I am working on a web application that has a typical top nav, using this paradigm.
[logo].........[search bar]................[home] [link 1] [link 2] [link 3] [logout]
By top nav, I mean that this menu is the topmost element of the page, ie above this the user will be interacting with the browser itself.
My current issue is this website is being conceived using a 'minimalist' design approach -- not much lines, borders, or boxes. The background is white, and I'm attempting to have the whitespace contain elements based on their placements and margins. This has worked well re text and other elements but not much (to my eye) re the top menu.
It feels like those links should be contained by something, a box, line, etc, or else they're just floating around.
Does anyone have suggestions to give a better sense of solidity to the top menu, while maintaining a light and unobtrusive design. Any examples/links are welcome and if needed, I'll be glad to better describe this very subjective issue.