The Dark Website

When it comes to website design, there’s always a point where compromises need to be made between artistry and usability. It may be tempting for a web designer, whether a seasoned veteran or a novice, to use a dark design. It can be a striking and even elegant design choice, but user experience should also be considered.

Darker website designs are inherently less readable. That is, they can be difficult on the eyes because text is less easily distinguished against a dark backdrop. ProBlogger recently polled readers on their color preferences when it comes to reading blogs. Of those that responded, 47 percent claimed to “always prefer” light backgrounds, versus just 10 percent who preferred dark designs. 36 percent maintained that it depended on the blog in question, while just 7 percent claimed not to care either way.

This is telling. By and large, it would seem that readers prefer lighter backgrounds. With that in mind, now might be the perfect time to attempt to sway public opinion in favor of darker designs. If you want your website to truly stand out, let’s take a look at a few ways that you can achieve a dark design without turning off your readers.

Keep An “Open” Feeling

There’s a sort of heaviness that readers associate with darker colors. It follows, then, that websites that have a dark design can tend to feel more claustrophobic, even oppressive. The best advice for web designers pursuing a dark design would be to keep it uncluttered. Minimalist designs are highly popular these days, anyway. If your design contains many dark colors, be sure to eliminate anything from the design that’s not strictly necessary. This can help to ease some of that claustrophobic feeling.

Cut Down on Text Clutter

Images and website elements aren’t the only things that can contribute to a cluttered feeling. It’s also exceedingly important to keep your website’s text uncluttered. Utilize line breaks and “white space” to break up the text and add a sense of space. Nobody wants to read a wall of text, least of all on a dark backdrop.

Text Color and Typeface

While we’re on the subject of text, let’s take a look at text color and typeface. Maybe it goes without saying, but the color of the text on your website is all-important. If you’re favoring dark, deep colors, the text on the site should be very deliberately chosen. You might do well to steer away from pure white, since the contrast might be a bit much for some viewers, so an off-white or even a shade of grey might be a better choice. It can also be more important on a dark background than on a light one to choose an easily readable typeface.

When choosing a typeface, the most significant distinguishing characteristic will likely be whether it’s a serif or sans-serif typeface. For the smaller text on your website, it will likely make sense to avoid a serif font, as they may add to the sense of clutter. Larger text, however, such as headers or page titles, may work better with a serif font, as they inherently have a better sense of style and elegance. Much of this will be trial and error, but the general rule will hold true: the smaller the text is (or the closer together it is), the less likely you should be to choose a serif font.

Color Schemes

It’s also important to remember not to use a color scheme that’s too busy. When in doubt, work with fewer colors to better streamline the look of your website and cut down on the busyness of your design. Too many colors can be hard on the eyes.

When it comes to website design, there’s always a point where compromises need to be made between artistry and usability. It may be tempting for a web designer, whether a seasoned veteran or a novice, to use a dark design. It can be a striking and even elegant design choice, but user experience should also be considered.

Darker website designs are inherently less readable. That is, they can be difficult on the eyes because text is less easily distinguished against a dark backdrop. ProBlogger recently polled readers on their color preferences when it comes to reading blogs. Of those that responded, 47 percent claimed to “always prefer” light backgrounds, versus just 10 percent who preferred dark designs. 36 percent maintained that it depended on the blog in question, while just 7 percent claimed not to care either way.

This is telling. By and large, it would seem that readers prefer lighter backgrounds. With that in mind, now might be the perfect time to attempt to sway public opinion in favor of darker designs. If you want your website to truly stand out, let’s take a look at a few ways that you can achieve a dark design without turning off your readers.

Keep An “Open” Feeling

There’s a sort of heaviness that readers associate with darker colors. It follows, then, that websites that have a dark design can tend to feel more claustrophobic, even oppressive. The best advice for web designers pursuing a dark design would be to keep it uncluttered. Minimalist designs are highly popular these days, anyway. If your design contains many dark colors, be sure to eliminate anything from the design that’s not strictly necessary. This can help to ease some of that claustrophobic feeling.

Cut Down on Text Clutter

Images and website elements aren’t the only things that can contribute to a cluttered feeling. It’s also exceedingly important to keep your website’s text uncluttered. Utilize line breaks and “white space” to break up the text and add a sense of space. Nobody wants to read a wall of text, least of all on a dark backdrop.

Text Color and Typeface

While we’re on the subject of text, let’s take a look at text color and typeface. Maybe it goes without saying, but the color of the text on your website is all-important. If you’re favoring dark, deep colors, the text on the site should be very deliberately chosen. You might do well to steer away from pure white, since the contrast might be a bit much for some viewers, so an off-white or even a shade of grey might be a better choice. It can also be more important on a dark background than on a light one to choose an easily readable typeface.

When choosing a typeface, the most significant distinguishing characteristic will likely be whether it’s a serif or sans-serif typeface. For the smaller text on your website, it will likely make sense to avoid a serif font, as they may add to the sense of clutter. Larger text, however, such as headers or page titles, may work better with a serif font, as they inherently have a better sense of style and elegance. Much of this will be trial and error, but the general rule will hold true: the smaller the text is (or the closer together it is), the less likely you should be to choose a serif font.

Color Schemes

It’s also important to remember not to use a color scheme that’s too busy. When in doubt, work with fewer colors to better streamline the look of your website and cut down on the busyness of your design. Too many colors can be hard on the eyes.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying that a dark website scheme is instantly appealing and eye-catching. If you feel you’re up to the challenge, keep these pieces of advice in mind when you’re creating your design. A dark website can be quite memorable to your viewers if it’s done well.

In the end, there shouldn’t be a single thing that gets in the way of the viewer; the website should catch the eye, but also be pleasant to read.