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Web & UX Design
Why your website feels cheap (even if it wasn’t)
January 6, 2026
Ever visited a website that should feel premium, but somehow doesn’t? The branding looks fine. The photos are professional. Someone has likely been paid a decent amount to create it.
And yet… it feels cheap.
This happens more often than you think. And no, it’s not about taste. It’s about execution. Here’s why your website might feel low-quality, even if a lot of money went into it.
Cheap doesn’t mean ugly
A website can look nice and still feel cheap.
This usually isn’t about colors or visual style. It’s about the details.Spacing. Typography. Consistency.
Users might not be able to explain what’s wrong, but they feel it instantly. And once that feeling appears, trust drops fast.
Inconsistent spacing
This is one of the most common problems.
Margins change from section to section.Text sits uncomfortably close to images.Buttons float without clear alignment.
All of this signals a lack of structure. And lack of structure feels unprofessional.
Good design breathes. Cheap design feels cramped.
Too much white space is always better than too little white space
Too many font styles
Using lots of fonts doesn’t make your site more interesting. It makes it feel messy.
Different sizes, weights, and styles everywhere. Suddenly nothing feels intentional anymore.
Most great websites use one or two fonts. That’s it.
Consistency creates confidence. This is also something I touch on in Typography tips: Choosing the perfect font, where small type decisions have a bigger impact than people think.
Overdesigned details
Animations everywhere. Hover effects on everything. Entrance animations on every single line of text.
It might feel impressive at first, but it quickly becomes exhausting. When everything screams for attention, nothing stands out.
Subtlety feels premium. Noise feels cheap.
This is often what happens when designers try to break patterns just to stand out.
Generic stock photos
You’ve seen them before.
People laughing at laptops.Handshake close-ups.Perfectly imperfect offices.
Even when they’re high quality, they feel fake. And fake kills credibility.
Real photos, even imperfect ones, almost always feel more trustworthy.
It's not that it's a bad image. It's the fact that the image doesnt say anything.
Trying to sound premium without understanding premium
Big words. Buzzwords. Vague promises.
“We deliver innovative, cutting-edge solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”
This doesn’t sound premium. It sounds empty.
Clear language feels confident. Fluff feels insecure. Overwriting is also one of the fastest ways to make a website feel overwhelming, which I cover in
Why too much text kills your website’s user experience.
Too much going on
Multiple CTAs. Too many colors. Too many ideas fighting for attention.
A premium website is focused. A cheap one tries to do everything at once.
Users should instantly understand:
What you do
Who it’s for
What to do next
If they have to think, you’ve already lost your users. Improving clarity alone can often fix this
How to fix it
You don’t need a full redesign.
Start small:
Simplify your layout
Reduce font styles
Increase spacing
Remove unnecessary animations
Cut vague copy
Then cut some more.
A website rarely feels cheap because of bad taste. It feels cheap because no one made the hard decisions. Premium design isn’t about adding more. It’s about knowing what to remove and having the confidence to do it.
If your site feels off, trust that feeling. It’s probably not missing features. It’s missing restraint.
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Explore my work
Web Design
Karlsson bil
Karlsson Bil is a car dealership based in Varberg, specializing in buying, selling, and restoring vehicles, including the exclusive Lignon Scandinavia line of handcrafted Land Rover Defenders. I worked on designing a website that blends the heritage of the classic Defender with a modern, sleek aesthetic. The focus was on creating a smooth, intuitive browsing experience, making it easy for users to explore the inventory, learn about bespoke restorations, and navigate the buying and selling process with confidence.
Tools used
Wix Studio & Custom code
Web Design & Branding
Carin Fredén
Carin Fredén is a Malmö-based photographer and photo editor specializing in high-quality business photography and visual branding. Her website showcases her work and services, helping businesses enhance their visual identity through images.
Tools used
Wix Studio, Figma & code
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