How to Create the Best Font Pairings
I know when you’re not familiar with font types, it can seem like you have an endless array of options to choose from. And sure, there’s a little bit of truth to that. But it's really not true at all. lol. You see, all fonts have certain meanings, just like colors do. Some fonts are more traditional, some are modern, and some are even country western. It’s important to know a bit about the meanings of fonts first before selecting the options that will represent your blog or business.
“It’s important to know the meanings of fonts before selecting options to represent your blog or biz.”
It’s important to be intentional here because these fonts will be representing your brand everywhere—your website, your graphics, print materials, everything! It absolutely crucial to be consistent with the fonts that you choose, as well, because that consistency will help solidify your brand identity.
Below, I overview the font types and scenarios for using them. This is great for helping you to get started with choosing fonts that are right for you.
Sans serif font
These fonts are the fonts without the little “tails” on the ends of the letters. They're sleek and modern and they have a nice, crisp look and feel. My favorite sans serif font is Futura, which is all over my website. These fonts are great for anyone doing business or blogging in today’s world.
Serif font
These fonts are the fonts with the little “tails” on the ends of the letters. They give off an older, traditional look and feel. These fonts are great when you want you want a classic, sophisticated look for your blog or business. I often see these types of fonts used for fashion bloggers, with a variation of the “Vogue” font. It’s also great for novelists to use for their books and on their websites.
Script font
These fonts look like cursive or calligraphy. They give off a elegant and feminine look and feel. Script fonts are used for businesses and blogs that target women. They’re used very often on wedding materials, like invitations, and place cards, as well.
Slab font
Slab fonts can be thick and blocky. They're perfect for making a bold and big statement. You will see these fonts used often in graphic designs on flyers for different creative events and happenings.
Display font
Display fonts are very animated. They have a cartoon-ish and youthful look and feel. You’ll often see these fonts associated with anything that relates to children.
Handwriting font
Handwriting font is just what is says—fonts that look like handwriting. They are great for giving off a casual and relaxed vibe. You will sometimes see these fonts used for creative businesses, with a solopreneur, who does one-on-one client work. This is because handwriting font has a relatable feel to it, like you're getting a handwritten note from the person using it.
Why certain fonts look better together than others
Fonts that pair well together are fonts that are complementary to each other. You should select at least two fonts, no more than three, to represent your blog or business. A good rule of thumb is as follows: Sans serif fonts pair well with serif fonts. And script fonts pair well with sans serif fonts. Typically, one of the fonts is used for headings, which is the larger text that represents blog post titles, titles of sections within your content, etc. And the other font is used for body text, which is the text within paragraphs.
Basically, fonts pair well with their opposites. So as you work through pairing them together, play around with your options to see which ones look best together for the meaning that you want to convey. Be sure to consider who your target audience is, what type of business or blog you have, and then you'll be able to choose fonts in an informed way. Use my free worksheet to get started. By using resources like Google Fonts, you will automatically get suggestions for good font pairings with each font you click on, so it's a great for beginners!
