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50 New Beautiful Blog Designs
There are things that can’t be showcased too often. For instance, beautiful blog designs. We have presented hundreds of beautiful blog designs in the past and now it’s time to provide our readers with a fresh portion of tasty design inspiration.
All blogs listed below have an original, unique design. They aren’t based upon some ready-to-be-used WordPress templates, but are the result of a hard, time-consuming work – therefore they deserve respect and admiration. Yes, many of these design are quite “heavy” on graphcs, not only because they look impressive on a tiny 550px-width-screenshot.
Below we present 50 new, beautiful, creative and (hopefully) inspiring blog designs. We feature many various styles and designs – hopefully, everybody will find some inspiring elements and design solutions for his or her next design. And, of course, thanks to all designers and artists featured in this post! All screenshots are linked to the original designer’s site.
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Beautiful and Original Blog Designs
The Astonishing Adventures of Lord Likely
Vitaly Friedman, editor-in-chief of Smashing Magazine (www.smashingmagazine.com), an online magazine dedicated to designers and developers.
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
Loading ...- 106 Comments
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July 22nd, 2009 7:50 amOnce again: awesome collection of some really inspiring designs! Thanks SM!!
- 3July 22nd, 2009 7:59 am
great!! foodtease is really a nice design … well done!
- 4July 22nd, 2009 8:01 am
Awsome Collection. Hats Off !
- 5July 22nd, 2009 8:04 am
there are like 5 that are totally boring….. plain, ugly, no thought put into them. You may say simplistic is best but they look like the person doesn’t even care
- 6July 22nd, 2009 8:09 am
Sure, all of these blogs have beautiful designs, but some are very difficult to read and navigate through content. I’m sorry, but there needs to be a balance of design and usability.
- 7July 22nd, 2009 8:22 am
That Skylab design should be removed, it is using graphics ripped off from Jeff Sarmiento’s blog http://www.jeffsarmiento.com/ (which has been featured here in the past)
- 8July 22nd, 2009 8:26 am
Neat
- 9July 22nd, 2009 8:28 am
Great !!
- 10July 22nd, 2009 8:31 am
When it comes to blogs, I’m a fan of minimalistic and lots of white space. I agree that readability is always the #1 concern.
- 11July 22nd, 2009 8:33 am
I guess this is all about look and style, not usability? I clicked on the “Markup & Style” blog and while it looks pretty, the navigation is poor. The logo/header doesn’t hyperlink to the site main page. The site name is embedded only as a background image, so someone who couldn’t see images wouldn’t even know what site they were on. Once you click on an entry title to view the full entry there’s no way to get back to the main view again without clicking the browser back button. The RSS sidebar link takes you to a 404 page. The archive link takes you to some page with a totally different design and postage stamp sized iframes. Also, the page doesn’t validate.
- 12July 22nd, 2009 8:45 am
Very uninspiring list. Perhaps there is nothing new to uncover in blog design? These do nothing for me.
- 13July 22nd, 2009 8:57 am
Hey, thanks! I’m honored to be in the same listing as these other sites, and many are new to me. Good stuff.
- 14July 22nd, 2009 8:57 am
Please notice that this showcase is a showcase of blogs with an original, unique design. It is supposed to be inspiring; you could develop some of the (visual) design ideas here for your next project which would also be excellent from the usability point of view.
- 15July 22nd, 2009 9:08 am
OH! Thanks. I know, that my site is not very usable, but I just wanted to do stuff different.
Thanks, that you like it :D
- 16July 22nd, 2009 9:14 am
Can’t say i’m overly impressed. As I’m in the progress of redesigning a blog I hoped to see more inspirational things, new ideas. There is probably not so much new going on. I found most of the designs way too busy, visually unappealing and getting in the way of readability. Especially the last point I find pretty important in a blog.
- 17July 22nd, 2009 9:23 am
Glad to be associated with this inspiring designs. Thanks for the link!
