Web Design Trends for 2026: Strategic, Story-Driven, and Still Built to Convert
TAKE THE FREE QUIZ – What’s Your Brand Personality?
Every year, web design trends shift—but 2026 feels less about what looks cool and more about what feels intentional.
Yes, bold colors and playful interactions are still here. But in 2026, they’re being used with more restraint, strategy, and storytelling. Websites are becoming more editorial, more human, and more rooted in brand identity, not just aesthetics.
If you’re refreshing your website in 2026 (or building one from scratch), these are the trends shaping what high-performing, modern websites actually look like right now—and how to decide which ones make sense for your business.
1. Bold Color… With Strategy
The bright, energetic color trend from 2025 isn’t going anywhere, but it is growing up.
Instead of color everywhere, 2026 websites are:
- Grounded in strong neutrals (cream, charcoal, soft gray, black)
- Accented with one confident pop color (red, cobalt, chartreuse, electric blue)
- Designed with accessibility and contrast in mind
This creates visual interest without overwhelming the user and keeps your site feeling elevated instead of chaotic.
Pro tip: If you are DIYing your website, choose 1–2 accent colors and use them intentionally for CTAs, highlights, and moments of emphasis. Your visitor’s eyes need a place to rest.
LEARN HOW TO DIY YOUR WEBSITE IN A WEEKEND
Here’s a website I designed in 2024 for a music festival in Colorado showing you how bold neon CAN work!
2. Subtle Motion > Flashy Animation
Microinteractions are still in—but they’re more refined.
In 2026, the focus is on:
- Subtle hover effects
- Gentle transitions
- Scroll-triggered reveals
- Animations that support clarity, not distraction
This is especially important for conversion. Motion should guide users where to go next—not compete for attention.
Rule of thumb: If the animation doesn’t support the action you want someone to take, it probably doesn’t belong.
3. Typography as Personality (Still Going Strong)
Typography continues to do a lot of heavy lifting in 2026—especially for brands that:
- Don’t rely heavily on photography
- Have strong opinions or messaging
- Want their personality to come through clearly
We’re seeing:
- Bold, oversized headlines
- Mixed font pairings within the same phrase
- Moving or scrolling typography used sparingly
- Serif fonts making a strong comeback for luxury + editorial brands
Squarespace and Showit both make it easier than ever to experiment with scale, marquee text, and hierarchy—without needing to be a designer.
If you have a lot to say: typography can be the design.
4. Editorial Layouts & Brand Storytelling
One of the biggest shifts I’m seeing for 2026 is the rise of editorial-style websites.
Think:
- Layered sections
- Overlapping images and text
- Asymmetry
- White space used on purpose
- Scroll-triggered moments that reveal the story as you move
This trend pairs beautifully with service-based businesses and personal brands, especially if your narrative is the brand.
If your website currently feels like a list of sections (“About, Services, Contact”), editorial layouts help turn it into an experience.
Ask yourself:
Does my site tell a story or just present information?
5. The Glam Era: Black, White & High-Contrast Luxury
One of my favorite emerging aesthetics for 2026?
Modern glam.
Think:
- Black-and-white foundations
- Pops of red or metallic accents
- High-quality photography
- Clean layouts with premium spacing
- Minimal but intentional animations
This trend is especially strong for:
- Coaches
- Creatives
- Luxury service providers
- Personal brands positioning themselves as high-touch or high-end
It feels confident, polished, and timeless—without being boring.
6. Human Touches Are Non-Negotiable
As AI continues to grow, websites are swinging harder toward the human element.
That means:
- Hand-drawn lines, circles, scribbles
- Imperfect textures
- Doodles, cutouts, collage-style elements
- Showing work in progress, not just the final product
People want to see the hands behind the work.
This is especially powerful for:
- Designers
- Artists
- Architects
- Builders
- Therapists
- Educators
If your work is hands-on, your website should reflect that—not feel overly polished or tech-heavy.
7. Showing the Process (Not Just the Result)
This trend is growing fast and for good reason!
In 2026, trust is built by showing:
- Sketches
- Moodboards
- Early drafts
- Behind-the-scenes decisions
- The “before” alongside the “after”
People don’t just want to know what you do, they want to understand how you think.
Squarespace makes this easy with:
- Underlines, scribbles, and highlights
- Patterned backgrounds
- Layered image sections
Process builds credibility and connection.
8. Organic Shapes, Curves & Lace Details
Curves are still everywhere and now they’re getting softer and more detailed.
New in 2026:
- Doily-inspired edges
- Lace-like section dividers
- Rounded containers
- Flowing, organic silhouettes
Pinterest has already called this one: lace is back—digitally.
Used well, it adds softness, nostalgia, and warmth without feeling dated.
9. AI as a Tool (Not the Brand)
AI-powered features are now baked into many platforms from copy suggestions to layout ideas to chatbots.
In 2026, the brands that stand out are using AI for:
- Speed
- Efficiency
- Brainstorming
…but not letting it replace:
- Strategy
- Voice
- Messaging
- Personality
Your website should still sound like you.
10. Minimalism Isn’t Dead—, t’s Just Smarter
Here’s the truth: trends don’t matter if they don’t serve your brand.
I surveyed my audience, and most still lean minimalist. That doesn’t mean boring, it means:
- Clear hierarchy
- Thoughtful spacing
- Intentional color
- Strategic updates instead of full overhauls
You don’t need to chase every trend. You need to choose the ones that help users take action
TAKE THE FREE QUIZ – What’s Your Brand Personality?
Ready to Refresh Your Website in 2026?
If your website feels outdated or isn’t converting visitors into clients, it might be time for a refresh. Whether you want to DIY with a step-by-step course or need a professional design in just one day, I’ve got you covered:
- DIY Squarespace Course: Perfect for those who want to create a standout site using my signature template.
- Website in a Day Service: Let me design a high-converting website for you in just one day!
Let’s make your website work harder for you, without the stress.
If you want to know more about brand strategy and choosing the RIGHT colors for your business, check out this FREE TRAINING.
We will go over how to make a website that reflects you and draws in your ideal clients (which, spoiler, is done through your branding, copy, and photos).
I will explain my “Moodboard Challenge” (minute 3:00) and will give you Canva Moodboard Templates and strategy to create your branding for conversion.
How Non-Techie Biz Owners Can Quickly Design a High-Converting Website That Makes Sales
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I’ve got messy hair and a thirsty heart.
I overshare my life, and have an ultra-expressive personality. Some words people use to describe me are: helpful, real, fun, creative, authentic, and kind.
Elphaba from Wicked is kind of my alter-ego (I was a fan LONG before the movie-adaptation - anyone else?!). I am always trying to forge my own path and make a difference in the World, somehow, someway, while also constantly criticizing myself and trying to become the better version of me.
Quality conversations + coffee come easy to me.
I’ve never had an issue connecting naturally with others (probs because I can go on and on about my life story, not that it is interesting, I just process externally...)
I find so much joy in helping and serving others and I give myself fully to whatever it is that engages me, whether that is running a 50k or creating a website in a day.
