It is important that you use white space effectively for a user friendly web site. White space is a design element you should understand when designing your web site. It can influence the navigational ease of your site and it can create unity and order in your text blocks. Too much or too little white space can give visitors the wrong impression and they will leave without bothering to look at your content.
White space is not necessarily “white” in color. The term white space refers to a space that is not filled with graphics, text or other web element. On your web page, the white space could be electric blue and it would still be called white space for design purposes.
The Jewel in the Navel
When a visitor first lands on your site, do they see enough white space? The top of the web page that you can see without scrolling down is the most valuable spot for a web site. This is your make it or break it spot and that is why those banner ads are here to stay because they will be seen no matter if a visitor or your website stays or leaves. This is where a visitor will look and quickly decide whether he or she wants to stay long enough to scroll down or head out to the next site.
If this area of your website is too crowded or uses text that is too small or cramped appearing then you may be losing visitors. By using white space effectively here, you can draw visitors to your site because your page’s most visible spot is easily read and understood.
Control Distractions with White Space
Where there are too many distractions on a website, such as spaces with packed graphics and text, many people will go to the next website for a better view.
A page can have too much or too little white space. When a page has enough white space, the content appears logically composed with a natural flow to the information. Using white space effectively will create a clutter free look and a crisp style that will be inviting. If a page does not have enough white space, the page will look packed while too much white space makes a page look empty.
White Space for the Grid
A column of white space adds order to block of text. Text is easily understood in the context of the text blocks around it when the white space is used in an orderly way and grid style approach. You can use white space between and around page elements to improve their visibility. White space helps text to become more legible for everyone.
White space adds a professional stamp to your work. When your page is not cluttered, does not use small text in an effort to force more text onto the page and is not empty in appearance and instead uses white space such a way that site navigating and viewing is enhanced then your web site will have a professional appearance.
Using white space effectively on your site gives your visitors an easier time while moving around your site. White space can invite readers in and keep them around.