Website design for beginners


Get ideas for website design for beginners
Get ideas for website design for beginners

Website design for beginners: Let’s get started!

Introduction to website design 101 – a beginner’s guide

Key takeaways:

  • Start with the basics: text, images, colours, and fonts all matter.
  • Usability and visual appeal go hand in hand.
  • Keeping things simple and organised creates a better experience for everyone.
Customize website design for beginners
Customize website design for beginners

Building the website structure

Website design pre-production and wireframes

The importance of pre-production planning

Think about features that might be added later. For example, if the site could eventually need a shop, use tools that support that growth. WordPress is a good choice because it’s free, flexible, and has thousands of plugins to expand functionality. You can also use MaxiBlocks to quickly test different layouts during this planning stage.

Agencies or freelancers working with clients should use written proposals and project flowcharts to manage expectations and avoid unplanned changes.

Creating wireframes

A good wireframe shows the homepage layout, links to other pages, and major navigation items. It’s a helpful way to plan how users will move through the site.

CMS, page builders, and themes

Choosing a content management system (CMS)

A CMS controls the site’s structure and content. WordPress is the most popular CMS and works well for beginners and professionals. It offers many free tools and themes to customise a site without needing to code.

Alternatives like Drupal or Joomla exist, but WordPress remains the easiest option for most users. Choosing the right CMS depends on the site’s needs and how much control the user wants.

Using page builders

Customising themes

Themes allow flexibility while keeping a professional appearance. Many support extra features like e-commerce or social media integrations. With MaxiBlocks, themes can be easily tailored using its visual tools to reflect your brand without editing code.

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Designing the user experience

Responsive design

What it is and why it’s essential in today’s mobile-first world

Responsive design means that a website adapts to different screen sizes and devices. That means providing a consistent experience no matter what gadget the visitor is using. Whether on a smartphone, tablet, desktop or 4k TV screen the site should adjust its layout and elements to fit the screen. Images have to resize automatically, text remains readable, and buttons or menus are easy to use on touchscreens.

If users have to pinch and zoom to read text, or if buttons are too small to tap, they’re likely to leave in frustration. This can also affect how search engines rank a site, as Google and others now prioritise mobile-friendly websites. A well-designed responsive site improves the user experience and boosts visibility.

Mobile-first approach

The mobile-first approach focuses on designing for smaller screens first. With so many people using their phones to access the internet, it makes sense to think about how the website functions on a mobile device. This method prioritises the most important features and simplifies content.

Accessibility – welcoming all

Making a website accessible

Using ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

ARIA adds extra information to help assistive technologies understand web content. It can label buttons, menus, and interactive parts of a site, making it clearer for screen readers and users with accessibility needs.

Best practices for accessibility

Use legible fonts and strong colour contrast to help with readability. Allow full navigation using a keyboard and add visual focus indicators. These small adjustments make a site easier for more people to use.

DIY website design for beginners
DIY website design for beginners

Content creation and visual design

Templates, patterns, and blocks

Using page templates

Using the same template across different pages gives a cohesive look. It also improves navigation and makes updates easier. MaxiBlocks includes ready-to-use templates that simplify this process even more.

Incorporating design patterns

Design patterns are standard solutions to layout problems. For example, placing the main menu at the top, or using a grid layout for blog posts. These familiar patterns help users find their way around without confusion.

Utilising content blocks

Blocks divide content into manageable sections. Each block might hold text, an image, a button, or a video. They can be rearranged or customised easily.

Full site editing and drag-and-drop design

Full Site Editing (FSE)

Full Site Editing gives full control over all parts of a website. This includes global elements like headers, footers, sidebars, and page content. It means you don’t need to code to change these areas.

Making a change to one part, like updating the footer, can apply across the entire site. This saves time and ensures consistency.

Drag-and-drop editing

This method makes updates fast and lets anyone build or adjust pages without hiring a developer. MaxiBlocks excels here by offering intuitive drag-and-drop tools and real-time editing.

Integrating design and content

Working with images and video

Optimising images for the web

Large, high-quality images can slow down load times. Compressing them using tools like TinyPNG reduces file sizes without sacrificing quality. Choosing the right format JPEG for photos, PNG for transparency helps balance appearance and speed.

Embedding and hosting videos

Videos improve engagement. Embedding from platforms like YouTube keeps the site light and fast. Hosting videos locally gives control but can impact speed. Use compressed formats like MP4 to balance quality and performance.

