How to Vibe Code Your Dream Website: A Simple Guide

Vibe coding is a new way to build websites. You don't start with a blank screen or complex code. You start with a vibe — the look and feel you want — and then use AI to turn that feeling into a real website.

Here is the exact 4-step process I use to build beautiful sites fast.

Step 1: Write Down Your Plan

Before you look for designs or use AI, spend 10 minutes writing down exactly what you want to build.

What to include:

The Goal: What is the site for? (e.g., A portfolio for a designer)
The Audience: Who will visit? (e.g., Tech startup founders)
The Look: Use 3-5 words to describe the feeling (e.g., Bold, clean, dark mode)
The Call to Action: What is the one thing you want visitors to do? (e.g., Click "Contact Me")

Step 2: Find Your Inspiration

Visit sites like Awwwards, Dribbble, or Pinterest to find designs you love. Take screenshots of things that catch your eye:

Overall page layouts
Color palettes
Font styles
Specific parts (like a cool button or a nice header)

Collect about 12 to 20 screenshots. Don't overthink it — just grab what feels right!

Step 3: Create Your "Design System" with AI

Now, give all your screenshots to an AI like Claude or ChatGPT. Ask it to turn those images into a "Design JSON" (a list of rules).

Use this prompt:

"Look at these screenshots. I'm building [Paste your Step 1 Plan].

Create a Design JSON for me that includes:

Colors (primary, background, accents with hex codes)

Fonts (headings, body text, sizes)

Spacing (how much room between sections)

Component styles (how buttons and cards should look)

Only output the JSON code."

The AI will give you a block of code. This is your design "rulebook."

Step 4: Build the Site with AI

Take your Plan (Step 1) and your Design JSON (Step 3) to an AI website builder like Lovable, Bolt, or v0.

Your first prompt to the builder:

"I want to build a website called [Site Name].

Project Plan: [Paste Step 1] Design Rules: [Paste Step 3 JSON]

Build the full layout using these rules exactly. Make sure the colors, fonts, and spacing match the JSON."

Pro Tip: If you don't like something, tell the AI specifically what to change (e.g., "Make the buttons more rounded like the JSON says").

Why This Works

Most people get generic websites from AI because they don't give it clear instructions. By following these steps, you give the AI a foundation (your plan) and a style guide (your JSON).

You aren't just "asking" for a site; you're giving the AI the exact ingredients to bake it perfectly.

What's Next?

This is just the first part! In my next post, I'll show you how to add animations to make your site feel alive and professional.

This guide is part of the Vibe Coding series — helping you build beautiful things with AI.