Ecommerce Design Hack: Less Is More

The thing about eCommerce design is that it can seem like an overwhelming job at times. Between the fact that we live in a world of color and the increased expectations of online shoppers today, you may be tempted to spend more time on your design than is actually needed.

The key to a successful eCommerce design layout is minimalism-especially when it comes to the colors you choose for your site. Without the right balance, your design could quickly end up being more distracting than effective.

To spare you from some of the common mistakes that many designers make, here are three tips that will help you apply a nice minimalist touch to your next eCommerce design:

1) Create an effective grid system.

A grid system is the backbone of any great layout-and especially so with eCommerce web design. In many ways, it helps to keep you on track from start to finish.

When building out your grid system, you'll want to start by defining each component's width, height, and general area on your site. For example, if you are working with a product page design that will be two columns wide and 4 rows tall, you'll assign each area of your design to a specific column and row within that width/height range.

A well-built grid system isn't just visually appealing; it's also easy to read for your site visitors.

2) Use a solid base color.

You can't afford to use multiple different colored backgrounds on your site. To do so will likely end up doing more harm than good for your eComm business. So instead, stick to one background color, and make sure it's one that you can easily keep up with as your site expands and evolves.

When starting, avoid using contrasting colors. Try to stick to colors that blend very well.

3) Use muted colors for text.

Whereas you'll want to avoid using different colored backgrounds, the same isn't true for text. You'll want to stick with a friendly solid tone of the color (the same as your primary background color) for both your headers, as well as your body copy. It will not only make it easier for you to work with but will also keep your visitors from being distracted by unnecessary contrast.

Make sure to utilize a tone of gray when using gray text-a a very subtle, light gray is preferred.

Most eCommerce developers and web designers have likely been trained to use colors that will make a site more accessible for them to work with. But instead of following the path of least resistance, it's better to start thinking about your customers and how you can apply minimalist color schemes.

A nice balance of minimalism and color will not only make your site more visually appealing, but it will also give you a better chance of attracting new visitors-and keeping those you do attract on your page for longer.

Always think about your customers.

Your goal here is to avoid being overly flashy. Let your products and services do the talking.

Innovation in online shopping is at an all-time high, and eComm is only expected to grow even stronger over the next few years. Designing a stunning eCommerce site is a crucial first step to staying ahead of the competition.

ping your ecommerce design minimalistic will help you save time, reduce costs, and make your business more successful overall.