If Your UI Feels Weird, You Might Be Missing Visual Rhythm and Baselines

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Josef Röyem

Everything seems neatly lined up, but it still feels… awkward?

You might be missing two essential but often ignored ingredients: visual rhythm and shared baselines!

In this post, I’ll break down what these mean, why they matter (especially for developers), and how to implement them for that “designer” interface vibe.

What is Visual Rhythm?

Visual rhythm is the repetition and spacing of elements that guides the eye, creating flow and predictability.

It’s like music for your eyes:

• Repetition = beats
• Spacing = tempo
• Alignment = structure

When you have good rhythm, interfaces are easier to read, smoother to use, and just feel better.

Let’s map it out:

Just like music, without structure, your UI becomes chaotic noise. Random spacing, unstructured arrangement = instant cognitive “load”.

Shared Baselines: The Unsung Hero

A shared baseline means UI elements—especially text and buttons—are aligned to the same imaginary horizontal line.

[ Title        ]  <- shared baseline
[ Description  ]  <- shared baseline
[ Button       ]  <- shared baseline

Compare that to this messy stack:

[  Title       ]
     [Desc    ]
          [Button    ]

Your eyes feel the disorder before your brain can describe it. That’s the power of alignment.

Why Visual Rhythm Matters (Especially for Devs)

• Reduces cognitive load
• Creates consistency across components
• Makes design systems easier to scale
• Helps users scan UIs faster

How to Implement Visual Rhythm in Code

A quick-start checklist for developers:

1. Use a Base Spacing Scale

Pick a unit (like 4px or 8px):

:root {
  --space-1: 4px;
  --space-2: 8px;
  --space-3: 16px;
  --space-4: 32px;
}

Apply it everywhere:

.card {
  padding: var(--space-3);
  margin-bottom: var(--space-3);
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: var(--space-2);
}

2. Align Text to a Vertical Rhythm Grid

Use consistent line-heights and vertical spacing:

body {
  font-size: 16px;
  line-height: 1.5; /* vertical rhythm = 24px baseline */
}

Pair with a spacing system that matches:

.section {
  margin-bottom: 24px;
}

3. Use Shared Baselines for UI Components

<div class="card">
  <h2>Heading</h2>
  <p>Description text</p>
  <button>Click Me</button>
</div>

.card h2,
.card p,
.card button {
  line-height: 1.5;
  margin: 0;
}

Now, all elements align cleanly, forming a visible grid and an intuitive flow.

Real UI Example: Card With Good Rhythm

<div class="card">
  <h3>Product Title</h3>
  <p>$29.99</p>
  <button>Add to Cart</button>
</div>

.card {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 16px;
  padding: 16px;
  border: 1px solid #eee;
}

Notice:

• Consistent spacing (gap)
• Aligned elements
• Vertical rhythm intact

Final Tips for Developers

• Use spacing tokens/a scale—never random “magic numbers”
• Align everything: text, buttons, images, icons
• Stick to a baseline rhythm: line-height + spacing units
• Test with dev tools: toggle outlines, margin guides
• Debug in grayscale to check flow without color distraction

TL;DR

• Visual rhythm is the hidden beat of a clean UI
• Use consistent spacing and type scale
• Align elements to shared baselines
• Rhythm = repetition + flow = better UX

Want More?

• Refactoring UI (Steve Schoger)
• Designing Interfaces (Jenifer Tidwell)
• Baseline Grid Figma Plugin (for alignment testing)

As a developer, you’re not just writing logic—you’re orchestrating the experience.

Use visual rhythm to guide users like a symphony.

Drop your questions below or share how you use rhythm in your UI! Let’s make the web harmonious.

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Josef Röyem