Changing your Squarespace template can give your website a fresh, modern look. Whether you want a full redesign or just a subtle layout change, this guide will walk you through selecting, customizing, and switching your Squarespace template smoothly—without losing content or website functionality.
Differences Between Theme and Template on Squarespace
When working with Squarespace, the terms "theme" and "template" are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of website design. Understanding the difference between these two can help you make better design decisions. Here’s a breakdown:
- Template: A Squarespace template is a pre-designed layout that defines the structure and style of your website. It determines the overall look, feel, and functionality, including things like header styles, navigation layout, and page structure. Templates are installed at the beginning of your website design process and provide the foundation for customization.
- Theme: A Squarespace theme is a broader term that refers to the overall design style of your website, including the color scheme, fonts, and the way various design elements come together. While the template dictates the structure, the theme allows for deeper customization of visual details, such as typography, colors, and spacing.
Key Differences:
Template: Defines the base structure of the site, including page layouts, sections, and content blocks.
Theme: Focuses on the aesthetic design, including fonts, colors, and spacing within the chosen template.
In Squarespace, once you select a template, you can adjust the theme to fit your branding needs. While templates are more rigid in structure, themes are highly customizable for aesthetic changes. Thus, we shall see how to switch templates and how to change a theme of Squarespace website.
How to Choose a New Template on Squarespace
Your template defines your website’s design and functionality. Squarespace offers a variety of templates, so choosing the right one is essential.
- Explore the Squarespace Template Library: Visit the Squarespace template library and browse by category, industry, or features. Consider your website’s purpose, branding, and user experience when making a selection.
- Preview Before Selecting: Instead of relying on thumbnails, use the live preview option to see how content is structured in each template.
- Check Mobile Responsiveness: Every Squarespace template is mobile-friendly, but layouts may vary. Preview your choices on different screen sizes.
Steps to install a new template:
- Log into your Squarespace account and navigate to Design.
- Click Template to access the available options.
- Browse and click Preview to see how a new template looks.
- If satisfied, click Install. Your current template will remain active until you finalize the switch.
Customizing Your New Squarespace Template
Once you install a new template, editing and customization is key to making it match your brand and content. Actually, what you customize is the entire theme of your Squarespace website.
- Adjust Styles: Use the Site Styles panel to modify fonts, colors, buttons, and spacing.
- Check Content Placement: Your text and images will remain but may need adjustments for better alignment.
- Modify Layout & Sections: Rearrange, add, or remove blocks to fit your website’s structure.
- Test Navigation & Links: Ensure all buttons and menus function correctly.
How to Switch Templates on Squarespace Without Losing Content
One major concern when switching templates is whether content will be lost. Fortunately, Squarespace preserves most website content, but you may need to adjust formatting.
- Text, images, and blog posts: These transfer automatically, though formatting might need minor adjustments.
- Navigation menus: Some templates have different menu placements, so check that links display correctly.
- Custom sections & page layouts: Some template-specific features may not carry over. You may need to rebuild certain elements.
Going Live with Your Squarespace Template
Steps to activate the new template:
- Go to Design > Template in your Squarespace settings.
- Select your new template and click Set as Primary.
- Review each page to ensure formatting looks correct.
- Click Publish to make your new template live.
- Test your website on different browsers and devices for consistency.
How to Change Your Website Layout on Squarespace
Changing your Squarespace layout involves altering the overall structure of your site, from the positioning of sections to how elements are displayed on your pages. This can help you achieve a fresh look without changing the entire template. Here’s how you can modify your website layout:
- Change Section Layouts: In the page editor, hover over a section and click the Layout button. This allows you to choose from a variety of predefined layouts for text, images, and other content. Select the one that best fits your design needs.
- Customize Column Structure: Many Squarespace templates allow you to adjust the number of columns on your pages. To do this, click on the section you want to modify and adjust the column settings using the drag-and-drop feature.
- Rearrange Blocks: You can rearrange blocks such as text, images, buttons, and videos. Simply click and drag the blocks to reposition them on the page, or use the Insert Point feature to place them between existing blocks.
- Add or Remove Sections: To adjust your site’s structure, you can add or remove entire sections. In the page editor, click the + Add Section button to add a new section with a different layout or click the trash icon to delete an existing section.
- Adjust Header and Footer Layouts: Squarespace lets you customize the layout of your header and footer. Under the Design settings, select Site Styles and modify the header's background, height, and layout options, or adjust the footer’s content arrangement and size.
Troubleshooting Issues When Changing a Squarespace Template
Sometimes, switching templates may cause display or styling issues. Here’s how to resolve common problems:
- Content Not Displaying Properly: If elements appear misaligned, check Site Styles and adjust layout spacing.
- Custom Code Not Working: Some custom CSS or JavaScript may not transfer correctly. Reapply your code if needed.
- Broken Links or Navigation Issues: Verify that all menu links and buttons function correctly with the new template.
Best Practices for Switching Squarespace Templates
Knowing how to change your Squarespace theme, layout, or design can significantly refresh your website’s appearance. However, it requires careful planning and consideration to avoid losing content, breaking functionality, or introducing errors. To ensure a smooth transition, follow these best practices when switching templates or making layout changes.
- Plan Ahead: Before you switch templates or change your layout, take the time to sketch out your desired website structure. Think about how the new theme or layout will impact content placement and functionality. This foresight can help you avoid surprises and streamline the customization process.
- Back Up Key Content: It's essential to back up all important text, images, and any custom code. While Squarespace does a good job of preserving content, layout-specific elements or advanced customizations may not always transfer seamlessly. Save a copy of your key content and settings to avoid data loss.
- Test Before Publishing: Preview your website thoroughly to check for any inconsistencies after switching the template or modifying your layout. This includes ensuring that your design looks good on both desktop and mobile devices, checking that all links work, and confirming that navigation functions as expected.
- Check for Compatibility with Existing Custom Code: If you’ve added any custom CSS or JavaScript, it’s important to test whether it still works after switching your template or design. Different templates may require different code tweaks or might not support some customizations, so be prepared to adjust your code as needed.
- Review Mobile Responsiveness: Mobile-friendly design is a key component of modern websites. Make sure your new layout and design look great across all screen sizes. Use Squarespace’s live preview feature to check mobile responsiveness before going live.
- Recheck Navigation: The layout and design changes might affect your website’s navigation menus. After switching templates, make sure all links and buttons are functional and display correctly across different pages.
Useful Links
Switching Templates in Version 7.0 – This official guide explains the process of changing templates in Squarespace version 7.0, including how to install, preview, and activate new designs safely.
Templates and Design in Version 7.0 – Learn how templates work in version 7.0 and how design settings like site styles, page layouts, and fonts can be customized within each template.
Switching Templates in Version 7.0 FAQ – A helpful FAQ that addresses common questions about switching templates, including what content transfers automatically and what you need to reconfigure manually.
Template Configuration – For more advanced users, this developer documentation covers the configuration of templates on Squarespace, including editable regions, content mapping, and structural rules.
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Final Thoughts
Now you understand how to change the template of your Squarespace website without affecting content. By following these steps and best practices, you can switch templates smoothly while keeping your website functional and visually appealing. Explore Squarespace’s template library today and give your website a fresh, modern look!