Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Web Designer Forum

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Should a website be centred?

Featured Replies

To me, a website that doesn't fill the screen should be centered. It just seem logical.

 

However a client of mine wants it aligned to the top-left.

 

Is there any argument (apart from aesthetics) that gives preference to a centered site rather than a top-left aligned one (or vice versa)

 

Thank you! :)

I think it depends on the design, just because it doesn't fill the screen it doesn't mean that it should be centred. If the design looks better in the center then so be it, but if the client wants it top left you might have to fold and do it top left. Best way would be to demonstrate (if you can) on a wide screen monitor, and explain the benefits (if there are any) as to why the site would be better fitted to the center (such as balance in space around the site).

My two cents:

 

there are some lovely designs that rely on left to right scrolling and hanging columns off the left margin can have the same pleasant hierarchical effect as a tiered navigation bar. As Dizi says, it depends on the design itself.

 

Also, users read sites in an F pattern, so the top left corner is the hotspot, so structurally speaking there's no reason why you should insert a column to the left of the main content. I guess it depends on the intended "flow" of the design.

 

My answer= no, not always.

I had the same thought when I started my website. I think you have to take in to account the amount of content on the front page. If there are images, substantial amounts of texts and a navigation index then I think the top left alignment can work well.

 

I think sites can look nice if divided into three parts. I'd get an idea on the content and draw out different layouts.

Create an account or sign in to comment

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.