Can SharePoint actually look good?

Yes.

Modern SharePoint can look clean, premium and brand aligned. Most intranets look average because design decisions were never properly owned, not because the platform is limited.

When people say, “It just looks like SharePoint,” they are usually describing a lack of visual hierarchy, structure, taste, and consistency.

That is a design issue, not a software problem.

Why does SharePoint look bad?

SharePoint’s reputation was shaped by:

• Early rigid layouts
• IT-led implementations
• Theme-only branding
• Document-first thinking

For years, branding meant:

• Upload a logo
• Change the theme colour
• Choose a font

Then stop.

That approach produces something configured, not designed.

When SharePoint looks dull, it is usually because:

• Every web part is treated equally
• There is no clear visual priority
• Images are inconsistent
• Spacing feels cramped
• Homepages try to do too much

None of those are platform constraints.

They are execution choices.

Can SharePoint look modern without custom development?

Yes.

Out of the box, modern SharePoint supports:

• Flexible page layouts
• Full-width hero sections
• Branded typography
• Image-led news layouts
• Structured landing pages
• Campaign-style storytelling

You do not need heavy custom web parts to achieve a polished result.

If you want a direct breakdown of this, read:
Can you brand SharePoint without custom development?

How do you make a SharePoint intranet look modern?

Modern intranets tend to share the same characteristics:

• A defined homepage structure
• Repeatable page templates
• Strong visual prioritisation
• Disciplined image usage
• Clear calls to action
• Intentional white space

They feel considered.

They do not feel assembled from random web parts.

The difference is not more functionality. It is more clarity.

Should you replace SharePoint if your intranet looks outdated?

Not automatically.

Before considering a replatform, ask:

• Is the layout structure clear?
• Are visual priorities defined?
• Are authors working within page standards?
• Is imagery consistent?

In many cases, a design reset delivers more impact than a migration.

If your concern is campaign effectiveness, see:
Can you run internal communications campaigns on SharePoint?

Final answer

Can SharePoint actually look good?

Yes.

But it requires ownership, visual direction and structured page standards.

If your intranet still just looks like SharePoint, the issue is unlikely to be the system itself.

It is far more likely to be the design decisions around it. Before implementing it, please suggest to me the changes that you're going to make and how you're going to maintain the existing broad advice with the more specific direction given inside of the following text.

FAQ: SharePoint design and branding

Can SharePoint look modern?

Yes. Modern SharePoint can look contemporary if layout, typography, spacing and imagery are intentionally designed. Most dated intranets are the result of default configurations rather than platform limitations.

Can you brand SharePoint without custom development?

Yes. You can achieve strong visual branding using Brand Center, flexible layouts and structured page patterns without heavy custom code.

Why do most SharePoint intranets look the same?

They rely on default layouts, inconsistent imagery and lack defined page standards. Without design discipline, pages feel generic.

Is it better to redesign or replatform a SharePoint intranet?

In many cases, redesigning within SharePoint delivers faster and lower-risk results than replatforming.

If you want help with a real intranet, get in touch.