Website Design Trends for 2025: What’s In and What’s Out
Why Trends Matter (Even If You Don’t Follow Them All)
One of my favourite things about web design—besides the creativity, constant inspiration, and the occasional coffee-fuelled “lightbulb moment”—is watching how styles evolve year after year.
Every time I scroll through a fresh inspiration gallery or open a new client brief, there’s something exciting waiting for me: a layout that feels completely new, a colour pairing that stops me mid-scroll, or a typeface that makes a brand’s whole personality click into place.
But keeping up with what’s trending isn’t about chasing aesthetics or hopping on every bandwagon. It’s about making sure your website stays relevant, functional, and emotionally aligned with what your audience expects to see online right now.
Whether you're a small business owner in Bedfordshire, a wedding professional serving clients across the UK, or a creative entrepreneur building a personal brand from scratch, knowing what’s “in”—and what’s quietly fading away—helps you stay ahead and stand out in a way that still feels like you.
What’s In: The Website Design Trends to Watch in 2025
1. 🌸 Softer, Comforting Colour Palettes
Gone are the days of eye-searing neons and hyper-saturated colour blocks dominating the screen. In their place? Soothing, human-centred hues that feel easy on the eyes and welcoming to the mind.
Expect to see:
Soft pastels (sage green, lavender, dusty rose)
Warm neutrals (caramel, oat, sand)
Nature-inspired tones (earthy greens, sky blues, terracotta)
These colours reduce screen fatigue and instantly create a sense of calm and approachability. For service-based businesses—especially in wellness, beauty, or coaching—they communicate trust and grounded professionalism without saying a word.
💡 BHC insight: I’m seeing more of my clients choose palettes that make them and their clients feel good to be in. Think of your website as a space people spend time in—colour can change the whole mood of that visit.
2. ✍️ Bold, Expressive Typography
Typography has officially graduated from being “just functional” to becoming a core design feature. In 2025, type is big, beautiful, and packed with personality.
Think:
Oversized serif headlines that ooze luxury or tradition
Layered font styles and variable weight combinations
Playful, editorial-style text layouts that feel more like a magazine than a corporate brochure
💡 BHC insight: A recent photography client’s website came alive once we changed the headings to a large, high-contrast serif font paired with a clean sans serif for body text. The shift in feel was instant—it went from “okay” to “high-end editorial” without adding a single extra image.
3. 🎨 Anti-Design & The Human Touch
This one’s a personal favourite. Anti-design rejects perfection in favour of raw, real, and expressive layouts. It might look “off-grid,” but trust me—it’s intentional.
You’ll notice:
Asymmetry
Hand-drawn icons or illustrations
Layered or overlapping elements
Imperfect spacing and “messy” structure
Why does it work? Because it feels human. In a world of polished templates, a little imperfection can make your brand more approachable.
💡 BHC insight: I often use touches of anti-design when a client’s brand story is deeply personal. It’s a quiet nod that says, this is made by a human, for humans.
4. 🧱 Big Blocks, Vivid Contrast
2025 is the year of bold, block-based layouts—especially paired with strong contrast. The idea is to turn each section of your site into its own “mini room” or visual zone.
Benefits:
Improves scannability (a win for mobile users)
Allows mixing content types without feeling messy
Creates a natural storytelling rhythm
💡 BHC insight: This works brilliantly for clients who have multiple offers or steps in their process—it visually “walks” a visitor through without losing them in walls of text.
5. 🧊 Brutalism & Minimal Grids (But Make It Chic)
Brutalist web design is back—but with polish. Instead of the purely functional, rough aesthetic, 2025’s take is minimal but intentional:
Strong monochrome palettes
Stark grid layouts
Minimal images with oversized text
Unexpected details like oversized buttons or playful cursor effects
💡 BHC insight: I’ve used a “brutalism-lite” grid for a tech start-up client, which gave their site a sharp, credible feel while keeping navigation simple. It was just enough edge without alienating users.
6. 📱 Mobile-First and Lightning Fast
This isn’t new, but it’s absolutely non-negotiable. Google now prioritises mobile-first performance—and your audience does too.
Your site needs to be:
Fully responsive across devices
Quick to load (even on 4G)
Scroll-friendly and intuitive
💡 BHC insight: At Bright Horizon Creative, I design mobile-first from the start. It’s easier to scale up than to try to squeeze a desktop design into a tiny screen later.
7. 🔊 Accessibility & Ethical UX
In 2025, accessibility is design leadership. Sites are embracing:
Higher contrast for readability
Keyboard navigation
Voice search compatibility
Adjustable text sizes
ALT text for images and screen reader-friendly content structure
💡 BHC insight: Accessibility isn’t just for compliance—it’s an act of care. When your website welcomes everyone, you’re not just growing your reach—you’re deepening trust.
What’s Out (Or On the Way Out)
✘ Harsh Neon & Oversaturated Palettes
They’ve had their moment. Today’s users are choosing colours that feel more like a conversation than a shout across the street.
✘ Emotionless Minimalism
Minimal doesn’t have to mean sterile. We’re saying goodbye to the blank white, personality-free look in favour of warmth, texture, and character.
✘ Template Overload & Pixel-Perfect Sameness
If your site looks like every other site on Pinterest, your audience may scroll past without a second thought. It’s time to inject personality—through tone, layout quirks, or custom visuals.
✘ Ignoring AI & GEO
Generative Engine Optimization is already shifting how search works. If your site’s content isn’t AI-friendly, you could be invisible in tomorrow’s search results.
Why This Matters for You
Here’s the thing: trends are the starting point, not the finish line.
The best website for you is the one that reflects:
Your brand personality
Your current goals
Your audience’s expectations
And yes—what’s working in the online world right now
Staying aware of design shifts means you can borrow what works, adapt it, and keep your site feeling alive.
How I Use These Trends at Bright Horizon Creative
When I design, I’m blending current strategy with your story. That might mean:
✅ Mobile-first, search-smart layouts
✅ Colour psychology and type pairings grounded in 2025’s palettes
✅ User journey mapping that matches how your clients actually browse
✅ Subtle animations that enhance (not overwhelm)
✅ GEO-ready storytelling for AI-driven search
Want to Future-Proof Your Website?
If your site still feels like it’s living in 2020—or if it’s just not “you” anymore—it’s time for a fresh approach.
✨ I offer:
Full custom web design
Half-day refresh sessions
AI-optimised content & layout strategy
SEO-friendly blog support
Platform flexibility (Framer & Squarespace)
Ready to make your website feel fresh, functional, and unmistakably you?
🔗 [Get in touch with me here →]
🔗 [See my design services →]
🔗 [Take my “Is Your Website Future-Ready?” quiz →]
