One of the most challenging aspects of website development is achieving a truly great and professional looking site. With all of the exciting and dazzling visuals you can find in many websites and web media, the standard for web design is high. To build a website design you can use many tools. Jot down your ideas on paper and take those ideas to your web designer who will be using digital editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to build the many visual assets of your website.When working with your website template, be prepared to understand the web languages HTML & CSS. You can also use premade templates available on many free and premium template websites, but even these can require some technical knowledge.Making or finding a visually appealing website design can often take a trained eye. With some key visual building blocks in mind, you can soon be on your way to making your site look great.Begin with InspirationTo tailor the vision of your website to something that will impress; spend time searching the web for websites that really appeal to you. Visit your favourite websites, ask friends for theirs or visit one of the many website design blogs or inspiration websites easily accessible via Google. Check any websites you think look great for their details, their layout and their features. Let these websites make an impression on your ideas.Decide on your websites purpose and functionsTake a moment during the creative stages to imagine how your finished website will look, and consider what purposes and functions it will serve. Allocating space and details for these functions can help get the ball rolling.Keep a Balanced LayoutWebsites generally require a focus on readability. When choosing the layout of your website, make sure to allow balanced spacing for details, text and interactive elements. Websites often look best when you follow a grid so try to keep visual and text elements in line as your eye moves down and across the web page.Use Smart Colour ChoicesAdding too many colour variations and tones to your website can detract from its visual appeal. It is often best to choose a foundation of two main colours for the visual elements, a complimentary set of font colours and two secondary colours for accents and important details.Try Different Font StylesWeb design has its font restrictions with many web browsers asking you to choose from a list of compatible fonts. If your chosen fonts do not have the right aesthetic, consider trying variations on these fonts by subtly adjusting the colour, size, weight, line height and letter spacing. Simple fonts can look great with the right colours and proportions.Follow TrendsMaking your website look great can feel like more of a fashion exercise than a practical one. Keep an eye on the trends of leading website designs. Visual elements like subtle shading, textures and highlights are often evolving with the current trends. Taking a moment to absorb the present styles can give you some great artistic direction.Check Your CompetitionEach niche market or industry can dictate acceptable styles and themes for website appearances. Check your competition and other leading websites in your industry to make sure that your creative decisions are in line with what your audience responds to.Research your Options and RestrictionsWebsite structure requirements can put restrictions on your design, so use a web browser to investigate how complicated your visual ideas may be. (You might need to pick up a few technical terms along the way to find the right guides).Ask for FeedbackWhen you are happy with your design choices, ask the people around you for constructive feedback. Being immersed in all of the technical details can cause you to overlook simple details that an average web user could notice. That being said, take all feedback with a grain of salt because not everyone has an eye for design!There are many aspects that require attention in order to achieve a high standard of design, but by taking advantage of the above suggestions, you can simplify the process and get a great looking website in no time!