How to Create a Beautiful WordPress Website with a Simple Homepage and Tabs
Creating a flawless WordPress website can be pretty tricky. You’ll need to consider a number of factors so that your site functions smoothly and looks as good as new. There are, however, some tried and tested methods for creating a perfect WordPress website, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned web developer or simply want to dip your toe in and see what’s available. In this article, we’ll discuss some top-notch techniques for creating a stunning WordPress website.
Homepage Setup
The homepage is arguably the most important page of your WordPress website. It’s the first thing your visitors see when they arrive at your site and can have a big impact on whether or not they stay. Setting up your home page correctly is therefore essential; otherwise, you’re wasting an important opportunity to gain some traction with your visitors. Let’s have a look at how you can set up your home page to be more than just a pretty face.
Simplicity
The simpler the better when it comes to the layout and design of your WordPress website. Opting for clean white space on a sans-serif font with no distracting design elements puts you on the right track to creating a classy looking site. The less there is on your page, the less there is for the visitor to distract themselves with. Minimalism is the name of the game when it comes to the web these days and if you want to stay consistent, you should probably get on board with the trend. It makes the site much easier to understand and much more accessible for search engines and site visitors too.
Colour Schemes
Using harmonious colour schemes is another great way of adding visual appeal to your site. When you choose a particular colour scheme for your WordPress website, you’re effectively setting the mood and tone of the page. You should stick with colour palettes that are easy on the eye and don’t conflict with each other. For example, using red and blue can be a dangerous combination as it is usually associated with anger and frustration. Therefore, you should avoid this at all costs as it will end up looking sloppy and unprofessional. Using complementary colours however, is a great way of creating a classy and sophisticated appearance. Blue and yellow are a perfect example of a harmonious colour scheme as they are usually seen as contrasting but both relate to the spring and summer time, making them perfect for each other. You can also use green and orange pairs well as these are known for their anti-ageing properties. The key is to keep it simple yet effective.
Typography
When it comes to the text on your page, you want to go for a clean elegant appearance rather than a fun, quirky or informal tone. The same goes for the font. You want it to be simple yet classy. Using a serif font will help with the readability of the text and ensure that it doesn’t appear pixelated or fuzzy on the screen. In general, you want your text to be readable and don’t distract the reader’s attention with anything other than the content.
Accessibility
Another important aspect of a perfect WordPress website is ensuring that it is accessible to as many people as possible. Not only is a fully functioning and accessible website good for all users, but it also makes it much easier to find information on your site should you want to edit or update something. Minimising the amount of text you use on a page will also help make it more accessible as it reduces the amount of content that may be hiding below the fold. If there’s no text on a given page, the chances of it being fully accessible are pretty high. As a general rule, you should always strive to make your site accessible to as wide an audience as possible and give the search engines enough information to index and understand what your site is about.
Header and Navigation Bars
The header and navigation bars at the top of a webpage are important as they provide a place for the visitor to rest their eyes and give the page context. The header should not be too flashy or overcrowded as it will hinder the effectiveness of the page’s layout. A good rule of thumb is to keep it simple and neat. The same goes for your navigation bar. Keep it minimalistic and uncluttered as these elements can visually clutter a page.
The Footer
The footer is arguably the most important part of a webpage as it contains important information pertaining to the website’s design and operation. This information includes the page’s navigation, copyright, website name and any other pertinent details. You should place your footer at the very bottom of the page as it is the last thing the reader sees before hitting the back button or closing the tab. Make sure that the footer is completely hidden and unnoticeable when first opened the page as this will help with the overall layout of the page. To ensure that it appears consistently on every page, you should use the same approach for the footer on every page of your website, no matter how many times you navigate to that page.
Creating a flawless WordPress website is possible with a little bit of planning and design savvy. You don’t have to go overboard and use every single one of the suggestions listed above, but you should consider using some of them as a starting point for your web design journey. With a little bit of imagination and experimentation, you’ll be able to craft a stunning WordPress website in no time at all.