I use widgets but it's more a productive layout than an attractive one. The widgets I use typically have semi-personal information hence not posting. So!
If you swipe right from my home page (the original widgets page) I have battery for four devices (long) and the weather app as a big square, I also have the native calendar app as a long widget (you can actually pull widgets from the main page into this area).
On my first page I have standard standalone Apple Apps (settings, app store, find my...) and a couple of folders for social media/daily use apps.
In my dock I have a folder for communications (mail apps, phone, teams, whatsapp etc) a folder for photo editing, the camera and my home security webcam viewer (both for easy access whatever screen I'm on)
On my second page, I have a widget for a countdown app, I use the large widget for that, it has the next payday, birthdays and events on it, and of course, there's a countdown for iPhone 14 which is currently at 362 days if next years launch matches 2021! I also use the long widget for photos, it's been a nice reminder of past events providing many random moments to smile or remember things in my photo album I've not seen in quite a while.
On my third page, I have a large widget for Things 3 which serves as a to-do list. Also the long widget for Siri Suggestions.... if I've made it that far and haven't found the app I need, I rely on the app library or search
