Most designers hit the same walls early on. After years of building templates, here are the 5 layout mistakes I see constantly — and the fix for each:

1. No visual hierarchy

Everything the same size = nothing stands out. Pick ONE element to dominate (usually the headline). Make it 2-3x bigger than supporting text.

2. Too many fonts

Stick to 2 max. One for headings, one for body. If you want variety, use weight and size — not more typefaces.

3. Ignoring whitespace

Cramming content edge-to-edge kills readability. Give your elements room to breathe. When in doubt, add more space.

4. Inconsistent spacing

If your top margin is 24px, your bottom margin should be too. Use a grid or spacing system. Consistency > creativity here.

5. Centering everything

Center alignment works for short text, but left-align anything longer than 2 lines. Your readers' eyes will thank you.

I've built a free collection of design templates that bake these principles in — so you can start with good foundations instead of fixing bad habits later.