Design Resources for Google Sites

Why Design Matters in Google Sites

Many users default to plain layouts because they believe Google Sites is limited in design options. 

While it’s true that customisation has its constraints, a little creativity—and the right tools—can go a long way.

Good design:

• Increases credibility

• Enhances user experience (UX)

• Boosts readability and time-on-page.

• Strengthens your brand identity.

• Helps your site stand out in search results.

When your site looks professional, visitors are more likely to trust and engage with your content.

Top Design Resources to Elevate Your Site

📸 Free Stock Photography

High-quality visuals make a huge difference. Ditch pixelated or generic images for vibrant stock photos that match your message.

Top Picks:

• Unsplash – Modern, royalty-free images.

• Pexels – Great for lifestyle, business, and abstract shots.

• Pixabay – Includes illustrations and videos too.

SEO Tip: Use descriptive filenames and alt text when uploading images to improve your site’s visibility in image search results.

🎨 Colour Palette Generators

Colours can set the emotional tone of your website. Using a well-crafted palette ensures consistency and brand harmony.

Top Tools:

• Coolors.co – Auto-generates trendy palettes.

• Adobe Colour – Great for colour theory lovers.

• Colormind – AI-powered suggestions based on design style.

Pro Tip: Apply consistent colour codes across section backgrounds, buttons, and font elements for a cohesive look.

🔠 Typography Tools

Typography affects readability and brand identity. Google Sites offers a limited range of fonts, but you can still make smart choices.

Try These Tools:

• Google Fonts – All fonts used in Google Sites come from here

• Fontpair – Helps you match fonts that look great together

• Typ.io – Real-world font combinations and inspiration

🖼️ Layout Inspiration

Not sure how to structure your homepage or landing section? Look to modern design galleries for layout trends and UI examples.

Inspiration Sources:

• Dribbble – Interface and landing page inspiration

• Behance – Full project showcases with UX case studies

• Land-Book – Curated list of high-converting landing pages

Use these as a guide when designing section breaks, navigation, and content flow in Google Sites.

🛠️ Image Editing Tools

Want to crop, resize, add filters, or overlay text on images before uploading to your site? These free tools get the job done fast.

Top Picks:

• Canva – Graphic design for beginners and pros

• Photopea – Photoshop alternative in the browser

• Pixlr – Great for quick edits and enhancements

🧩 Icon Libraries

Icons help communicate ideas visually and make your content more scannable. They’re great for feature lists, navigation, or buttons.

Go-To Libraries:

• Flaticon – Thousands of free icons in SVG/PNG formats.

• Font Awesome – Popular web icon library.

• Iconmonstr – Clean, minimalist icon sets.

Just upload icons as image files or embed them using the “Embed” tool in Google Sites.

🧱 Widgets and Plugins

Google Sites doesn’t support plugins like WordPress, but you can still enhance your site with embeddable widgets.

Useful Widgets:

• Embed Google Forms – For lead capture or feedback.

• Tockify Calendar – Stylish, interactive event calendars.

• Elfsight Widgets – Offers testimonials, social feeds, countdown timers, etc.

• YouTube or Vimeo embeds – For sleek video integration

How to Integrate These Resources into Google Sites

1. Download or generate your assets (images, colours, icons, etc.).

2. Use the “Insert” panel to upload images, embed HTML, or add content blocks.

3. Style consistently using your chosen colour palette and fonts.

4. Preview your site frequently to ensure responsiveness and visual balance.

5. Don’t forget accessibility—add alt text and use readable font sizes.

Final Thoughts

Designing a great-looking Google Site doesn’t require complex tools or a web designer. With these curated design resources, you can build visually engaging, on-brand websites that are user-friendly and SEO-aligned.

Whether you're launching a personal site, a client presentation, or a microsite for your side hustle—your design is your first impression. Make it count.