Minimalist web design has been around for ages. Why is it so long-lasting? Why do some people still prefer the ‘less is more’ principle even though modern programming and technology have so much to offer? Minimalism in its multiple art forms uses pared-down design elements to convey the surrounding reality. This is fair for the Internet realm as well. For instance, the introduction of flat design concept has drastically transformed graphic user interfaces to make a typical Internet dweller fall in love with the appearance of Pinterest and Tumblr.
The rise of WordPress, one of the most powerful website engines, has enabled nontech-savvy individuals to easily establish their own online resources using pre-made web themes. Now, that putting up a basic Internet site is no big deal, the WordPress template providers create more simplistic layouts to satisfy various personal or business needs. The question is, though, are they good for any kind of project? Let’s get back to the roots to learn more about the pros and cons of using minimalist WordPress themes.
Cafe and Restaurant WordPress Theme by TemplateMonster is a cool example of a delicious minimalist WordPress theme that has a laconic, yet stunning food gallery incorporated into the homepage of a template.
The Pros of Minimalist WordPress Themes
So, what are the advantages of utilizing minimalist themes for a WordPress based website?
1. Simplicity
Keeping the design less complicated helps to create headache-free websites, that do not require a lot of technical skills. No need to be a coding guru to put the header in place when your CSS suddenly goes crazy. Moreover, simplicity eliminates distractions, providing fast and effective access to the content.
2. Effectiveness
Today’s minimalist WordPress themes use negative space wisely, making specific content stand out, emphasizing it exactly the way you want to. This leads to better conversions for online stores, as well as to making a better overall impression on the visitors. In general, minimalist themes are great for creative brands and websites that don’t have much content to put up.
3. Professionalism
Uncluttered and well-structured layouts give a feeling of responsibility and seriousness. Clever choice of color schemes and designer fonts can make even the most basic website look trustworthy and dependable. Isn’t it what you really need to win over the new clients?
4. Fast loading time
Speaks for itself. Fewer applications, scripts, and elements make a website load faster. Minimalist WordPress themes have optimized imagery and code, which speeds up the loading process significantly.
5. Adaptability
The most practical side of using simplistic WordPress themes is their fully responsive design that adapts to any modern screen size and pixel density. This is good for business and personal websites likewise, because conveying the necessary information becomes a lot easier.
Source: https://www.designwall.com/wordpress/themes/dw-timeline-pro/
DW Timeline Pro by DesignWall has a stylish timeline design with layouts to suit various needs starting from travel, photography, memory, ending with fashion and creativity topics to highlight.
Already excited about so many benefits? Hold on a second, let’s review some of the cons of using minimalist WordPress themes.
The Cons of Minimalist WordPress Themes
1. Overuse
Surprisingly, most web designers agree that minimalism trend is somewhat overused. It has been replicated so many times all over the Internet in graphic design, illustrations, you name it. Is it really worth creating another resource with the same look and feel?
2. Uninformative, if there’s a lot of content
Yes, yes, just a few paragraphs above I was raving about how cool minimalist WordPress themes are for presenting your content. And it’s true for artists’ or photographers’ portfolios, creative agencies, fashion retailers, blogs. Although, if you have tons of content that need to be put out there, using minimalist design may not be the smartest decision: the massive amount of content will eventually overpower the look of a website.
3. Lack of individuality
Since almost everyone these days is using minimalist layouts for their websites, you risk dissolving in the gazillion of identically looking online resources. And the first and foremost aim of a website is to make you stand out.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are not so many disadvantages connected with using minimalist WordPress themes. Even though they do not work for everyone, in most cases they are quite suitable for growing Internet projects. On the positive side, minimalism helps to be more focused on making appropriate design decisions and to be aware of the content in general or specific elements to put up on the website.
So, are you still hesitant whether to use these simplistic design solutions for your project? Try thinking of minimalist WordPress themes as a stage in the development of a full-blown online resource. Just think growth and let minimalism be a help, not a hindrance!
