This week on Friday Focus: it’s backgrounds with repeating patterns, a well-loved technique that doesn’t go out of style.

I’m seeing a lot of sites whose color palette consists almost exclusively of light grayish, brownish hues. Sounds boring? No such thing for a smart designer.

This week’s Friday Focus will tackle websites for a designer’s best friend: icons. Icon sites have been around for the longest time but we’re seeing a lot of sites pushing the envelope in interface innovation, both with their offerings and the website designs they’re found in. The latest trend so far? Websites created for a single icon set—now that’s a great way to promote work.

The featured sites this week know how to use lighter, lower contrast hues of brown to evoke a professional, comforting mood.