Simplicity is the main focus of a minimalist website, which often features ample white space and a limited color scheme to highlight the site's core message. While exploring these sites, I found that they mainly focus on essential content, quick navigation, and high-quality visuals to streamline the user experience without overwhelming visitors.
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Zarla checks that sites meet basic web standards for mobile and desktop. We also use Google's PageSpeed Insights, and WAVE, a service that evaluates accessibility for individuals with disabilities. PageSpeed scores and accessibility are important factors for search engine rankings. PageSpeed scores may not match user experience and can vary substantially.
New York, New York, U.S.
Hello Monday is a design studio specializing in branding, graphic design, and illustrations. The studio's quirky style is cleverly reflected in its minimalistic website, which features a simple color palette, a spacious layout, and fun animations. Together, these elements gave me a solid idea of the design expertise they offer.
Upon entering the site, I was instantly captivated by the animated hero section that kept me transfixed until the end. This engaging introduction sets the stage for the rest of Hello Monday's work, neatly displayed on the home page in a gallery format. Additionally, a fixed sidebar ensured I was just a click away from the business's portfolio and "About" page.
The calendar in the top-right corner of the home page starts the week by showing it's Monday, then transforms into a countdown for the rest of the week, cleverly building on the business's name. Upon hover, the fixed sidebar menu appeared, offering convenience and interactivity. The hover-activated images also added a fun element that I found entertaining.
Though the fixed sidebar is a handy feature, it disappeared as I scrolled down the various pages, and I only stumbled upon it by chance. The home page's lack of a clear narrative and structured sections initially threw me off, giving the site a more portfolio-like feel. Moreover, WAVE flagged minor empty links and missing alternative text throughout the website.
The main highlight of the desktop site, I found, was the array of hover-activated functions, animations, and motion graphics that danced across the screen like ripples in a pond. Each movement mimicked a wave-life effect, adding a layer of intrigue that complemented the animated welcome.
I was particularly charmed by how the cursor transformed into a smiley face whenever I hovered over a picture. It was a delightful touch that perfectly embodied the brand's personality, and it made the entire experience more engaging. However, the social media links didn't quite command my attention in the main menu.
Exploring the mobile site was a pleasant experience, even without the hover-activated features that made the desktop version stand out. I really enjoyed the wave-inspired page transitions, and the home page's linear presentation made it easier to focus on the content. Plus, the floating hamburger icon allowed me to browse through the artwork with no visual distractions.
Despite the footer menu being more accessible on mobile, I found it odd that it excluded the back-to-top button. That said, the home page failed to respond on Google's PageSpeed Insights. In addition, I found that the mobile site was slower to load, and it was only semi-compliant on accessScan.
Milan, Italy
Paolo Ventura is a renowned Italian photographer, artist, and set designer in Milan, Italy. His website is a testament to his unique style, serving as a minimalistic portfolio that captivated me from the moment I arrived. Notably, the splash page design of the home page boasts one of Paolo's original artworks, creating a serene and intriguing atmosphere.
Navigating the site was an experience in itself. The main menu offered quick access to video content about Paolo Ventura's life, and its drop-down capabilities helped maintain a clean and focused layout. This clever design kept important sections like the "About" page and Paolo's portfolio easily accessible without cluttering the screen.
The website excelled with its simple design, which directed my attention straight to the core pages without any distractions. The hover-activated menu kept things tidy, ensuring the options were not overwhelming. Adding to this, the splash page design complemented the site's focused layout. Moreover, WAVE only found a couple of contrast issues on some pages, including the "Works" and "Video" pages.
The drop-down options in the menu didn't always align with the pages they led to. For example, the "About" page included Paolo's previous exhibits, which seemed out of place for that category. Navigating the gallery felt tedious, especially with the lack of hover-activated features, while the social media links at the bottom of the page would benefit from improved visibility.
