When it comes to many WordPress sites, visual page appearance is extremely important for the user experience. And of course WordPress themes come with tons of options to customize and create exactly the look you want for your blog, e-commerce store, company website etc. However, depending on the theme you’re using you may not have access to all the options for creating the unique feel that you want or need. Sure, most themes come with choices of fonts, colors, sidebar and widget designs and more, but to make more monumental and noticeable alterations many users find themselves lost.
Case in point: creating a full-width page for your site rather than relying on the default size. Making this change can really make a page pop, especially if the content on that page is of the visual nature (rather than just words). There are two ways to go about making a full-width page, both of which are quick and easier and suitable even for those who are beginners to WordPress.
If your theme already comes with a template for a full-width page and you’re just not enabling the option, your work should be a snap. First, edit a page or create a new one by going to “Pages, Add New” and, on the edit screen, select full width under the page attributes meta box. After doing this, be sure to save your page before you continue to edit it (going full-width may dictate adding more content or rearranging what’s already there). Then click the preview button to see how it will appear.
The second method for creating a full-width screen requires using a page builder plugin (such as Beaver Builder), which will allow you to create different page layouts for your site including those that will render full width. Once you’ve chosen, installed, and enabled your plugin—try to find one with a drag-and-drop interface, as it will be more intuitive and easy to use—go to the page edit screen again and you should see the option for creating a full-width template now appears. Now, click the page builder tab above the page editor and the interface will begin. Most plugins come with ready-to-use templates that you can choose with a click and watch as the layout with your images and content loads automatically. You also have the option of selecting and beginning with a blank template that you’ll need to build from the ground up and select rows, modules, columns, widgets and more. You’ll also be able to pick exactly the colors, fonts, background images and text style you desire for your new full-width pages. When you’re done designing your page it’s time to publish: click the “Done” button at the top and you’re all set.
Lastly, if you don’t see the full-width option on your page edit screen and don’t want to use a page builder plugin, you’ll have to create it manually. It’s not overly difficult to do and you won’t have to change your theme, but you will need to have some basic understanding of PHP, CSS and HTML. Therefore it’s highly recommended that you call in an expert (Byte Technology can help you switch over to full-width pages quickly and seamlessly) before you attempt to start coding. And if you do choose to take this route first create a backup of your WordPress in case anything goes wrong during your coding and you need to revert to the previous version. Then visit WPBeginner.com and search for “How to Create a Full Width Page in WordPress” for the detailed lines of code that must be entered in a plain text editor and through the FTP client.
