Do’s and Don’ts of Web Page Backgrounds

Alwin Wright   – Phoenix, AZ
123Triad: Web Design & SEO Company

Do’s and Don’ts of Web Page Backgrounds

Choosing a website background is much harder than it seems. It’s not just about choosing colors or patterns—it’s about setting a backdrop for all your design elements. Unfortunately, it’s one of the first places a web designer can fail. With a badly chosen background, it’s hard to make anything else work visually, no matter how good they are. To help you make the right choice, here’s a list of good and bad practices when it comes to choosing site backgrounds.

DO choose the right color. Color is the first thing people notice when they see your site. It’s your first and only chance to make a visual impression. Choose a background color that goes well with your logo, banner, and other design elements. If your site is graphics-heavy, go with a “safe” neutral color such as black or white—it limits the chances of a graphic clashing or blending into the background.

DON’T use photographic backgrounds. Photos rarely work as background elements. Because there are too many colors, it’s more than likely that one of them won’t match your text. They also slow down loading time and draw attention away from the main content. If you have to use a picture, go for a monochrome or one with a simpler color gradient.

DO use CSS instead of HTML. Designating your background with CSS code is far simpler than using HTML tags. It helps you keep things consistent, since the code can be applied to every page and incorporates text colors as well. It also helps ensure browser compatibility, as some newer browsers handle CSS better than HTML.

DON’T use busy patterns. Backgrounds aren’t supposed to be the center of attention; they’re just meant to, well, stay in the background. Busy patterns like swirls, dots, and moving GIFs will draw the eye away from all the important elements. They also take up more bandwidth, slow down loading time, and generally look tacky. If you really need a pattern, go for a simple one such as pinstripe or gradient. For faster loading, use a single image instead of tiling several small ones.

123Triad webdesign offers affordable custom website design. Our full service website design company only hires certified website designers. Please contact us today on 1-800-720-0816 for your next web site design project.

Related posts:

1. Website Design Basics – Avoid Image Backgrounds
2. Choosing The Right Colors
3. Improve your site with texture and patterns
4. Tips for Page Design On Your Website
5. WEB PAGE CREATION SOFTWARE