# How to follow best practices for minimalistic design in applications in Bubble.i

- Tool: Bubble
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Time required: 15-20 min
- Compatibility: All Bubble plans
- Last updated: March 2026

## TL;DR

Minimalistic design in Bubble means using generous whitespace, a limited color palette, clear typography hierarchy, and consistent spacing throughout your app. This tutorial covers clean UI principles — removing visual clutter, establishing a style system with Style Variables, and building layouts that feel professional and easy to navigate.

## Overview: Minimalistic Design Principles in Bubble

This tutorial teaches you how to apply minimalistic design principles inside Bubble's visual editor. You will learn to create a cohesive color palette, set up a typography hierarchy, use consistent spacing, and strip away unnecessary visual elements. These principles make your app look professional, load faster, and feel easier to use. Ideal for non-technical founders who want their Bubble app to look polished without hiring a designer.

## Before you start

- A Bubble account with an app to design or redesign
- Basic familiarity with Bubble's Design tab and Property Editor
- Understanding of Bubble's Styles tab
- A clear idea of your brand colors (or willingness to choose them)

## Step-by-step guide

### 1. Define a limited color palette using Style Variables

Go to the Styles tab in the left sidebar and click Style Variables. Create color variables for your palette: primary (your brand color), primary_light (a lighter tint), text_dark (#1A1A1A or similar), text_light (#6B7280), background (#FFFFFF), background_alt (#F9FAFB), border (#E5E7EB), and accent (for CTAs and highlights). Limit your palette to 5-7 colors maximum. By using Style Variables, you can update a color once and it changes everywhere in your app.

> Pro tip: Use a tool like coolors.co to generate a harmonious palette, then copy the hex codes into your Style Variables.

**Expected result:** A set of Style Variables for colors that you can reference on any element throughout your app.

### 2. Establish a typography hierarchy with font variables

In the Styles tab under Style Variables, create font size variables: heading_xl (36px), heading_lg (28px), heading_md (22px), body (16px), body_small (14px), and caption (12px). Choose a maximum of two fonts — one for headings and one for body text (or use the same font at different weights). Create Element Styles for each text level: Heading XL (36px bold), Heading LG (28px semibold), Body (16px regular), etc. Apply these styles consistently to every text element in your app instead of setting sizes individually.

**Expected result:** Reusable text styles established in the Styles tab that you can apply to any Text element with one click.

### 3. Apply consistent spacing using a spacing scale

Choose a base spacing unit (8px is the industry standard) and use multiples: 8px (tight), 16px (default), 24px (comfortable), 32px (section padding), 48px (major section gaps), 64px (page section separation). When setting padding and margins on Groups and elements, always use these values — never arbitrary numbers. Set row-gap and column-gap on Row and Column containers to 16px or 24px for consistent internal spacing. For page-level sections, use 48px or 64px padding top and bottom.

> Pro tip: Write down your spacing scale on a sticky note and refer to it while building — consistency is more important than the exact values.

**Expected result:** All elements in your app use spacing from your defined scale, creating a rhythmic, organized layout.

### 4. Simplify element styles by removing unnecessary decoration

Review every element on your pages and remove visual clutter: replace thick borders with subtle 1px borders in your border color variable, remove drop shadows from most elements (keep them only for elevated cards or modals), use your background_alt color to distinguish sections instead of borders, and remove background colors from elements that do not need them. For buttons, use solid fill for primary actions and outline style (border only, no fill) for secondary actions. Limit border-radius to one consistent value (8px or 12px) across all rounded elements.

**Expected result:** A cleaner visual appearance with fewer borders, shadows, and competing visual elements on each page.

### 5. Design cards and containers with minimal visual weight

For card-style Groups (used in Repeating Groups, dashboards, etc.), apply a consistent style: white background, subtle border (1px, border color variable), 8px border-radius, and 16px or 24px internal padding. Remove background colors inside the card — let the white background do the work. Use text weight and size to create hierarchy within cards instead of colored backgrounds or dividers. For hover states, add a slight shadow or border color change using conditional formatting.

**Expected result:** Uniform card components that look clean and professional with minimal visual decoration.

### 6. Use whitespace strategically to guide the user's eye

Whitespace is not wasted space — it creates breathing room and directs attention. Add generous padding around key content areas (CTAs, headlines, important data). Increase the gap between unrelated sections and decrease the gap between related elements. In Repeating Groups, ensure each cell has enough padding that items do not feel crowded. Use the Column layout on page sections so that vertical whitespace flows naturally. Test your layouts by squinting at the screen — if everything blurs together, you need more spacing between sections.

**Expected result:** Your app feels spacious and easy to scan, with clear visual separation between different content areas.

