Your website is the first impression of your brand for many new customers. A website that lacks appealing features could cause people to turn away before adding items to their cart. Keeping up with current website trends is a great way to attract your target audience. Below are a few of the anticipated trends to follow in 2026.
1. Calm, Natural Colors Return
Typically, people turn to vibrant colors when trying to capture someone’s attention. That may not be the case for 2026. While many people focused on warmth and brightness in their 2025 designs, simple and natural color schemes are making a comeback.
Muted, earthy tones offer calmness and sophistication, which are appealing qualities for brands to have. Cloud Dancer, an off-white hue, was already named Pantone’s 2026 color of the year, which suggests that simple colors will take center stage.
2. Anti-Grid Layouts Become the Norm
Grid layouts can make it easier to organize pages, especially for people new to website design. However, those practical designs can feel rigid and unemotional, making it hard for people to connect with the brand. Having fewer grid layouts makes more room for flowing lines and organic shapes.
Shifting away from minimalist, box-heavy designs introduces more creativity into website designs. The varying shapes help guide visitors’ eyes around the page better, and it gives the design more personality.
3. Agentic AI Takes Over
AI plays a huge role in all technology trends. For website designs, agentic AI is the most prominent because it takes actions for you rather than requiring prompts. With AI tools, websites can react in real time to new information, such as changes in numbers and new SEO text.
Whether you need help creating layouts or managing complex tasks like A/B testing, using AI on your site can help you get it done. Since AI is constantly evolving to include new tools and features, its popularity for website design will likely only grow as the year progresses.
4. Scroll-Based Storytelling Remains Strong
Scroll-based storytelling was a popular website design trend of 2025. It’s still relevant in 2026 because it’s engaging and adds lots of personality to a brand. This trend is when a site has smooth animations to show different parts of their story as you scroll down, such as listing different features, timelines, and products.
Sites with this setup take users on a journey rather than just listing the facts. People may feel more connected to your brand with this approach. Even though it’s trending, it’s still a unique feature that stands out significantly from the blocks of text and images seen on other sites.
5. Nostalgia Captures Attention
Nostalgia has been a popular advertising approach recently, and it seems to work well for website designs too. Whether that’s leaning into retro pop culture trends or using vintage fonts and editing styles, people are drawn to things that make them reminisce about the past. Many brands are bringing back their vintage logos to lean into this.
6. 3D and Interactive Elements Make Sites Stand Out
Now that technology is evolving significantly, it’s easier to add immersive elements to a site without hurting performance. 3D visuals, rotating products, and hover effects make it easier for customers to inspect and visualize products before purchasing them.
Having these interactive elements not only makes websites more enjoyable to browse, but it can also build trust in visitors. 3D elements make it easier to tell what a product will look like in person, making people more likely to purchase it over products only showing a simple photo.
7. Personalization Adds Unique Elements
With AI features, personalized website experiences are easily achievable. This could include tailored product recommendations, customized offers, and personalized messages and pop-ups.
Adding little details like this allows brands to connect with their customers, which can boost engagement, conversions, and loyalty. Just make sure personalization only appears when it’s relevant and adds value. If these messages and recommendations appear too much, they could come across as pushy.
8. Dark Mode Becomes More Common
Since people spend a lot of time on their phones, using dark mode is becoming increasingly common to reduce eye strain. Some people also prefer the aesthetics of dark mode over light mode. Many sites now offer the option to toggle between light and dark mode so users can easily choose their preference.
If you’re taking this route, make sure you design both light and dark modes thoughtfully. The design should remain balanced with easy-to-read text in both modes.
Keep Up with Trends in 2026
Trends are constantly changing, making it difficult for brands to determine what’s best for their site. If you need help preparing your website for 2026, work with a digital marketing company to find the best current approaches for your brand.
Contact Avenue Z today to see how we can implement website design strategies that drive outcomes.
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