How to Make Your Squarespace Website Feel More Custom

If you use Squarespace, one of the biggest worries is making your website look like a template.

That concern is fair. Squarespace makes it easier than ever to build a good-looking site quickly, but that also means a lot of websites can start to feel similar if they rely too heavily on default layouts, standard styling, and unedited content blocks.

The good news is that a custom-looking Squarespace website does not always require a full custom build. In many cases, what makes a website feel bespoke is not how complicated it is. It is how intentionally it has been designed.

Here are some of the most effective ways to make your Squarespace website feel more custom.

Start with a stronger layout

A lot of Squarespace websites feel templated because the layout follows the most obvious path.

That usually means:

a standard hero banner

a block of text

a gallery

a testimonial slider

a contact form

There is nothing wrong with those sections on their own, but if every section is stacked in the most expected order, the site can start to feel generic.

A more custom website usually has better pacing. It might introduce content in a less predictable way, use more contrast between sections, or guide the visitor through the page with a stronger sense of rhythm.

Before adding more design features, it helps to look at the structure first. A cleaner, more intentional layout will always make a bigger difference than random visual extras.

Use type more deliberately

Typography does a lot of heavy lifting in web design.

One of the fastest ways to make a Squarespace website feel more refined is to stop treating the font settings as an afterthought. The right type choices can immediately change the tone of a site and help it feel more premium, modern, editorial, or personality-led.

This includes:

choosing fonts that actually suit the brand

creating contrast between headings and body text

adjusting spacing so the site feels more polished

keeping text sizes consistent across the site

A custom-feeling website usually has a clear typographic system rather than a collection of default settings.

Be more selective with colour

Another common issue is overusing accent colours or not using them intentionally enough.

A stronger Squarespace website often uses colour in a more restrained way. Instead of trying to make every section visually loud, it uses one or two accent moments well. That could be in buttons, small highlights, dividers, category labels, or hover states.

This helps the website feel more considered and gives the design a stronger overall identity.

In most cases, a more custom look comes from better restraint, not more decoration.

Replace generic imagery

Even a well-built website can feel forgettable if the imagery is too generic.

Stock photos, inconsistent image styles, or low-quality visuals can quickly flatten the look of a site. On the other hand, a Squarespace website can feel significantly more custom when the visuals are more aligned with the brand.

That might mean:

using photography with a consistent tone

creating branded mockups

using cleaner product imagery

choosing fewer but stronger visuals

giving images room to breathe

Images do not have to be expensive to be effective, but they do need to feel intentional.

Refine the section styling

Small details make a big difference.

A website starts to feel more custom when the styling between sections is more refined. That might include:

adjusting padding so the page flows better

creating more contrast between light and dark sections

using borders, dividers, or subtle background shifts

improving the alignment of text and buttons

making sure mobile spacing feels just as polished as desktop

This is often where a Squarespace site moves from “fine” to “professionally designed.”

Use custom code where it actually adds value

Custom code can absolutely help a Squarespace site feel more bespoke, but it works best when used strategically.

The goal is not to add code for the sake of it. The goal is to improve the experience and support the design.

That could mean:

cleaner hover effects

more distinctive service cards

better list styling

layout enhancements

subtle animations

improved mobile behaviour

more polished buttons or image treatments

Used well, custom code can help remove some of the default Squarespace feel without making the site harder to manage.

Make the content feel brand-led

A website can look polished and still feel generic if the messaging is weak.

One of the most overlooked ways to make a Squarespace website feel more custom is to improve the copy. Stronger headings, more specific messaging, and clearer calls to action help the whole site feel more tailored.

This is especially important for service-based businesses. If the messaging sounds vague, the site can feel interchangeable. If the messaging sounds clear and confident, the site instantly feels more distinctive.

Pay attention to mobile design

A website should not just look custom on desktop.

A lot of sites lose their polish on mobile because spacing, text size, and image cropping have not been properly reviewed. A more bespoke Squarespace site feels consistent across both desktop and mobile.

That means checking:

heading breaks

button sizing

stacked layout order

spacing between sections

image crops

readability of key content

Often, this is where the real quality shows.

Final thoughts

Making a Squarespace website feel more custom is rarely about one big trick.

It usually comes down to a series of thoughtful improvements:

a better layout

stronger typography

more intentional colour use

better imagery

refined spacing

strategic custom code

clearer messaging

Squarespace gives you a strong starting point, but what makes a website feel bespoke is how you shape it around the brand.

If your website feels too templated right now, that does not always mean you need to start again. Sometimes the biggest improvement comes from refining what is already there.