White Space (Negative Space) — Definition
White space — also called negative space — is the empty area between and around elements on a page. It's the breathing room between your headline and yo...
What it is
White space — also called negative space — is the empty area between and around elements on a page. It's the breathing room between your headline and your paragraph, between your logo and the nav links, between sections. It doesn't have to be white — it just refers to space that contains nothing.
Why it matters
White space is not wasted space. It's what makes a design feel premium, readable, and intentional. Cramming everything together makes a layout feel chaotic and untrustworthy. Generous white space communicates that you're confident in what you're saying — you don't need to shout everything at once.
The mistake most people make
Filling every gap with more content. "But there's so much empty space — can't we put something there?" is one of the most common client requests. The answer is usually no. That empty space is doing important work. Filling it makes everything worse.