How To Pair Fonts For Your Website
8 MINUTE READ
LAST UPDATED: AUGUST 2024
Ever wondered why some websites just look so darn polished and professional, while others... well, not so much? More often than not, it comes down to one secret ingredient: typography. That's right, the art of arranging text isn't just for book designers and wedding invitation calligraphers. It's a crucial skill for anyone looking to create a stunning website. In this article, you’ll learn about typography and how to pick the perfect fonts for your uninque website.
Why Typography Matters
Now, you might be thinking, "Becca, I'm not a designer. Why should I care about typography?" I'm so glad you asked! Here's the scoop: typography is like the voice of your website. It's not just about what you say, but how you say it. Good typography can:
Make your content more readable: Ever tried to read a wall of tiny text? Or a fancy handwritten font that makes eveery letter a work of art? Both of those make it hard to understand the content of page, and that can easily lead to a frustrated website visitor. Good typography makes your content easier to understand.
Set the mood: Just like colors, fonts have personalities. They can make your site feel professional, playful, elegant, or edgy.
Guide your visitors: By using different font sizes and styles, you can help users navigate your content and understand what's most important.
Boost your brand recognition: Consistent use of fonts across your site helps create a cohesive brand identity.
In short, the fonts you choose will represent your business. They are an expression of your style and will set the mood which can have major impact on how your website is precived by your visitors.
Typography 101: Speaking the Language
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of font pairing, let's cover some basic typography terms. Don't worry, I promise to keep it fun!
Serif vs. Sans-serif: Serif fonts have little feet or decorative lines at the ends of the letters (like Times New Roman). Sans-serif fonts don't have these (like Arial). Think of serifs as fonts wearing fancy hats shoes, while sans-serifs are some classy flats!
Display fonts: These are the attention-grabbers, usually used for headlines or short bits of text. Great in small doses but can be overwhelming if overused, and they can cause confusion if they are too elaborate.
Font weight: This refers to how thick or thin the letters are. Some are light, some are regular, and some are bold and this all depends on the font you choose! My favorite font, Poppins, has 9 different weights. 100 is the thinnest and 900 is the boldest option, but not all fonts will have such a variety.
Characters: These are the individual letters and symbols that create text on your website. Characters include all letters, numbers, and symbols, incuding creative ones like unicode symbols. Check out this article for more info: insidethesquare.co/unicode
Kerning: This is the space between individual letters. Some designers like to use kerning to emphasize actionable text or subheadings.
Line Spacing: This is the space between lines of text. Think of it as giving your text room to breathe, but use caution! Too much space can make sentences look like they aren’t related, and not enough space can cause characters run into each other, making it difficult to read.
The Art of Font Pairing: Creating Typographic Harmony
Now for the fun part – putting fonts together! Font pairing is like matchmaking for your website. When done right, it creates a harmonious look that's pleasing to the eye. Here are some tips to get you started:
Contrast is Key: One of the easiest ways to create a good font pairing is to contrast a serif font with a sans-serif font. For example, you might use a serif font for headings and a sans-serif for body text.
Stay in the Family: Many fonts come in families with various weights and styles. Using different fonts from the same family (like Roboto and Roboto Slab) can create a cohesive look with built-in contrast. This is what I do with my font Poppins. I use font size and weight to create contrast between the headings and paragraph text on my website.
Don't Go Overboard: When it comes to fonts, less is often more. Stick to 2-3 fonts for your entire site. Any more than that and your site might start to look like a ransom note!
Consider the Mood: Make sure your font choices match the mood you want to convey. A playful script font might be great for a children's party planning business, but not so much for a law firm.
Match the X-Heights: The x-height is the height of lowercase letters. Pairing fonts with similar x-heights can create a more harmonious look.
Here are some classic font pairings to get you inspired:
Helvetica (sans-serif) + Garamond (serif)
Futura (sans-serif) + Bodoni (serif)
Roboto (sans-serif) + Playfair Display (serif)
Montserrat (sans-serif) + Merriweather (serif)
Remember, these are just starting points. Feel free to experiment and find combinations that work for your unique brand!
Do you use Canva and Squarespace? There are some fonts available in both, and I’ve created a PDF list of them that you can download! To get the list, visit insidethesquare.co/canva
From Theory to Practice: Implementing Great Typography on Your Website
Now that you've got the basics down, let's talk about how to put this knowledge into action on your website:
Establish a Hierarchy: Use font size, weight, and style to create a clear hierarchy. Generally, you'll want:
H1 for main page titles
H2 for section headings
H3 for subsections
Body text for your main content
Mind Your Line Length: Aim for about 50-75 characters per line for optimal readability. Any longer and your readers' eyes will get tired.
Give Your Text Room to Breathe: Use plenty of white space around your text. This isn't just about aesthetics – it actually makes your content easier to read and understand.
Make it Responsive: Ensure your typography looks good on all devices. This might mean adjusting font sizes or line heights for mobile screens.
Don't Forget About Alignment: Left-aligned text is usually easiest to read for longer passages. Center alignment can work for headlines or short bits of text.
Use Contrast Wisely: Ensure there's enough contrast between your text and background colors. Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) is usually easiest to read.
Typography in Action
Let's look at a hypothetical example to see how this might work in practice.
Meet Alex, a freelance photographer starting their own website. They want their site to feel modern and artistic, but also professional. After exploring different font combinations, they decide on:
Headings: Playfair Display (a elegant serif font)
Body Text: Roboto (a clean, modern sans-serif)
Accent Font: Montserrat (for buttons and menu items)
Here's how Alex implements this typography scheme:
Homepage: Large Playfair Display header welcoming visitors, with Roboto for the introductory paragraph. Navigation menu uses Montserrat for a clean, distinct look.
About Page: Playfair Display for the main "About Me" header, with subheadings also in Playfair but at a smaller size. Body text in Roboto keeps things readable.
Portfolio: Image captions in Montserrat for a crisp, modern feel that doesn't compete with the photographs.
Contact Page: Form labels in Montserrat, with Roboto for longer explanatory text.
Throughout the site, Alex uses font size and weight to create clear hierarchy, guiding visitors through the content. The result is a website that feels cohesive, professional, and uniquely suited to Alex's brand as a photographer.
Common Typography Mistakes to Avoid
As we wrap up our typography adventure, let's talk about some common pitfalls to watch out for:
Using Too Many Fonts: Remember, 2-3 fonts is usually plenty!
Neglecting Readability: No matter how cool a font looks, if it's hard to read, it's not doing its job.
Improper Scaling: Make sure your font sizes make sense across different device sizes.
Ignoring Letter Spacing: Especially with headings, sometimes you need to adjust the space between letters for the best look.
Your Typography Journey Starts Now!
You've just taken a giant leap into the world of web typography. By understanding the basics of font selection, pairing, and implementation, you're well on your way to creating a website that's not just beautiful, but also effective and user-friendly.
Remember, great typography is both an art and a science. Don't be afraid to experiment, get feedback, and refine your choices over time. The most important thing is that your typography authentically represents your brand and enhances your content.