- 18July 22nd, 2009 9:33 am
I recently built a website (with a blog front page) that was inspired by Rin & Wendy “dueling blogs”. I added some jQuery functionality, to make each blog side expand and contract. It actually turned out pretty cool. Here it is: UndergroundProducts.com.
- 19July 22nd, 2009 9:49 am
Great list indeed – thanks for the inspiration.
- 20July 22nd, 2009 9:56 am
these design make peaple dreaming!
Thanks a lot man!
- 21July 22nd, 2009 9:57 am
These are astounding. Countless great design ideas.
- 22July 22nd, 2009 9:58 am
Can’t say I’m impressed. Most of the sites are boring, unoriginal and uninspiring. I don’t know why you though that some of this sites might be inspirational.
I do find interesting the site from Boris Forconi. - 23July 22nd, 2009 10:09 am
I love you guys.
- 24July 22nd, 2009 10:15 am
This is an awesome round up! what do you feel about twibies.com?
- 25July 22nd, 2009 10:26 am
Douglas Menezes Rocks! Great designer!
- 26July 22nd, 2009 10:40 am
Nice designs,
- 27July 22nd, 2009 10:46 am
Thanks for the feature (Brown Blog Films). You guys rock! Never imagined that site would make it onto Smashing Mag but hey, I ain’t complaining ;)
You’ve listed some really nice sites there. Ok, judging by some of the comments they’re not to everyones tastes. However, getting creative with blog designs under the confines of the now ubiquitous blog format, can be challenging to say the least so I commend everyone for their efforts. Also, a big-up to the unsung heroes of this post, the developers who make these sites work!
Great post. Really got my creative juices flowing. Anyone for a blog? :)
- 28July 22nd, 2009 10:53 am
It’s amazing. Full of inspiration this post.
- 29July 22nd, 2009 10:58 am
There are some great designs in this list but I’ve got to say others look really poor …
- 30July 22nd, 2009 11:01 am
Thanks so much for featuring my site. Good company to be in too! I definitely think that there are some good inspirational blog designs in there.
By the way Smashing Mag: do you mind changing the spelling of my name? MacMaster to McMaster? Thanks!
- 31July 22nd, 2009 11:28 am
Thanks (:
- 32July 22nd, 2009 12:24 pm
Awesome.
Most of these works are stunning! - 33July 22nd, 2009 12:25 pm
Wow i great list of inspiration…
great ;) - 34July 22nd, 2009 12:25 pm
@rob
and jeff sarimento has ripped off graphics from istockphoto. Doesn’t he?:)
- 35July 22nd, 2009 1:01 pm
pulento
- 36July 22nd, 2009 2:06 pm
Ahh, very nice and inspirational!
- 37July 22nd, 2009 3:10 pm
I think even color blind people would cringe at moradito. My eyes keep darting back n fourth. Bold, yes… readable, slightly… with a headache.
- 38July 22nd, 2009 4:17 pm
Good!!!
- 39July 22nd, 2009 4:24 pm
I got 3 really great ideas from this fairly primo list. ty
- 40July 22nd, 2009 4:48 pm
Braised Cow Lips? I’d like to try that
- 41July 22nd, 2009 4:51 pm
tehCpeng not theCpeng
- 42July 22nd, 2009 4:54 pm
joli…
merci - 43July 22nd, 2009 5:56 pm
Bloody solid collection of beautiful blog!!
- 44July 22nd, 2009 6:27 pm
rin and wendy so cute =) i love it
- 45July 22nd, 2009 7:03 pm
Love this list. Very helpful when starting a web design project.
Thanks - 46July 22nd, 2009 7:48 pm
Very honored to be mentioned among these great designs! Thank you SM!
- 47July 22nd, 2009 8:01 pm
great post…… Thanks
- 48July 22nd, 2009 8:44 pm
thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- 49July 22nd, 2009 8:45 pm
Nice collection!!!!!
- 50July 22nd, 2009 8:48 pm
nice collection
- 51July 22nd, 2009 9:31 pm
Very good collection of inspiration Blog design. Thanks SM!!
