White space is used on web pages to clearly separate objects, such as headings, paragraph text and images, to help people find the content they need. Using white space means web pages appear less cluttered. For people with cognitive and learning disabilities, this can reduce overwhelm.
The work of empty space
When we talk about white space, it’s often undervalued.
White space lives in the gaps around text, between images, within layouts. It isn’t always white, but it is always intentional. It creates clarity, shapes focus, and sets a rhythm. It gives content the room it needs to be understood.
Is less really more?
Sometimes. But this isn’t about stripping things back for the sake of it. It’s about purpose.
Every element on a page should earn its place. When it does, the experience feels lighter, clearer, and easier to move through. Not because there’s less, but because there’s only what’s needed.
And that thinking shouldn’t stop at what surrounds the content. It should shape the content itself.
Start with the journey:
- What is the purpose of this page?
- What content supports that goal?
- What can wait?
When you focus on what matters, your users can move through the page more easily and without distractions.
Welcome to the breathing room
Imagine stepping into a room designed for focus.
There’s space, room to move, to pause, to take a breath without being overwhelmed by choices.
The room isn’t cluttered. There’s no noise, no competing distractions. Just a few carefully chosen pieces, each with a purpose.
The chair
At the centre sits a chair.
It comes in three colourways. Next to it, there’s a small note with the key information about materials, dimensions, and price. That’s all you need to know for now.
Optional accessories, like a cushion or throw, sit nearby. You can explore them if you like, but they don’t distract from the chair itself. They’re extra details for those who want them, not interruptions.
You can look around if you like, but your attention naturally returns to the chair. The room doesn’t shout or force your gaze. It simply gives you space and lets your focus find what matters.
The web page version
Now imagine this room as a web page.
The chair is the main content: a product, a call to action, or an important piece of information. The note next to it is the supporting content: essential details that help users make a decision. Optional accessories are like additional, secondary content that are useful for some users, but not in the way of the primary goal. And the empty space around it? That’s white space.
White space isn’t wasted. It guides attention, reduces distraction, and gives content room to be understood. It creates hierarchy and lets users focus on what’s important.
Why it works
When everything competes for attention, nothing is clear.
But when the right content has room to breathe, its purpose becomes obvious. The goal isn’t minimalism for its own sake; it’s clarity. Like our imagined room, a page with thoughtful spacing lets users see what matters, without being told where to look.
A quieter internet
Life is loud and pressure-filled, often leaving your users time-poor and looking to achieve their online tasks with the least amount of friction. A cluttered web page with chaotic content jostling for attention adds to frustration and overwhelm. White space doesn’t compete; it helps create contrast. It doesn’t add; it reveals.
And in that space, content becomes more meaningful.
The most helpful thing you can do is make room and provide clarity. Not just to design more, but to design with intent. And to let space do what it was always meant to do.
Content and design working together
This clarity comes from how content and design work together. The content defines what needs to be said, and the design determines how it’s presented.
When information is organised well, it becomes easier to scan, understand, and act on.
White space improves retention. If more white space is added, reading is generally slower and more information is retained.
In addition to improving your users’ retention of information, white space can lead the user around the page, influencing your visitors’ visual journey.
Resources
- Advice on using white space – W3C
- Dos and don’ts on designing for accessibility – gov.uk
- Cards for Humanity help you think about inclusive design, for online or real-life experiences.
- Microsoft Inclusive Design – principles and examples
- Virtual Empathy Hub – use the personas to experience the web from different perspectives
- The power of white space in design – IxDF
Let’s build a better web, together
We specialise in creating websites and digital services that work for everyone. Our work is accessible and inclusive, considering the user needs of the many, rather than the few. By championing an accessible web, we help make sure that nobody is left behind. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more about accessible design for your website.