The splash home page and artwork made a strong impression on the desktop site. The hover-activated main menu was a smart touch, as it kept things uncluttered but interesting. While scrolling down the home page revealed the social media links, the splash page design could discourage other visitors from scrolling downward, making the social media links' placement less intuitive. On PageSpeed Insights, the site earned perfect scores for performance, accessibility, and best practices across multiple pages.
On mobile, Paolo Ventura's site feels less dynamic, with the artwork on the home page not making quite the same impact. While this minimalist approach does not require excessive scrolling and is great for on-the-move browsing, it felt a bit lackluster on a smaller screen.
Contrasting the desktop site, Paolo Ventura's social media links are more prominently advertised at the top of the screen, making online connections more accessible. PageSpeed Insights shows the site's various pages performed well overall, scoring on average around 90/100 for performance and 94/100 for accessibility.
Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, U.K.
Based in Royal Lemington Spa, Vitsoe is a British furniture brand known for its timeless designs and functionality. Its website reflects this ethos perfectly, with a minimalistic and airy layout that drew me in immediately. The limited color scheme and clear headings created an easy-to-follow website narrative that guided me through their offerings.
Though the lack of color failed to highlight important headings, I found the hover-activated selections incredibly helpful in focusing my attention. The sections featuring customer reviews, blog posts, and the "meet the team" page added a layer of trust and connection that I appreciated.
The "Why Vitsoe?" section reassured me that each purchase was thoughtfully placed, while the "Lifelong service" section offered a fascinating peek into the team behind the furniture. I particularly appreciated the categorized customer reviews page, which made it easy to find feedback on specific aspects, such as services and installations.
The home page feels somewhat overwhelming with its text-heavy sections. While a convenient back-to-top button is available, the absence of a floating menu, hover-activated images, and color scheme led to a more laborious scrolling experience. Additionally, WAVE identified several empty buttons and linked images missing alternative text on multiple pages.
The website's spacious design truly shines on the desktop site, offering an expansive view that complements its easy-to-follow narrative. The hero image fell short on my desktop screen, failing to fill the space and wow me. As a newcomer, I also found myself puzzled by the hero image's shelves of books, unsure of their connection to the brand.
That said, I enjoyed the hover-activated features on titles, but the absence of multimedia content or similar interactive elements was quite noticeable. Overall, the site's simplicity is nice, but a bit more engagement would have made the experience more compelling.
On the mobile site, Vitsoe's hero image truly shines with its full-screen display, making it far more captivating. The main menu is neatly folded behind a hamburger icon, which keeps the top of the home page clean and streamlined.
I appreciated that the search tool remained visible, and the country selector is also more prominently advertised in the menu, which made it easier to switch locations. On PageSpeed Insights, the scores were mixed. While the performance scores varied between 59/100 and 70/100, the accessibility score stayed high at 89/100 across several pages.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Aesop is an Australian skincare brand celebrated worldwide for its high-quality products. The brand's website perfectly balances minimalism and modernism, featuring a spacious layout and images with transparent backgrounds that seem to float, effortlessly enhancing the clean aesthetic.
The website kept me engaged with video elements and hover-activated functions that added some interactivity. While the top menu streamlines access to Aesop's categories, the footer menu provides essential information, including contact details, an "About" section, and social media links. This thoughtful design makes navigating the site both intuitive and enjoyable.
Exploring the website was a breeze, with floating options aiding navigation. The hover-activated functions let me easily track my selections and interact with content, while the images with transparent backgrounds reinforced the airy aesthetic. WAVE found no major issues and only flagged a few contrast errors on several pages.
The slideshow images and videos seemed slow to load, causing me to miss several visuals as I scrolled down the home page. While the transparent backgrounds were appealing, it wasn't obvious that the images were clickable links, which could lead to oversight. Additionally, I would have preferred if the contact page and social media links were more prominently placed.
Impressively, the desktop site offered ample visual breathing room and intuitive navigational aids, making browsing a pleasure. The hover-activated functions were particularly engaging on the desktop site, adding a layer of interactivity. Despite the lack of a strong color palette, the narrative remained smooth and the headings stood out effectively.
