Aesthetically Savvy?

Do looks really matter, or is it what’s inside that counts? I’m starting to become concerned and self-conscious about whether my web page is ‘pretty enough’. Let’s face it, if there isn’t lust at first sight, are you going to be compelled to explore further? I know when I’m procrastinating, I mean researching, if a website doesn’t present well I’m hitting the back button or the nearest recommended link. Internet users can generally afford to be picky when it comes to visiting your web page, especially with search engines as vast as Google and Yahoo. There are just so many other, perhaps more beautiful, options.
So, how do I make my page alluring, but not so over the top that it detracts from the content? My personal style is minimalist; I can’t handle clutter. In fact, similarly to my friend Tess, my work area needs to be free of mess and non-essentials before I embark on anything. Studies show that ‘white space’- that is the clean and chic look, is inviting, so long as it involves the use of colour, image and an air of consistency.
Keeping this in mind, I visited a website that provided a range of layouts that I might use for Savvy Plonk. It was an exhausting search, with over fifty pages, full of eclectic options. However, as I slowly trawled through the seemingly endless choices, I kept the faith that I’d know the right one as soon as I laid eyes on it. An hour into the search, Savvy Plonk had a clean, inviting and functional new look that would complement my all-important content.
In all honesty, the colours aren’t in sync with the wine theme, an expense of utilising the navigational benefits the design has to offer. However, in my utopia, the ideal job would include the presence of a graphic design and IT team to solve such dilemmas, whilst I was able to focus on the public relations functions of the web page. A little precious of me, I know. I guess I’ll just have to be content with being an all-rounder