Have you ever had the feeling that your website pages just seemed off? If you don’t have a lot of experience with art and design, you might wonder why some layouts look so much more pleasing to the eye than others. Why do some website pages make you feel lost and confused, while others naturally lead your eye to where to go next?

One design tool or rule that you can use is the Golden Ratio. You may have also heard it called the Fibonacci sequence. I’ll try to walk you through how to use it without getting too nerdy or mathematical. (I’m a right-brained thinker, after all!)

Basically, the Fibonacci sequence is where each number is the sum of the two before it (0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13…). The ratio between the two is approximately 1.618. In layout form, this creates a grid with a spiral effect.

Here’s what that looks like…

This spiral pattern is found throughout creation and is one of many signs that God is the ultimate designer. In fact, it’s also referred to as the Divine Ratio.

You can see it in flowers, seashells, waves, and even in the inner part of your ear. Some of the most famous logos in the world, like Apple and Twitter, were designed using this ratio. This shape or pattern just makes sense to us and feels natural to our eyes.

So how can you use the golden ratio to make your website look better?

You don’t have to be a mathematician or pro designer to make it work for you. If you use the Fluid Engine with Squarespace 7.1, this is even easier because you’re given a drag-and-drop grid to work with. To make your layouts more visually pleasing and help direct your audience, I’ll show you a few different ways to implement it.

1 | Your Portfolio

When displaying your portfolio or image galleries on your website, you can adjust the sizes of your images to follow this pattern. The largest image will be the first focal point so it must be the most attention-grabbing.

Then begin arranging your images so that smaller or darker images come next. This will ensure that your audience is able to take in each and every one of your images before moving on.

2 | Your Homepage

The very first section of your homepage (above the fold) is the most important area on your website. Your audience will only spend about 5 seconds here taking in information. So you’ll want to quickly guide them through all of the essential information. You can use the golden ratio to introduce yourself or your service with a large image.

Next, share a smaller section with the headline and a short description of what your website is about. Finally, end with a bold call to action button. This guides the attention of your audience naturally so they know what to focus on next.

3 | Divided Sections

Page sections that are divided into two or more columns can be tricky. Studies have shown that viewers don’t often take the time to read both sides. They’ll usually skim one side or skip a section altogether. If you’re determined to use multiple columns to add interest to your website, using the golden ratio as a layout guide is the perfect way to make it work.

The above example shows a large heading and text on one side, with a sidebar bio and links on the other. This balance of imagery with the curved shape at the top, carries the eye all the way around to make sure each side is read. Even if flipped upside down or sideways, this pattern still works.

In design, it’s important to first know the rules, and then you can be creative and bend them if needed. Not every part of your website needs to follow this layout pattern. But it can really give direction and focus to areas that you want your audience to notice.

The Golden Ratio in LC Website Templates

When I was creating the website templates in the LC Shop, I wasn’t necessarily even considering the golden ratio, but I was able to find it throughout my designs. For example, the first section on the homepage of the Elevate template very naturally follows the golden ratio. The images are viewed as one item and then the eye is carried around through the headline text and button. Just like in this example, you don’t necessarily have to keep one element in each box for the layout to work.

You can play around with your layout inside Squarespace 7.1 using the Fluid Engine. With this version and editor, you’ll be able to see these grid boxes as you drag elements around. This is a really easy way to create your golden ratio layout with the blocks in each section.