Overall, my experience was user-friendly, and I found that the site blended functionality with aesthetics perfectly. While my experience was positive, the site's home page scored 39/100 in the performance category on PageSpeed Insights. That said, it did manage to receive a positive accessibility score of 95/100.
Aesop's mobile website is elegantly streamlined, with plenty of visual space and interactive elements. The hero slideshow transitioned more smoothly on the mobile site, allowing me to fully enjoy all the images and videos.
Although the main menu was neatly tucked behind a hamburger icon, its options did include both text and visual elements, continuing the site's emphasis on visual appeal. Contrasting our positive experience, the mobile site's home page only scored 34/100 in the performance category. However, the rest of the site did score impressively in the accessibility category, averaging around 93/100.
Suffolk, England, U.K.
Ania Hobson, a U.K.-based artist known for her vibrant and expressive artwork, offers a striking website that blends modern simplicity with artistic flair. The minimalistic home page, which cleverly features a virtual gallery space, drew me in immediately, allowing the single bold painting to take center stage.
Navigating through the website was seamless, thanks to a clean and intuitive menu that provided easy access to Ania's portfolio, CV, press history, and contact information. The ample use of white space and a subdued color palette ensured that my focus remained on the vivid artwork, resulting in an immersive user experience.
I was captivated by the home page's gallery-like aesthetic, which made me feel like I was stepping into one of Ania's exhibits without leaving my desk. While the menu offered quick access to trust elements, such as Ania's CV and press history, the generous white space allowed the artwork to command attention. Moreover, WAVE did not flag any errors or contrast issues throughout the website.
While I was impressed with the website's ability to focus my attention on key elements and information, it felt impersonal due to the absence of an "About" section or a photograph of Ania. This ultimately created a sense of disconnect. Additionally, incorporating hover-activated features would have enhanced my exploration of the portfolio.
The desktop website opens with a unique splash page that features a concise menu and an immersive gallery setting, creating an engaging welcome. The quick-loading webpages were easy to navigate, even without floating menus or sticky chat boxes aiding navigation.
The ample white space and captivating artwork truly came to life on my desktop screen, drawing me in completely. However, I would have liked hover-activated features for added engagement. That said, the home page's PageSpeed Insights scores — 98/100 for performance and a perfect 100/100 for accessibility — were impressive and similar across several pages.
The mobile site impressed me with its neat, concise hamburger menu, which allowed the gallery space to command the entire screen without distractions. The images in the portfolio retain their impact and vividness even on a smaller screen, making each piece feel alive. However, while scrolling through the portfolio was immersive, once I reached the bottom of the page, I couldn't help but miss a back-to-top button.
Despite the home page's overlap of images feeling a bit cluttered, they thankfully remain out of the viewing area, resulting in a streamlined experience. On PageSpeed Insights, the mobile site's home page scored admirably, receiving 74/100 for performance and 93/100 for accessibility. However, on the site's gallery pages, the performance scores lowered to around 55/100.
We've put together a selection of the best minimalist website examples, complete with detailed reviews of their pros and cons, as well as their desktop and mobile versions.
Paolo Ventura and Ania Hobson both offer minimalist personal websites that showcase their portfolios, press history, background, and contact information. Both websites feature limited color palettes and concise menus that are straightforward to navigate.
A minimalist website design prioritizes clean lines, ample white space, and a limited color palette to create an uncluttered, user-centric experience. Typically, these websites emphasize functionality over aesthetics, allowing content to be the main focus.
A minimalistic website can reduce scrolling time and the number of elements distracting visitors, leading to faster loading times and smoother navigation. Fewer visual distractions can also help focus visitors' attention and draw attention to the website's core products and/or services.
Yes. A minimalist website can be visually appealing if it skillfully blends high-quality images, subtle color schemes, and a well-chosen typeface. The key is to use these design elements to create a cohesive and engaging visual experience. The Vitsoe website is a great example of a minimalistic website that offers a limited color scheme, clear headings, and captivating images.
