Why I Ditched Templates and Started Designing from Scratch

A personal look into why I stopped using templates and committed to custom design—and how it transformed my work.

There was a time when using templates felt like the easiest way to launch a website. I could get something up and running in a day—add some text, swap a few colors, and call it done. But one night, while finishing up a client's site that looked just like the last few I'd made, I had a moment: this wasn’t real building. It was copy and paste.

I wasn’t solving problems. I was just filling in the blanks.

That moment changed everything. I decided to stop leaning on templates and start building sites from scratch. It wasn’t always easy, but it’s been the best decision I’ve made as a developer.

Why Templates Made Sense at First

At the beginning, templates helped me get work done fast. When I had several projects going on or needed to impress a client quickly, they let me move fast. I spent most of my time changing text, colors, and images—not thinking about how the site actually worked.

And for a while, that was okay.

But over time, I started feeling stuck. Templates made it hard to make changes. I had to work around their limitations instead of building things the way I wanted. I was squeezing client needs into fixed layouts instead of creating something that truly fit them.

The Moment Everything Changed

It all came to a head with one project. The client wanted a landing page that felt alive—with smooth animations, a custom layout, and sections that could change based on content. They had already picked a fancy template, so I tried to make it work.

It was a mess. I had to force things into place, write weird fixes, and remove a bunch of stuff that wasn’t needed. In the end, it kind of worked. But I wasn’t proud of it. And it was definitely not fun.

That was it for me. I realized I wanted to build websites that worked well inside and out—not just looked okay on the surface.

Why I Started Building Custom

Building custom sites gave me freedom. I could:

• Create exactly what was needed, without working around someone else's layout.
• Focus on real users, not generic assumptions.
• Make sites faster and cleaner, without extra code weighing them down.
• Build designs that were truly one-of-a-kind.

I leaned heavily on Tailwind CSS to make this easier. It helped me build quickly while keeping everything consistent and clean. It was like having a toolkit that worked the way I thought.

Each project felt more personal and more creative. I was no longer painting by numbers.

What Changed After Going Custom

Here’s what I noticed:

• My code was cleaner and easier to update.
• Projects got faster to build. Reusing my own pieces saved time without losing flexibility.
• Clients were happier. They saw designs that really matched their brand, not a template.
• I got more referrals. Unique work stands out. Templates don't.

It Wasn't Always Easy

Building custom takes more planning. I had to think more about each part of the site. Sometimes it took longer.

But tools like Tailwind and small design systems helped a lot. Once I got used to the process, it all started to flow. Now it feels natural.

Final Thoughts

Templates aren't bad. They're great for quick projects or when money is tight. But if you want to create something that really fits a business or tells a story, templates can get in the way.

For me, that moment came when I realized I was making the same thing over and over.

Now, building custom is where I feel at home. I get to solve problems, not just decorate. I get to create websites that work well, look great, and feel right.

If you feel stuck using the same templates again and again, maybe it's time to try building your own way too.