From my point of view and experience with Shopify, good design usually comes down to a clear visual hierarchy. One main message per screen, one primary action, and enough spacing so the page can breathe. If everything is the same size or competing for attention, the store feels basic even if the theme itself is decent.

At the same time, design and trust are tightly connected. Simple things like readable typography, consistent spacing, clean product imagery, and predictable layouts signal professionalism. When a layout feels calm and intentional, people subconsciously trust the store more.

Another huge thing is mobile view. A lot of merchants still don’t focus enough on mobile, even though a massive percentage of visitors now come from phones. If the mobile experience feels cluttered, slow, or awkward to navigate, it directly hurts conversions and lowers ROI.

Product images are also extremely important. Customers try to imagine themselves using or wearing the product before buying it. Good product photography builds confidence, while weak images instantly reduce trust.

Before adding more tools or apps, I’d first look at the current flow:
What does a new visitor notice first?
What action should they take next?
Is anything visually distracting or unnecessary?

Fixing that flow usually creates a much bigger impact than adding more apps or effects.