5 Web Design Tricks You Can Implement in Minutes

Small design tweaks can make a big difference. Here are five quick CSS and UI improvements that will instantly enhance your website's look and feel.

Small design tweaks can make a big difference. Here are five quick CSS and UI improvements that will instantly enhance your website’s look and feel.

1. Smooth Scrolling

Add smooth scrolling to your page for a more polished navigation experience.

html {
  scroll-behavior: smooth;
}

Why it works: Eliminates jarring jumps when clicking anchor links, creating a more professional feel.

2. Subtle Button Hover Effects

Make buttons more interactive with a simple hover animation.

.btn {
  transition: transform 0.2s ease, box-shadow 0.2s ease;
}

.btn:hover {
  transform: translateY(-2px);
  box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

Why it works: Micro-interactions make your UI feel more responsive and engaging.

3. Better Text Readability

Improve readability with optimized typography settings.

body {
  line-height: 1.6;
  max-width: 65ch; /* Optimal line length */
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 0 1rem;
  font-family: 'Inter', sans-serif;
}

Why it works: Proper line height and width prevent eye strain and make content easier to digest.

4. Modern Card Shadows

Give depth to your cards with layered shadows.

.card {
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05),
    0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05),
    0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05),
    0 8px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
  transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease;
}

.card:hover {
  box-shadow:
    0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1),
    0 10px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

Why it works: Soft shadows create a sense of hierarchy without overwhelming the design.

5. Animated Underline Links

Make links stand out with a smooth underline animation.

a {
  position: relative;
  text-decoration: none;
  color: #3b82f6;
}

a::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  bottom: -2px;
  left: 0;
  width: 0;
  height: 2px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  transition: width 0.3s ease;
}

a:hover::after {
  width: 100%;
}

Why it works: Dynamic underlines guide the user’s eye and improve navigation clarity.

Final Thoughts

These small tweaks take just minutes to implement but can significantly improve your website’s user experience. The best part? They don’t require any JavaScript—just pure CSS.

Want to experiment with these effects? Try our CSS Shadow Generator to create custom shadows for your buttons and cards!