## Complete code example

File: `Workflow summary`

```text
MINIMALISTIC DESIGN SYSTEM
==========================

COLOR PALETTE (Style Variables):
  primary:        #2563EB (brand blue)
  primary_light:  #DBEAFE
  text_dark:      #1A1A1A
  text_light:     #6B7280
  background:     #FFFFFF
  background_alt: #F9FAFB
  border:         #E5E7EB
  accent:         #10B981 (success/CTA green)

TYPOGRAPHY HIERARCHY:
  Heading XL:  36px / Bold / text_dark
  Heading LG:  28px / Semibold / text_dark
  Heading MD:  22px / Semibold / text_dark
  Body:        16px / Regular / text_dark
  Body Small:  14px / Regular / text_light
  Caption:     12px / Regular / text_light

SPACING SCALE (8px base):
  4px   — tight (icon gaps)
  8px   — compact (inline elements)
  16px  — default (element gaps, input padding)
  24px  — comfortable (card padding, row gaps)
  32px  — medium (group padding)
  48px  — large (section padding)
  64px  — extra large (page section gaps)

CARD STYLE:
  Background: #FFFFFF
  Border: 1px solid border variable
  Border radius: 8px
  Padding: 24px
  Shadow: none (or very subtle on hover)

BUTTON STYLES:
  Primary: solid fill (primary color), white text, 8px radius
  Secondary: outline (1px border, primary color text, no fill)
  Tertiary: text only, primary color, no border

RULES:
  - Max 2 fonts (heading + body, or same at different weights)
  - Max 7 colors in palette
  - No shadows except on modals and hover cards
  - All border-radius: 8px (consistent)
  - All spacing from the 8px scale
  - Separate sections with background_alt, not borders
```

## Common mistakes

- **Using too many colors across the app** — More than 5-7 colors creates visual noise and makes the interface feel chaotic and unprofessional Fix: Define a strict color palette of 5-7 colors in Style Variables and never deviate — use tints of your primary color for variety
- **Setting spacing values arbitrarily on each element** — Random padding and margin values like 13px, 27px, and 41px create an inconsistent rhythm that subconsciously feels wrong to users Fix: Use an 8px spacing scale (8, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64) for all padding, margins, and gaps
- **Adding borders and shadows to every element** — Excessive decoration competes for attention and makes it hard for users to identify the important elements Fix: Use background color contrast and whitespace to separate sections instead of borders and shadows

## Best practices

- Define all colors as Style Variables so you can update your palette in one place
- Create named Element Styles for every text level and apply them consistently
- Use an 8px-based spacing scale for all padding, margins, and gaps
- Limit your font selection to two fonts maximum — one for headings and one for body
- Remove shadows from all elements except modals and elevated cards
- Use background color alternation instead of borders to separate page sections
- Test your design by squinting — if areas blur together, add more whitespace between them
- Apply the same border-radius value to all rounded elements for consistency

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the ideal number of colors for a minimalistic Bubble app?

Aim for 5-7 colors total: one primary brand color, one accent color, two text colors (dark and light), a background color, an alternate background, and a border color. You can create light tints of your primary color for additional variety.

### Which fonts work best for minimalistic design in Bubble?

Clean sans-serif fonts like Inter, Poppins, Open Sans, or Roboto work well. Choose one font for headings and one for body text, or use the same font at different weights. Avoid decorative or script fonts.

### How do I apply consistent spacing in Bubble?

Use an 8px-based scale: 8, 16, 24, 32, 48, and 64 pixels. Apply these values to all padding, margins, row-gap, and column-gap settings. Never use arbitrary values.

### Should I use shadows in a minimalistic design?

Use shadows sparingly. Reserve subtle shadows for elements that need to appear elevated, like modals and dropdown menus. For cards and sections, use background color contrast or thin borders instead.

### Can I change my Style Variables later without breaking the design?

Yes. That is the main benefit of Style Variables — when you update a variable value, it automatically updates everywhere that variable is used. This makes redesigns and brand color changes simple.

### How do I handle dark mode with a minimalistic design?

Create a duplicate set of Style Variables for dark mode (dark backgrounds, light text). Use a custom state or user preference field to toggle between them. Apply conditional formatting on elements to swap variable references based on the active mode.

### Can RapidDev help redesign my Bubble app with a minimalistic approach?

Yes. RapidDev can audit your existing Bubble app's design, create a professional design system with Style Variables and Element Styles, and apply minimalistic principles across all your pages for a cohesive, modern look.

---

Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/bubble-tutorial/best-practices-minimalistic-design-applications-bubble
© RapidDev — https://www.rapidevelopers.com/bubble-tutorial/best-practices-minimalistic-design-applications-bubble