Grid systems are the basis of well-designed websites. Using grids in .web design guarantees that their sites have a clear hierarchy and are simple to navigate.

Furthermore, grids make site design easier by giving a guiding structure.

Unsure about how to utilize grids in web design? In this blog article, we’ll look at grids’ importance in providing a smooth user experience, as well as five golden principles for implementing grids into your next project. 

Ready to get started? Let’s explore the details.

What is a grid?

Regardless of the content or style, you will observe that many websites adhere to common web design rules. Most websites, for example, have invisible margins on each side of the page, and content is placed on specific lines rather than randomly throughout the page. This is because most websites are constructed with grids. 

A grid system organizes components on a page. It combines columns and rows, letting designers organize UI components in a consistent pattern or structure. This allows visitors to easily explore the page or app without becoming confused or annoyed. 

A strong grid system helps bring balance, consistency, and a sense of order to the overall design. It’s simply a virtual map that any website designer may use to plan the page layout. attempting to develop a digital interface without one is like attempting to build a building without a blueprint. 

Why are grids important in web design?

Usability is a key pillar of web design. If users can’t locate what they’re searching for fast and simply, they’re likely to abandon your website without hesitation.

Grids help visitors discover what they need by providing visual indications about where objects are on the page. They also provide a more uniform experience by ensuring that all page components align appropriately, even when viewed across multiple devices or browsers. This means that no matter how anyone visits your website, they’ll have a smooth navigation experience, rather than being annoyed by misaligned pieces or unclear layouts. 

Grids not only aid users, but also make the site design process go more smoothly. Rather than designing each page from scratch, designers employ grids to assist break down a webpage into separate components that can be easily placed inside the existing structure. 

What are the different types of grids?

Now that we understand what grids are and how they fit into web design, let’s take a look at five of the most common grid systems used in modern websites.

Column grid

Columns are vertical page dividers that separate content into sections. Each column’s width should be constant across the page so that the layout components may fit appropriately within each row. Websites can feature anywhere from two to sixteen columns across a landing page.

The spaces between these columns, known as gutters, should be just as consistent in width as the columns themselves.They offer white space between page elements, allowing visitors to discern between various components.

Hierarchical grid

Hierarchical grids offer more flexibility and allow designers to organize content based on its level of importance.  Hierarchical grids break a page into rows and columns. However, unlike column grids, it also establishes a clear hierarchy on the page by emphasizing certain items over others.

Hierarchical grids are particularly common on text-heavy websites, such as blogs or news sites, where they are utilized to display the most recent material.

Manuscript grid

Manuscript grids, like hierarchical grids, may be seen on text-heavy websites like blogs, as well as newspapers and magazines. It is made up of broad, single columns that may hold a lot of content without overwhelming the reader. Manuscript grids also provide ample white space surrounding text blocks, allowing readers to swiftly browse over content without having ‘information overload.’  

Baseline grid

A baseline grid employs horizontal lines rather than boxes or columns. These lines are critical for maintaining regular space between textual elements and making your website more legible and accessible. Baseline grids are very useful for resizing content while adhering to specific spacing and leading norms between components. 

Modular grid

The modular grid integrates the four preceding types—columns, hierarchy, baselines, and manuscripts—into a single cohesive form. Modular grids are made up of square or rectangular content pieces that may be organized based on size and relevance to maximize visual impact.

How to Create a Website Grid

Now comes the exciting part: creating your very own website grid! Basic website grids have never been easier for new designers to create. Most outstanding design tools, such as Sketch and Figma, have built-in grid layouts that you may use (and customize).

Let’s take a brief look at how to build up a website grid in Figma.

After you’ve determined your screen size, the initial step in constructing a grid system in Figma is to set up the layout grid feature. To do this, go to the top menu bar, click on “View,” and choose “Layout Grids” from the dropdown. A column of numbers will appear, showing various breakpoints.

Breakpoints relate to various device sizes and orientations. If you’re creating a website for desktop displays, For instance, you may choose to set your breakpoints at 1280px or 1440px rather than 1024px. Before you define your grid size, you must first determine which breakpoints are most appropriate for your project.

Once you’ve determined your breakpoints, modify your measurements accordingly. You may do this by clicking “layout settings” on the right side of the screen. There, you may experiment with the grid properties, even changing the type of grid you’re using. 

Golden rules to follow when using grids in web design

Grids may appear simple, but if used incorrectly, they can complicate your website. To keep things clear and effective, here are some key rules to follow for a strong layout.

Choose the right grid

When starting a new web design project, it may be tempting to populate the website with the most common grid (column or modular) and work from there. However, that may not be the best path ahead. 

To develop an efficient grid layout for your website, select one that best suits its intended function. For example, if you want to develop a simple blog or portfolio site, a 12-column grid may suffice. However, if you want a grid for a more sophisticated project, such as an e-commerce site, you should choose more dynamic grid solutions that provide maximum flexibility. 

Use responsive grids

A core guideline of web design is to make your website responsive to all devices. Your website must operate on a variety of displays and devices. Enter responsive grids. 

Unlike standard static grids, responsive grids employ percentages to distribute information consistently across all screen sizes. They are essential for changing your layout to different displays without distorting the text or dimensions.

Incorporate enough white space

When designing grid layouts for websites, it is always important to include white space (also known as negative space). White space creates a visual break between distinct items on the page, helping them stand out more clearly and making navigating easier for visitors. White space may also assist draw attention to specific components on the page while keeping everything orderly and clean.

Grids are an effective technique for ensuring repetition of space between your elements—but it is up to you to ensure that the proportions of your grid allow for adequate white space around the page.

Honour the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds divides a webpage into nine parts to create balanced, visually appealing layouts. By placing the most significant items in the ‘thirds’ of the grid, visitors’ eyes will naturally be grasped to them, influencing how they navigate the website. 

Consider The Golden Ratio

For a clean and balanced grid layout, try using the golden ratio. It’s a simple math rule where the ratio is 1:1.618. Think of it like this: if you have a rectangle, the length would be about 1.618 times the width. This ratio may be applied to any form or element, and it is a useful reference point when deciding how to split the page and how much space to provide each component.

Final thoughts

Grids may be a helpful tool for creating appealing and successful web designs. By arranging columns, rows, and margins, design components have room to breathe, and users may easily become acquainted with the interface without being overwhelmed.

Following these five golden grid use standards can help you keep your design clean, and structured. Keep these best practices in mind as you plan your next design, and you’ll build a clean, user-friendly site that actually works. That’s the kind of result we focus on every day at VareWeb.