Sometimes web designers, both beginners and those with some experience, believe that the most important thing in website design is to place elements nicely on the page. They arrange info blocks, add icons or images next to them, separate everything with colorful backgrounds—and that’s it, even if it all looks like a copy of something else. But think for a moment… Will the visitor stay long on the site? Will they read the information, or will something inside them say “no,” and they’ll just leave?
In our blog, we've often talked about where to find layout and color combination ideas, and why some websites drive users away immediately while others attract attention and linger in memory. Today, we’ll explore how space is used in web design, and how elements can be effectively combined. It may seem basic, the very foundation of design, but in reality, the depth and roots of layout and space usage are grounded in Gestalt theory. And although many thoughts can be shared on this topic, we’ll look at the most vivid and illustrative ones.
The Mystery of Gestalt
The concept of “Gestalt” relates to form, shape, structure, model, and wholeness. In 1890, the idea was introduced that people perceive the world as a whole, and even if some part is missing, our perception fills in the blanks. This is why we can read incomplete text correctly and only notice the flaws afterward.
So, regardless of what and how much we see, we perceive it subjectively and as something whole. Naturally, every individual sees the world differently.
Over time, psychological models emerged based on Gestalt structures—organized wholes formed by our perception from separate elements. There's a lot to say about the theories and principles, but in web design, we’re particularly interested in how backgrounds and figures (elements) are perceived.
Visual Sensations
It’s known that highlighting figures against a background influences perception. The layout of an image on a website page is never perceived separately from its background or surrounding content. Our subconscious mind always tries to find a connection between them. Similarly, pure white backgrounds are rarely used, as they’re perceived as too active and even irritating. Most websites you visit daily have at least slightly gray backgrounds.
Freedom for Space
Space in web design plays a crucial role—it helps users focus, find what they need, move to nearby info blocks, examine tables or other content. If a website doesn’t account for spacing, it turns into cluttered chaos of visuals (images, banners, ads, etc.). A good example is from one of our past articles . Why do Europeans find it hard to use Chinese websites? Because of their oversaturation with characters and dense information. While normal for Chinese users, it overwhelms others, whose subconscious is attuned to different writing systems and layouts. We won’t repeat the screenshots here.
Another example—remember what websites looked like 5–7 years ago. Early blogs, warez sites, etc. They were hard to navigate—everything blinked, there were too many icons, images, and scattered texts. Examples below are very similar. There's just too much going on. Combined, it all feels overwhelming. Add aggressive red accents, leaf patterns on a brown background, diagonal elements—this results in a “confused” perception that struggles to grasp what the site is about.
That’s why space should be used to improve readability and clarity, to make the text inviting—not just as a background for cramming more visuals. A landing page might contain lots of white space and just two columns of short info blocks—but it will look much cleaner and more understandable. It brings to mind the principles of minimalism—and rightfully so. Space can give your site elegance and purity, luxury and openness, simplicity and accessibility.
It’s Not Just About Minimalism
Effective use of space and elements depends not only on Gestalt theory, but also on how the designer understands and feels the user experience. In the following example (heroku.com/platform/runtime), note the slightly off-white background and the muted violet accents. Even the text is a soft gray rather than pure black.
The layout has plenty of white space, yet all shapes and elements are perceived as a whole. Key information doesn’t get lost, even when surrounded by adjacent content blocks.
The same applies to justinrfreeman.com, which uses almost no images. But thanks to its typography, font choices, and thoughtful use of space and background, the design feels cohesive and not overloaded.
Asymmetry and Grids
Text blocks can be placed strictly within a grid layout or asymmetrically, but everything is still separated by thin, barely visible lines. For example: theswishlife.com.
These subtle lines allow the surrounding space to “breathe” while still keeping info blocks—be it images or text—from getting lost. Visitors aren't distracted by anything outside the structure; their attention stays focused.
Bold Asymmetry
Asymmetry, in general, allows for creative play with space and objects. Large amounts of empty space around text or menus help the eyes comfortably explore the site and absorb the information presented (jorgerigabert.com, petermcleaveygallery.com).
Note the use of color on elliotjaystocks.com. If the main content and the menu were the same tone, the visitor's attention would scatter and the perception would become confusing.
Orderliness
The site audedegrassat.com is a great example of how space allows for a clear visual experience. Despite large images and hover animations, the overall perception is of an orderly structure and layout.
Another example is the site of Raffles Institution (ri.edu.sg), which is notable for several reasons. It contains a lot of text and images, yet doesn’t feel overwhelming. As users scroll down or across, they’re presented with a large amount of information that's well-organized, broken into blocks, and visually separated with background color, lines, and headings.
In this case, Gestalt principles were clearly and effectively applied, guiding perception and allowing users to find what they need quickly—without distractions.
An interesting approach to space and element arrangement can be seen on bigyouth.fr/en. Unlike the other examples, this site uses a solid background color, but the way text blocks are positioned with ample space around them helps focus the viewer’s gaze. As you scroll down, you’ll see various images paired with text in a clear order. Note how even small margins between them create a sense of openness and ease.
Summary
We hope this article has clearly demonstrated two key aspects of using space in web design. First: space as a unifying element for everything on a page. If you think about it, all designers follow this principle —whether they’re working on interiors, park layouts, or websites.
Second: effectively using the interplay of space and form takes time and effort. It requires studying existing examples on the internet, analyzing the work of other webmasters, and understanding how users interact with websites. A page layout is like a workspace for the user. And work goes better when there is room for both the task and the person doing it.
We've shown how space works with perception, how a small number of elements (shapes) placed on a large open area can draw the eye. But there are many ways to combine them. The key is to let space not just organize elements—but guide perception, as if gently offering the visitor what they truly seek: clarity, beauty, and purpose.