinking backgrounds or animated gifs on your blog; that is so 1997. For a list of resources of where you can find free color schemes, stock images, textures, and icons please check out the blog design cheat sheet.
60 comments
Thanks for your tips!
Great tips. I plan to use them in my next wordpress blog design.
@Fubiz, @fireward: Glad you like it and thanks for stopping by to add a comment.
Very good design. I especially like your blog as it deals with making your themes attractive. Very few themes that I have seen lately are visually interesting.
Very interesting points. But if we put huge picture or glamour picture then it takes most of the when user visit the blog. Like i am telling you my experience that when ever i visit any blog i spend most of the time on images that display ob blog header or in the blog rather then reading the text.
How have I never found your website before??#$#%%#%#%
Keep up the excellent work!
Hey Vinh, could you tell me more about your comment boxes, they are good! And by the way, thanks for your tips
Thank you for your website
I made with photoshop backgrounds for myspace and youtube and whatever
my backgrounds:http://tinyurl.com/5fmh8q
have a great day and thank you again!
Nice.. much better design than any of the blog i have managed to come up with.
strict influence buddy. craving to get more from your side
I have seen that many people are following your posts because you have awesome blog with excellent design.
Just goes to show it’s the little things that matter.
Love the tips. Thanks.
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
I come to know from this blog is how we can put visuality things in blogs
Thanks for sharing your valuable inputs for creating blogs with good look
Thanks for posting this article explaining about how we should design the blogs in visual effects.
bundan iyisi can saglıgı
People visit blogs mostly after going through the heading of a writeup or if they have heard from someone about the blog.The look of a blog goes a long way in getting more visits and comments from visitors.
Just imagine the impact a really unique blog layout would have compared to a usual and seen blog layout.This is the difference between many and few visitors who would read what you have put there after so much study and efforts.
Great Blog very useful to all webdesigners, I suggest all designer to share this blog
Nice resources, Thanks
hi. i wanna know about how to uplaod manga to my blog
and pls help me i wanna translate and upload but i don know how
THKS
from MGL
he look of a blog goes a long way in getting more visits and comments from visitors.
nice designs of visual for website.
Great post, I was good for me to apply in my blog
Pre-production is the planning stage of your shoot and occurs before the camera starts rolling.Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing nice information with us. i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job.
A good theme for blog design will be interesting.
thanks too much for the post!
Just a super discussion here. I am following you from a time. Keep it up buddy Thanks !
The great and best approach.
I like that
The look of a blog goes a long way in getting more visits and comments from visitors. Icon, gradients and color add more life to the blog and will get good rating as well if it has good content. Thanks for sharing.
The great and best approach.
Thank a lot and I’am very impressed!
It’s great to see people taking such care and pride in their craft, at least here they are getting some reward and recognition for all their hard work.
Really nice post. Thank you. It was very useful to prepare my self for my future projects….
This one seems to me different type of post…one who don’t know about it before may get useful information from this post well i wanna say that The way how u tried to explain some posts at here seems to me different.
Its nice to see this post where it will help designers a guide and i really thanks for sharing.
Every girl will be happy with inspired links of London jewelry which make her look dazzling and outstanding; every girl will be happier to obtain brand jewelry with less money which makes them a sense of achievement. That’s why girls all like links jewelry where various links of London jewelries are at most keen prices click http://www.linksjewelry.co.uk/ get more information
Its nice to see this post where it will help designers a guide and i really thanks for sharing.
Thanks
I especially like your blog as it deals with making your themes attractive. Very few themes that I have seen lately are visually interesting.
I never found your website before??#$#%%#%#%
every girl will be happier to obtain brand jewelry with less money which makes them a sense of achievement.
i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative,
thongs
i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job.
Right! Detail Is the Key of Success!
If you want to make you blog interesting, you can take sonme activities for users, to take the drive measure, and reinforce the enthusiasm of public participation.
Detail Is the Key of Success!
Remember when it comes to adding visual interest and some general flair to your blog that a little goes a long way. Don’t over do it and never ever add blinking backgrounds or animated gifs on your blog; that is so 1997. For a list of resources of where you can find free color schemes, stock images, textures, and icons please check out the blog design cheat sheet.
Right! Detail Is the Key of Success!
now it makes sense. Thank you for clearing up such a small, but beneficial matter! Always appreciate your much useful tips!
That’s what I always tell my collegues but they never listen. A blog and any site in general needs to look very interesting, to keep a visitors atention and make him come back.
I will look more beautiful if some graphics and flash is added.
Trackbacks
Add a comment