Color
Acute gradients were popular throughout this decade. Color was used more tactically than the 90s with apparent color palettes.
The 2000s
Typography
Typography in the 2000s was often more stylized than in the 90s, with the use of custom fonts and text effects being more common. Links were often styled with color, and text was often given a drop shadow or emboss effect.
Layout
Layout in the 2000s was often more complex than in the 90s, with the use of gradients, drop shadows, and rounded corners being more common. The use of background images was also more common, often distractingly so.
Imagery
Textures and/or images were used liberally to the point of being distracting in many cases.
Interactive elements
Interactive elements in the 2000s underwent minimal styling, usually being limited to color variations.