First there was sewing at home, then there was window shopping, now there is Pinterest. Pinterest is a brand new kind of social network where Pinners can post photos from around the web on their specialized virtual bulletin boards and share their findings with their friends and strangers. The beautiful layout features a never ending scroll bar which maximizes the chance of people wasting hours on the site without even noticing the time flying by. Pinterest is now a main generator of traffic to blogs, retail websites, funny Memes, and much more.

Of course web designers can learn something by just looking at Pinterest from the vantage point that the site is a modern-day success story, something they would like to replicate, however Pinterest offers more than that to designers looking for inspiration. Pinterest captures the interests, ideas, and desires of a target demographic – women who spend time online. Sure, there is a man or two on Pinterest, but it’s obviously slanted to the female audience. Here are some important future design trends and tips that professionals can learn just by spending some time on Pinterest.

Women like Pastels

That is definitely a generalization, but the point is what people really like are color palettes. Some of the most popularly re-pinned pictures are of outfit sets complete with top, bottom, shoes, and accessories, all from one seasonal color palette. Sometimes this is pastels, sometimes its summer brights, or neutrals for fall, but no matter what palate it is, the colors are always limited to about three hues and are coordinated beautifully. Web designers looking to catch the eye of the online adult female should consider choosing a modern color palate to impress.

Everyone Likes a Laugh

Recipes, clothing, and wedding planning are popular Pinterest postings, however funny sayings, humorous pictures, and comics are at the top of the charts as well. While humor isn’t appropriate for all websites, the ones that can get away with it should. A good laugh or even just a chuckle is enough to soften a web visitor’s mood and help them feel more comfortable browsing around. Web designers can use anything from a clever 404 page to a complete blog filled with funny pictures and posts to keep customers engaged.

Style is Social

Any Pinterest user will tell you their home, closet, and kitchen look nothing like what the posts on their Pinterest profile relay, but that doesn’t mean they won’t share these images with their friends and followers. Pinterest allows users a way to capture who they are in its purest form – if money, space, and regular everyday life were no restraint. Web designers who are able to capture their target market’s dream lifestyle are more likely to achieve “word of mouth” advertising success. People are more likely to share a link to a website which reflects everything they wish their home, wardrobe, friends, or any part of their life looked like in its purest beauty.