- 52July 22nd, 2009 9:51 pm
@Carl: Jeff Sarmiento didn’t rip off that rocket graphic. So what if he bought the stock photo? It doesn’t mean it’s ripped off. You are stupid Carl.
- 53July 22nd, 2009 10:09 pm
Fantastic works.
were all these designs created for wordpress? - 54July 22nd, 2009 10:15 pm
@Suede: chill out, dude! Carl was being sarcastic because Rob had accused the Skylab blog of ripping Sarmiento’s design, which was not necessarily true, as that rocket can be buyed from a Stock Images source.
- 55July 22nd, 2009 10:38 pm
This is a fantastic list and I’m honored to be featured along side such great names. Thank you!
- 56July 22nd, 2009 10:46 pm
great selection as usual! i love owltastic, very simple but clean and funny with the bird! it actually inspired me a little bit for my own blog http://www.jenesaispaschoisir.com even if meagan’blog is way better than mine ;)
great idea for rin & wendy too, it looks nice!
- 57July 22nd, 2009 11:17 pm
Wow, this is huge! In fact, big enough to keep me busy through the day. Exploring these new ideas will inspire a lot of people out there. Blogs can be used as a platform through which designers can demonstrate their original and unique ideas. I personally liked “Duiwaigh”, it’s very classy. Thanks.
- 58July 22nd, 2009 11:20 pm
soooooooooooooooooooo usefullllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
thanks allot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- 59July 22nd, 2009 11:26 pm
Awesome collection.. feel like improving my blog after seeing such fantastic designs..
- 60July 22nd, 2009 11:43 pm
Thank you for featuring me. I’m very honored to be in the same list with the masters like Elliot Jay Stocks, Darren Hoyt, and Ethan Marcotte. :)
- 61July 22nd, 2009 11:58 pm
great selection but i see all the design are US blog design. Why french blog aren’t in the list ?? :D
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- 63July 23rd, 2009 12:06 am
cool blog !! nice webdesign !
- 64July 23rd, 2009 12:21 am
I’m not really feeling a few of them, but it’s still a very nice list.
- 65July 23rd, 2009 12:34 am
Some good sites, the one that caught my eye was http://www.nalden.net. Maybe the first time I have seen a blog designed in flash but the results are spectacular. Well done on such good work!
- 66July 23rd, 2009 1:08 am
http://www.borisforconi.net/category/blog reminds me of http://www.shauninman.com/blog – but it’s just a similar style…
- 67July 23rd, 2009 1:20 am
Great article,
Realy inspiring stuff in there! - 68July 23rd, 2009 1:42 am
A honor and pleasant surprise to find ourselves among these great designs – Thank you!
- 69July 23rd, 2009 2:36 am
Some nice designs, but a lot are pure eye candy and not comfortable to read. Good “design” should not only attract but assist the user to get what they want out of the site, i.e. read the bloody blog! To be fair, you did say this post was about “beautiful” blogs, not necessarily well designed…
- 70July 23rd, 2009 2:56 am
woooooouuuuu….its nice design for blog..thnks alot
- 71July 23rd, 2009 4:23 am
well, i cant not believe that people are actully saying that this is a good collection!
The designs are crap, where is the creativity….. just creating a background image for a web page does not make it a good design!
You guys really need to do better!
- 72July 23rd, 2009 5:21 am
I have always heard of Elliot Jay Stocks, I new he was the master of css, etc. But after seeing his new design, I am inspired. Thank You Elliot. and Thank you smashing magazine.
This is a great list as always.
It is always good to see that people are thinking out of the box.
great post! - 73
- 74July 23rd, 2009 6:48 am
Amazing post guys, keep up the good work!
- 75July 23rd, 2009 8:41 am
Awsome collection. Thank you
- 76July 23rd, 2009 8:42 am
Awsome collection, I lliked the first one most. Thanks for sharing this information
- 77July 23rd, 2009 9:23 am
I’m so glad and honoured to be featured here! You don’t even know how much I admire SM :)
Thank you so muuuch! - 78July 23rd, 2009 10:23 am
I totally don’t deserve to be in that list. Thank you so much.
