Minimalist website designs are very popular right now, for good reason. This web design approach is geared toward returning to the basics with simple site layouts and clean aesthetics. This simplistic approach aims to enhance and make critical information about brands and other organizations easily accessible to their target audiences.

In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of using minimalist design to create high-converting websites. Before we weigh the advantages and disadvantages, we will quickly review the basics of minimalist web design, including some of its telltale features.

The Basics of Minimalist Web Design

If you’re unfamiliar with the minimalist design concept, it uses plain website layouts with clean typography, simple graphics, and plenty of negative space. This design type leaves out any unnecessary elements with the goal of focusing on the materials that are most essential to the brand.

Minimalist websites use a clear visual hierarchy to make important information accessible. This, paired with an easy-to-use navigation menu, helps to streamline the user experience.

When it comes to color pallets, there aren’t any fundamental limitations on the different colors you can use for a minimalist web design. However, the number of different colors used is typically limited. This helps to create a clean appearance as opposed to a busy one.

Pros of Using a Minimalist Design

Now that you are more familiar with the minimalist approach to website design, let’s jump into some of the benefits of using a minimalist website.

1. It’s Straight to the Point

A minimalistic website gets straight to the point, which can create a pleasant user experience. It gives them the information they need without making them dig for it.

This is also efficient from a content-creation perspective. Since you’re not creating unnecessary design assets or writing copious copy, you can spend more time perfecting the minimal elements you plan to include.

2. It Uses Direct Calls-to-Action

In the spirit of getting straight to the point, a minimalistic web design uses straightforward calls to action. Using direct calls to action is beneficial because it provides clear next steps to people who land on your website and need your services.

When prospective customers have a clear direction, there are fewer roadblocks in the conversion process. For example, a simple form design with a clear CTA can encourage visitors to fill it out without becoming distracted. By making it easier for a website visitor to become your customer, you can improve the conversion rate on your website.

3. It’s Easy to Draw Attention to Important Elements

Another perk of using a minimalist website design is that it’s easy to draw attention to your core message. That’s because the critical information is front and center when your site is designed without fluff.

Plus, when your focus is on a few hard-hitting graphics and text that packs a punch, it’s much easier to read. Users can skim important headings and quickly read small blocks of text to get the message without having to think about it too much. This approach is especially effective for visually driven industries like event photography, where striking images can stand out without unnecessary distractions.

4. Easy for Mobile Optimization

Since many users browse the web on mobile devices, ensuring your website is optimized for users on all devices is very important. You want to ensure that the text alignment looks good, the images are rendered correctly, and the negative space is maintained adequately.

Luckily, since minimalist websites are simple, they tend to be optimized for mobile viewing. This is because there are typically fewer design elements to convert to the mobile format.

Cons of Using a Minimalist Design

Like any web design style, there are a few drawbacks to using a minimalist website design. Here’s what you need to consider.

1. It’s Not for Everybody

As we mentioned, minimalistic websites are trendy right now. However, even though it’s trendy, it doesn’t mean it’s for everybody. This is not inherently bad, but it does lead to the style being used in inappropriate contexts.

Since this style is trendy, some organizations use it for their website, even if it doesn’t match their brand. If you use this design style but it doesn’t match your brand, you’ll have a hard time creating a branded experience.

If you’re unsure if a minimalistic design is right for your brand, start to map out what information you need to include on your website and what kind of graphics you need to support your messaging.

2. There’s Not Enough Information

Sometimes, designers take the minimalistic design concept a little too far. Sometimes, they can completely miss the website's message to condense their copy into as few words as possible. When your copy is too simple or vague, people will get confused about who you are as a brand and what you have to offer.

Of course, you should always be mindful with your copy, aiming to make every word matter. However, it won't be effective if it’s too condensed that you miss the message.

You’ll need to experiment with your copy to get the right messaging. A good approach is to ensure that someone who knows nothing about your brand can walk away with sufficient information to understand what you do, if you serve their needs, and whether or not they’d like to learn more about your offer.

3. It Can be Bland

Another possible disadvantage of simple websites is that they miss the mark of “minimalism” and err on the side of “bland.” Even if you’re aiming for a simplistic design, it should still be visually appealing (65% of the world’s population absorb information by sight).

A design does not have to be busy to be exciting, but it should include a cohesive color pallet with a balance of clean and bold typography. Users should feel compelled to continue reading on your site, and your design choices should help direct their eyes to the most critical information you have to share.

Examples of Minimalist Website Designs

Now that you’re familiar with the the pros and cons of simplistic web designs, let’s shift gears to look at a few brands that are using this style of design on their sites.

1. Balenciaga

Balenciaga is an excellent example of a brand that fully embraces minimalism. This fashion company’s minimalist website matches the style of its clothing, using simple pieces to create bold statements.

This site leans into the negative space impact, using a grayish white background that allows each of their items to pop. Plus, they use a simple black typography that is stylized in all capital letters, which looks clean yet highlights the sophisticated nature of the brand.

Balenciaga’s website also uses a very practical site navigation menu. This is very important since they offer an extensive catalog of clothing, jewelry, handbags, and more. They also make it easy to navigate to their couture website, which is geared toward a slightly different audience.

2. ActivTrak

A prime example of effective minimalist design is ActivTrak's website. They keep things clean and distraction-free, using clear sections that guide you exactly where you need to go. CTAs like "Get started free" and "View our free demo today" stand out, making exploring their employee monitoring software effortless without getting lost in unnecessary details.

Instead of overwhelming you with information, their design keeps it simple—highlighting key benefits without clutter. This approach improves readability, keeps visitors engaged, and helps you quickly find what matters, whether you're looking to boost productivity or understand team workflows.

3. Reliable Couriers

It’s worth noting that minimalism doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Although this style typically makes the most sense when carried out to its fullest, you can certainly take what you want and leave what you don’t.

Reliable Couriers' medical delivery service page is an example of how some aspects of minimalist design can be used effectively:

The layout is relatively clean and uncluttered, with a good amount of white space, making it easy to read.
The color scheme is primarily blue, white, and gray, typical of minimalist design, and is consistent throughout the layout.
The typography is simple and legible, making it easy to read.
The page prioritizes service descriptions and call-to-action buttons over decorative elements.

Overall, this is a good approach for a company that needs to project professionalism and trustworthiness due to the industry it operates in: healthcare.

Final Thoughts

The minimalist design style is an excellent choice for many brands. It is versatile and easy to implement. Plus, it’s a great option if you’re looking to create a web design that is straight to the point and built to convert visitors to paying customers.

However, as we highlighted, it may not be a universal fit for every brand. It is up to you to weigh the pros and cons to determine if a simplistic site is suitable for conveying your brand’s message and connecting with your target audience.

Are you ready to build a minimalistic website for your business? Squarespace offers a ton of templates for creating all sorts of styles of sites. Browse the templates and filter by industry and site type to find the perfect foundation for your minimalist website.

About the author: Ivana Drakulevska

Ivana Drakulevska is a Sr. SEO and a Shakespeare devotee with a flair for writing SEO-driven content on all things SaaS marketing (because great storytelling isn’t just for the Bard.)

When not optimizing content for search engines, she’s navigating the streets on two wheels, proving that life is indeed much more delightful on a bicycle. A relentless advocate for green politics, she believes marketing can be a force for good.

Pros and Cons of Using Minimalist Design for High-Converting Websites