What Makes a Squarespace Site Look Custom (Even If You Did It Yourself)
If you’ve spent hours tweaking your Squarespace site and it still doesn’t feel quite like the sleek, elevated brand experience you envisioned—don’t worry. You’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. The difference between a site that screams "I built this myself at 2am" and one that whispers "I paid a designer good money for this beauty" usually comes down to five key things: fonts, layout, spacing, images, and voice.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to start from scratch or hire a designer just yet. With a few intentional changes, you can take your site from DIY to "Dang, you did that?!"
1. Fonts That Don’t Fight You (or Each Other)
Fonts are one of the fastest ways to communicate your brand personality—and one of the easiest things to mess up. A custom-looking site has a consistent font pairing that feels aligned with the brand’s vibe, whether that’s bold and modern, soft and feminine, or classic and refined.
Quick Fixes:
Choose no more than two fonts: one for headlines, one for body text.
Use Squarespace’s built-in font pairing suggestions (they’re there for a reason).
Check your sizing and line height—too small or too cramped screams amateur.
Bonus Tip:
Make sure your mobile font sizes are legible. Nothing kills credibility faster than having to pinch-zoom a paragraph.
2. Layouts That Flow, Not Fight
Templates are just a starting point. The real magic happens when you edit sections to create a smooth, scannable journey.
Custom-looking sites don’t throw content at you—they guide you with clear hierarchy, whitespace, and purposeful sections.
Quick Fixes:
Use consistent section widths and padding.
Avoid stacking every element edge to edge. Give your content room to breathe.
Stick to a simple flow: headline → short text → image → CTA. Repeat.
Bonus Tip:
Break up walls of text. Bullet points, icons, or alternating image/text sections can help.
3. Spacing: The Unsung Hero
Whitespace is not wasted space. It’s what makes everything else look intentional.
Quick Fixes:
Add extra padding above and below major sections.
Make sure headlines aren’t crammed up against images or navigation bars.
Use consistent spacing throughout your site—don’t go wild with section heights just because the builder lets you.
Bonus Tip:
Think like a designer: if something feels "off," it probably just needs more space.
4. Images That Tell a Story (and Don’t Look Like Stock)
Great imagery elevates even the simplest layout. Sites that feel custom tend to:
Use intentional imagery with consistent tones.
Avoid cheesy stock photos or inconsistent filters.
Favor real, relatable visuals over perfection.
Quick Fixes:
Choose 3–5 core images that repeat across pages.
Use Squarespace’s image blocks that offer overlays or text boxes for added polish.
Replace default template images as soon as humanly possible.
Bonus Tip:
If you don’t have pro photography, at least use high-res, well-lit images that feel on-brand.
5. Voice That Doesn’t Sound Like Everyone Else’s
This one’s less about visuals and more about vibe—but it matters.
Even if your layout is gorgeous, if your copy sounds stiff, generic, or full of jargon, it’s going to kill the momentum.
Quick Fixes:
Write like you talk, not like a marketing robot.
Use contractions, friendly phrases, and a sprinkle of humor (if that fits your brand).
Be clear about what you offer, why it matters, and what the reader should do next.
Bonus Tip:
Read your homepage copy out loud. If it feels awkward or overly formal, rewrite it like you're texting a smart friend.
Ready to Polish Like a Pro?
You don’t need to start over. You don’t need a total rebrand. You just need a little polish and a plan—and that’s exactly what my freebie gives you.
Grab the [No-BS Website Polish Kit] to walk through your site step-by-step and make these upgrades in under an hour. It’s free, fast, and 100% fluff-free.
Because DIY doesn’t have to look DIY. Need help deciding where to start? Check out my post: 5 Signs Your Website Needs a Makeover (and 2 That Don’t Matter for a quick check.
