I tend to come back to one quiet question when I’m building anything: does this feel clear, calm, and easy for the person who has to live with it afterwards?

That way of working is a big part of why I build with Squarespace. It stays out of the way in the best possible sense – it lets the content lead, without adding unnecessary noise in the background.

It’s not about trends or limitations, it’s about choosing a platform that quietly supports small businesses without overwhelming them.

A platform that keeps things simple (without feeling basic)

A lot of platforms feel like they’re asking you to choose between complexity or limitation. One end is heavy, technical, and layered. The other can feel a bit boxed in.

Squarespace sits in that in-between space where things feel steady and contained, without getting in your way.

It allows me to design intentionally and creatively, while still keeping the backend simple enough that clients don’t feel like they need a manual to make small updates.

For most small businesses, that balance is everything.

Before moving to Squarespace I worked with WordPress on a few projects, and while it’s a powerful platform, I often found clients doing that familiar ‘wait… where do I click?’ dance just to make a small update or simple tweak.

Built for the kind of businesses I actually work with

Most of the websites I build aren’t for sprawling systems or complicated infrastructure; they’re for small, thoughtful businesses trying to show up well online without overcomplicating it. They’re for service-based businesses, creatives, and founders who need a strong digital presence without unnecessary layers.

Squarespace handles the essentials well:

Clean, modern design options that don’t require heavy custom development
Reliable mobile responsiveness (without constant tweaking)
Built-in SEO foundations that are solid out of the box
Hosting and security taken care of in the background

It covers what I’d consider 90% of what most small businesses actually need – without the overhead of managing multiple tools or platforms.

When it isn’t the right fit

It’s also important to be honest about limitations, and Squarespace isn’t the right solution for every project.

It’s not ideal for:

Large-scale, complex e-commerce systems
Highly custom web applications
Platforms requiring deep backend development or integrations

If a project needs those things, I’ll always be upfront about it.

Why I keep choosing it

At the end of the day, I’m not trying to build the most complex websites; I’m trying to build ones that feel considered, appropriate, and easy to live with over time.

For the kinds of businesses I work with, Squarespace gives me a balance of:

Creative freedom
Technical stability
Long-term usability
Simplicity without compromise

And that combination is what allows the websites I design to feel calm, clear, and easy to live with – long after launch.

Hi, I'm Steph! Designer, tinkerer, and your go-to for calm, considered design advice. This is where I share tips, tools, and resources for building a business (and a website) that feels like home.

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