Designing around visuals

Build like a pro

Promotion, launch, and performance

Marketing, SEO, and analytics

On-page SEO basics

Use relevant keywords in headings and page content. Create unique title tags and meta descriptions. Format content with proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3). Link to other pages within the site to help users and search engines navigate.

Content marketing integration

Keep a blog to publish updates, guides, or case studies. Share these posts on social media and newsletters. This drives traffic and keeps your audience engaged. Having a consistent publishing schedule helps build trust.

Tracking and analysing site activity

Domain name and hosting

Choosing a domain name

Keep it short, easy to spell, and relevant. Use your brand name or keywords. Avoid hyphens and complex spelling. Choose a domain extension (.com, .co.uk, etc.) that fits your location or business type.

Understanding hosting options

Shared hosting is affordable and works for small sites. VPS or dedicated hosting offers more power for growing traffic. Cloud hosting scales as needed. Choose based on your technical skills and the size of your site.

Connecting domain and hosting

After buying a domain and hosting, link them by updating the DNS settings. Most providers offer step-by-step guidance. Once linked, upload your website files or install WordPress to go live.

Find website design for beginners
Find website design for beginners

Final thoughts

MaxiBlocks makes the design process simpler with its drag-and-drop features, wide selection of templates, and Full Site Editing tools that cut down on build time without limiting design control. It’s especially useful for beginners who want a professional result without needing coding experience.

Key takeaways:

  • Think about structure, layout, and content from the beginning.
  • Stick to tools that help you work faster and smarter like WordPress and MaxiBlocks.
  • Templates, blocks, and page builders save time and keep your site looking consistent.
  • Always test your design across devices and update content regularly.

Inspiring WordPress designs for any type of site

Explore creative WordPress designs that balance style, performance, and usability.

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Faqs – website design for beginners

What’s the easiest way to start designing a website?

Do I need to know how to code to design a website?

How much does it cost to build a website?

It depends on what you need. If you stick with free tools like WordPress, the MaxiBlocks plugin, and the free MaxiBlocks Go theme, you’ll just need to pay for a domain and hosting usually starting around £3–£10 a month. Optional upgrades like premium plugins or themes can increase costs, but they’re not essential to get started.

How can I make sure my site works on mobile devices?

Use a responsive theme and preview your site on different screen sizes. MaxiBlocks is responsive by default, which means your design will automatically adjust for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices and no extra setup needed.

What pages should my website include?

That depends on your goals, but most websites should include:

  • A homepage to introduce what you do
  • An about page to build trust
  • A contact page so visitors can reach you
  • A services or blog page to showcase what you offer or share updates

Keep your navigation simple and make important content easy to find.

How do I get people to visit my website?

Start with good SEO (search engine optimisation), use social media to share your content, and keep your site updated regularly. Blogging is a great way to attract visitors over time, as it gives you fresh content that search engines can index.

Can I change my design later?

Yes. One of the benefits of using WordPress and MaxiBlocks is that you can update your design, layout, or content at any time. Whether you’re rebranding, adding new pages, or changing your messaging, it’s easy to make edits without rebuilding your site from scratch.

What is a hero section and why is it important? 

A hero section is the large, eye-catching area at the top of a webpage that introduces your brand or message. It sets the tone for the rest of the site and is often the first thing a visitor sees. To understand how to design this area effectively, you can explore examples of successful hero banners that balance design, clarity and user engagement.

Can I create a hero section in WordPress without writing code? 

Yes, building a visually impressive hero section in WordPress is now easier than ever. The Maxiblocks hero section builder for WordPress allows you to design responsive, custom layouts using a drag-and-drop interface no coding required.

Is there a dedicated tool for creating hero sections with Maxiblocks? 

The Maxiblocks website hero section builder offers a streamlined solution for designing high-impact headers. It includes templates, animation options and mobile responsiveness, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced designers.

What software is best for designing a complete website? 

Choosing the right tools can significantly improve your workflow. From visual builders to design platforms, this guide to website design software outlines some of the most effective tools for creating beautiful, functional websites.

How can I make sure my website is fully responsive? 

Creating a responsive site means ensuring it works smoothly across all screen sizes and devices. This ultimate guide to responsive web design covers layout techniques, design principles and practical steps to help you build a flexible, mobile-friendly website from the start.

Author-Kyra

Kyra Pieterse

Author

Kyra is the co-founder and creative lead of MaxiBlocks, an open-source page builder for WordPress Gutenberg.

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