How to Tell If Your Website Needs a Redesign

Laura Kuhn
2 days ago
4 min read

Your website may not come with an expiration date, but like an old business card or a faded sign above your door, there comes a time when it stops representing who you are. If your site looks or feels like it’s stuck in a time warp—or worse, if it’s not bringing in results—it may be time for a makeover.

At Midnight Boheme, we specialize in crafting websites with visual flair and business strategy in mind. Here are the top signs your website is ready for a redesign—plus how to get it back on brand and back in business.

⏳ 1. It Looks Outdated

Be honest: when was the last time you updated your design? If your website still has:

Tiny fonts, overly boxy layouts, or inconsistent colors
Flashy animations from 2010 (or actual Flash… yikes)
Stock photos that scream “template”…it’s not doing you any favors.

🛠 Fix it: Refresh with modern type, mobile-responsive layout, and custom visuals that reflect your brand’s current energy and audience.

💡 A dated site makes people question whether your business is still active.

📉 2. It’s Not Performing

You’re getting traffic—but no inquiries. Or people visit your site, click once, and bounce.

Common signs of poor performance:

High bounce rate
Low conversion rate (few emails, calls, bookings, or sales)
Visitors can’t find key info or get confused mid-navigation

🛠 Fix it: Rebuild your user flow with clear CTAs, focused content, and engaging visuals that lead people where you want them to go.

🧭 A beautiful site that doesn’t convert is just a pretty paperweight.

📱 3. It’s Not Mobile-Friendly

If your site still loads like a jigsaw puzzle on mobile—or requires pinch-zooming to read—it’s frustrating your users and hurting your SEO.

Signs of mobile issues:

Elements overlapping or cut off
Buttons too small to tap
Long load times or images that don’t scale

🛠 Fix it: Use responsive design to make sure your site looks and functions flawlessly on all devices—because most users are visiting you on their phones first.

📲 Mobile-first isn’t a trend. It’s the norm.

🎨 4. It Doesn’t Match Your Brand Anymore

Maybe your business evolved. Your voice changed. Your visuals got a glow-up. But your site still screams “you, five years ago.”

Brand mismatches might include:

Colors that no longer reflect your vibe
A homepage tone that feels stiff or off
Services that are outdated or missing entirely

🛠 Fix it: Redesign your site to align with your current visual identity and messaging. You’ve grown—your website should reflect that.

🌙 If your site doesn’t feel like you anymore, your audience will feel the disconnect.

🧩 5. It’s Clunky to Use (Or Hard to Update)

If even you avoid touching your site because it’s a nightmare to update or navigate… that’s a problem.

Look for:

Pages buried under menus within menus
No blog or place to add new content
You needing a developer for every little change

🛠 Fix it: Rebuild in a user-friendly platform like Wix, WordPress, or Squarespace (we’ll help you choose!) with intuitive backend access and smart structure.

⚙️ A good website is a tool you can actually use, not just admire.

📈 6. Your Competition Is Leaving You Behind

Check out your competitors. If their sites feel polished, modern, and responsive—and yours doesn’t—you’re giving them a huge advantage.

🛠 Fix it: Take notes from what others in your industry are doing well, then go one step further with strategic brand storytelling and design flair.

🚀 In business, impressions matter. Make sure yours doesn’t feel like a throwback.

🌙 Midnight Boheme: Website Redesigns with Personality & Purpose

We’ve revamped websites for:

Mosaic Restaurant & The Beer House – A dynamic digital presence for a downtown Ocean Springs venue that blends casual fine-dining tapas with craft beer and live music. The design uses bold imagery of indoor/outdoor dining spaces, clean typography highlighting vegan options and cocktails, and a user-friendly event-booking flow. The site immediately communicates: great food, great beer, and great vibes in one place.
Evergreen – A refined and elevated website for a farm-to-table coastal Southern restaurant and lounge. The design conveys modern Southern charm via earthy tones, art-deco touches, elegant imagery, and menu previews. The site emphasizes seasonal cooking, cocktails, and a stylish atmosphere – all anchored in local character and hospitality
Eleven Cocktail Lounge – A sleek, story-driven website for a high-end cocktail lounge rooted in Southern hospitality and modern sophistication. From the curated drinks menu to the refined layout of the site, the design mirrors the ambiance of velvet seating and artisanal libations. Thoughtful use of imagery and elegant navigation invite visitors to “slow sip” rather than rush in.
Red Apple Lounge - A theatrical website for a cocktail bar with cinematic inspiration. Styled around film-culture references and Tarantino-esque visuals, the design uses retro-visual cues and mood-lighting photography to set the tone. Clear calls for event bookings, a vibrant menu highlight, and an overall atmosphere that says “lounge meets film set” give the site a strong personality.
Lost Spring Brewing Company - A community-oriented website for a neighborhood craft brewery and taproom. The design communicates warmth and accessibility: in-house brewed beer, live music, take-out and dine-in options, event rentals, and a pet-friendly vibe. Bold visuals of taps, events, and gatherings paired with clear menus and location/service info make the site inviting and functional.
Neon Moon - An energetic website for an entertainment-heavy cocktail lounge and dance venue. The visual identity leans into nightlife: strong hero imagery of cocktails, live music, and dancing; service areas for bookings & venue rentals; and a layout that’s mobile-friendly for spontaneous visits. The site feels bold, fun, and immediate — perfect for an “eat, drink, dance” destination.