Website design trends have changed a lot in the last three decades. Look around the internet, and it’s easy to discern the difference between sites that haven’t been updated in a while and others that are modern and trendy, reflecting the advances in technology and design over the years.

If you’re a business owner, it’s not likely you want your website to be old-fashioned and static. Potential clients and customers who look for you on the internet or who stumble upon you by accident will be looking for some indication that you’re a successful, in-the-know company that can provide them with what they need. Your website can do a lot to speak to that.

If your site looks a bit tired and needs to be updated, consider some of these new and exciting website design trends for 2022.

Comfortable, muted colours

Here, the trend for the last several years has been bright colors, and many site builders are now turning to more soothing, comfortable colors for their clients’ websites. Why? These muted colors provide a break for tired eyes because the general public spends so much time on the internet these days – especially with so many working from home. Compare two sites beside one another – one with bright reds and oranges and the other with greyish blues. Which one hurts your eyes? A softer palette is less likely to cause eye strain, and visitors may stay longer. Try pastel pink or blue, natural greens, or tans and browns.

Minimalism

Because technology has given you more options, it doesn’t mean your site needs to be busier and more crowded. Sometimes, simpler is better. Many website builders have grasped the idea of minimalism when possible, building sites with simplified color schemes, easy-to-read fonts, simple flat backgrounds, and intuitive navigation that’s super user-friendly. Images are simple, too, and each serves a purpose. In other words, all the frills are gone, and you’re left with an attractive website that provides the customer with what they need in a format that’s easy to use. Sometimes, that’s all you need!

Cartoons and hand-drawn elements

Stock photos are boring, but we still see them everywhere! Often, you’ll find the same images on multiple websites, courtesy of photo-sharing websites like iStock or Unsplash. It’s usually easy to tell they’re not authentic or specific to the business. A better option? Graphic artists can provide hand-drawn elements for your website, which can help distinguish your brand from another. They’re creative and inspired; you won’t find them on someone else’s site because they’re created specifically for your business.

Accessibility

More than ever, website designers discuss accessibility as they build a new site. This might seem strange to you – the word “accessibility” as it refers to a website. We think of accessibility as providing ramps and elevators for people in wheelchairs. However, accessibility in website building considers those viewers who might have sensory or neurological issues, perhaps visual or auditory problems. To accommodate those individuals, you could incorporate features such as:

  • Keyboard-friendly navigation (for those who don’t have the motor skills to operate a mouse)
  • Adding alternative text to images and choosing colors carefully so that everything is easy to read (for the visually impaired)
  • Avoiding flashing lights and images (for those with sensory issues)
  • Ask your website builder about checking your site for accessibility. There are simple-to-use tools that can help with that.

Many more exciting trends are emerging in website building in 2022. At Watershed9, we keep track of the latest developments in web design and are eager to show you what we can do to make your site stand out from the crowd. For more information on our website building services, call us at 604-449-1337 or via our contact form.