- 79July 23rd, 2009 12:17 pm
Nice list
- 80July 23rd, 2009 5:07 pm
Thank you so much for featuring our site (Duirwaigh Studios) here.
It is an honor to be part of such an impressive list of great blogs. - 81July 23rd, 2009 5:26 pm
Some great ones in the list! However there are a few not displaying well for Mac Firefox 2…?
- 82July 24th, 2009 12:15 am
Digital mash is one of may fav blog designs out there
- 83July 24th, 2009 5:29 am
Nice collection
- 84July 24th, 2009 7:43 am
I’m really proud of Dino Latoga!
- 85July 24th, 2009 7:44 pm
very cool, some of them are extremely simple but their use of fonts and layout and simple background with great lighting makes it so classy. love it. i want to make one like those some day.
- 86July 24th, 2009 10:53 pm
Wow, I’m quite surprised to see my site here, A Crayon’s Life. Thank you Smashing Mag! It’s an honor to be placed next to these beautiful blog sites, and as I am also a fan of fairy-like drawings and artworks, I personally love Duirwaigh Studios.
To olybop, these sites are not all from the US. I am from the Philippines, and currently based in Singapore. :)
- 87July 25th, 2009 12:08 am
I was casually looking for inspiration and low and behold, my site is featured. Many thanks Smashing!
- 88July 25th, 2009 4:06 am
cool ones. I just love Ryan McMaster.
but Rin & Wendy though is cool and original, is not new
- 89July 26th, 2009 2:25 pm
makes me want to design a site right now!
- 90July 26th, 2009 3:12 pm
Wow, awesome collection guys! The Blog Me Tender site looks pretty cool.
- 91July 28th, 2009 12:54 am
@ rmlumley “I agree that readability is always the #1 concern.” Don’t mistake legibility for content – said David Carson ;) Very often text can’t transport all the content. Always keep that in mind!
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- 93July 28th, 2009 8:35 am
some stunning designs there, really inspiring
- 94July 28th, 2009 9:10 pm
Some really nice examples here. I’m honored for the mention – thanks Smashing.
- 95July 30th, 2009 3:42 pm
nice collection :)
and somebody of webzurnal.cz/webdesign/50-nadhernych-blog-designu published the same article (copy), i think thay have no permission…
- 96August 9th, 2009 12:56 pm
Nice collection!
- 97August 14th, 2009 11:18 am
VERY GOOD……CONGRATS IEMAI
- 98August 21st, 2009 1:57 pm
wow! there so lovely designed and innovated themes there … great to see what u can do with just a simple blog
- 99September 11th, 2009 9:47 am
These are some sweet sites.
Here are a few of my favorite sites that are built in WordPress.
- 100September 29th, 2009 10:36 pm
really love weird looking styles yet attractive and cool.. love the sushimonster^^.. thanks for the post!
- 101October 15th, 2009 3:24 pm
Ok so i decided to make a personal website. I go and learn HTML, learn CSS, learn some basic JAVAScript and then I happen upon this page.
What the f. How can I match these blogs? I dont have an inkling of creativity in me and I sure as hell cant settle for anything less than awesome. wtf - 102November 3rd, 2009 8:09 pm
most of these are sick!! very nice examples.. hope we can get our designs in here ;)
- 103November 4th, 2009 3:22 pm
Not loving all of them – some are the very definition of ‘minimalist’, and others are so busy and over-designed they give me a headache. Still, a great collection for inspiration!
- 104January 18th, 2010 9:39 pm
great collection..luv it…
- 105January 23rd, 2010 5:39 am
Really great collection, some good examples of interesting site here.
You may also like interesting atmosphere of these Blog Designs:
Showcase Of 40 Website Designs Featuring Clouds And SkiesThanks, Smashing team for inspiration!
- 106January 28th, 2010 7:09 pm
i like this blog design:
its straight forward and clear cut while still being visually inspiring.
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