Tiled backgrounds, often referred to as “kabe” (壁) by Japanese webmasters, were a distinctive web design trend in the early 2000s. These backgrounds involved using small images or patterns that were repeated across the entire background of a webpage, creating a seamless and visually interesting effect. Whereas a lot of websites nowadays are sleek and ‘minimalistic’ in terms of design, the approach back then created a very vibrant but sometimes cluttered effect. Yet, it’s an aesthetic that really has its charm!
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Tiled backgrounds were an easy way to add texture to a page without relying on large image files or extensive coding. The design trend often featured bright colors, all kinds of patterns, resulting in a somewhat busy looking layout.
As web design evolved, the trend (like many others) of using tiled backgrounds gradually declined. Designers began to favor cleaner, more modern aesthetics characterized by single large images, gradients, and solid colors.
Tiled backgrounds remain a nostalgic element of early web design and since I made a bunch of them back in the day, I decided to share them for free with anyone who wants to use them!
I will forever fondly remember the tiled backgrounds, or “kabe” as they were often called as influenced by Japanese webmasters and webmistresses, and hope to inspire people to incorporate them in webdesigns that mimic the designs of the early 00’s.
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