<nav class="nav">
  <ul class="list">
    <li class="item"><a href="" class="link">Link</a></li>
    <li class="item"><a href="" class="link">Link</a></li>
    <li class="item"><a href="" class="link">Link</a></li>
    <li class="item"><a href="" class="link">Link</a></li>
    <li class="item"><a href="" class="link">Link</a></li>
  </ul>
</nav>

.list {
  max-width: 500px;
  list-style-type: none;
  padding: 0 0;
  background: #211e1e;
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  margin: 0 auto;
}

.link {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 10px 15px;
  margin: 0 10px;
  background: transparent;
  color: #f3f3f3;
  text-decoration: none;
  transition: background .5s;
  &:hover, &:focus {
    background: red;
  }
}