Looking for free design resources? Great web design doesn’t require a huge budget. This guide curates the best free design resources – from fonts and color palettes to templates and stock photos – to help you create professional, stunning websites.

Best Free Design Resources by Category

Free Design Resources: Typography & Fonts

Typography sets the tone for your entire website. The right font choice communicates professionalism, creativity, or friendliness before visitors read a single word.

Choosing the Right Font

Consider these factors when selecting fonts from free design resources:

  • Readability – Can visitors easily read body text?
  • Brand alignment – Does the font match your personality?
  • Web performance – Fewer font files = faster loading
  • Pairing – Do your heading and body fonts complement each other?

Best Free Font Resources

Google Fonts offers hundreds of free, web-optimized fonts. Here are our curated picks:

Free Design Resources: Colors & Palettes

Color psychology influences how visitors perceive your brand. A well-chosen color scheme creates visual harmony and guides attention.

Creating a Color Scheme

Most websites use 3-5 colors:

  • Primary color – Your main brand color
  • Secondary color – Complements the primary
  • Accent color – For calls-to-action and highlights
  • Background colors – Usually neutrals (white, gray, black)
  • Text colors – High contrast for readability

Detailed guide: How to Choose the Perfect Website Color Scheme

Social Media Colors

Need the exact colors used by social platforms? Reference our guide:

The Social Media Color Palette

Free Design Resources: Stock Photos

High-quality images make websites look professional, but licensing can be expensive. Fortunately, many sites offer stunning photos as free design resources.

Our curated list: 10 Best Free Stock Photos Websites

Image Best Practices

  • Compress images – Reduce file size without losing quality
  • Use appropriate dimensions – Don’t upload 4000px images for 800px spaces
  • Add alt text – Improves accessibility and SEO
  • Choose relevant images – Generic stock photos feel impersonal
  • Maintain consistency – Use similar styles throughout your site

Social Media Image Sizes

Different platforms require different dimensions:

What is the Instagram photo size?

Free Design Resources: Templates & Mockups

Templates give you a head start on design projects. From website templates to resume designs, these free design resources save hours of work.

Free Website Templates

Free PSD Templates

Photoshop templates for designers:

Free Resume Templates

Professional resume and CV templates:

Free Design Resources: Tools

The right tools make design work more efficient and enjoyable. Here are essential tools for web designers:

Complete overview: Top Web Designer Tools to Use

Categories of Design Tools

  • UI/UX Design – Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
  • Image Editing – Photoshop, GIMP, Canva
  • Vector Graphics – Illustrator, Inkscape
  • Prototyping – InVision, Marvel, Framer
  • Color Tools – Coolors, Adobe Color, Colormind
  • Font Tools – Google Fonts, Font Pair, Typewolf

Free Design Resources: Inspiration & Learning

Stay current with design trends and learn from industry leaders:

10 Top Design Blogs You Have to Read

Where to Find Design Inspiration

  • Dribbble – Showcase of designer work
  • Behance – Creative portfolios
  • Awwwards – Award-winning websites
  • CSS Design Awards – Innovative web design
  • Pinterest – Visual idea boards

Build Your Free Design Resources Library

Bookmark these free design resources and build a personal library organized by project needs. With the right resources at hand, you can create professional designs efficiently – even on a limited budget.

Ready to put these free design resources to use? Explore our WordPress Themes Guide to find a theme that matches your design vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are these design resources really free to use commercially?
    Most are, but always check the license. Google Fonts and Unsplash allow commercial use. Some icon packs and templates have restrictions on resale or redistribution. Read the license terms on each resource before using it in client work.
  • Do I need design software to use these resources?
    Not necessarily. Free fonts install on any computer and work in any application. Color tools are browser-based. Stock photos just need downloading. For PSD or AI templates you need compatible software, but many free resources work without any special tools.
  • How do I choose fonts that work well together?
    Pair a serif with a sans-serif for contrast. Use one font for headings and another for body text. Stick to two or three fonts maximum. Google Fonts suggests popular pairings on each font page, which makes the process much easier.
  • Where should I start if I’m new to design?
    Start with fonts and colors. Pick a clean font pair and a simple color palette for your project. Browse free stock photo sites for imagery. These three elements alone will give your website or project a professional foundation without spending anything.