Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Full Site Editing

Embark on a journey of limitless creativity with full site editing for your WordPress site. Gone are the days of being confined by rigid templates and limited customization options. Now, imagine having the power to sculpt every inch of your website with complete editing, from the sleek headers for a site title that welcomes visitors to intricate footers or a stylish sidebar that leaves a lasting impression.

With WordPress full-site editing, the traditional boundaries of web design fade away, paving the way for a new era of innovation with site editing. This revolutionary approach introduces a range of design blocks, allowing you to effortlessly mold your site’s block theme layout to match your unique vision. Pre-defined structures no longer constrain you; instead, you can explore, experiment, and truly express yourself.

Breaking Down Full Site Editing on WordPress 

Full site editing in WordPress allows you to customize every aspect of your website easily. Unlike the traditional approach, where you could only edit posts and pages, you can now create custom headers and footers and build intricate content areas using blocks. 

Popular plugins catering to the entire site, like Divi and Elementor, have embraced this paradigm shift, equipping you with a block editor toolkit brimming with advanced features and intuitive controls. Whether you are a seasoned developer or a novice user of block themes and templates, full site editing empowers you to bring your ideas to life with unparalleled precision and finesse.

Also Read: Best Elementor SaaS WordPress Themes

Top Benefits of Full Site Editing

In a nutshell, full-site editing empowers you to unleash your creativity, streamline your workflow, and future-proof your website, all without the hassle of complicated tools or technical jargon.

The top benefits are:

• Complete Design Control: With full-site editing, you are the boss. Sculpt every corner of your website, from site icon to featured image slots, to site logo area to post tile block – everything exactly how you envision it, from headers to footers, with ease.

• Unified Editing Experience: Say farewell to hopping between different page templates, template files and editors. WordPress full site editing brings everything under one roof, simplifying work on the WordPress dashboard and makre it more efficient to tweak your site’s appearance.

• Increased Customization Options: Tired of cookie-cutter designs as found in most theme frames? Full site WordPress editing offers a treasure trove of customization options for the WordPress platform, allowing you to personalize every aspect of your webpage as you use full site editing to reflect your unique style.

• Streamlined Workflow: No more juggling multiple tools and plugins. Full-site editing streamlines the design process, saving you time and effort so you can focus on what matters most, creating great content.

• Reduced Dependence on Plugins: Say goodbye to plugin overload. Use full site editing because, many of the functionalities that once required plugins are now built right into the WordPress blog post as it shows in the new site editor. This minimizes the need for additional software cluttering your page layouts.

• Future-Proofing Your Site: Stay ahead of the curve with full site WordPress editing. By embracing this innovative site editing makes your site future-proof, ensuring it remains adaptable and relevant with new features as technology continues to evolve.

Is Full Site Editing Only Available on Block Themes?

Full site WordPress editing is not limited to block themes, but site blocks are designed to take full advantage of the feature.

Here is how WordPress websites run on all the blocks integrated in their theme:

• Block themes feature columns block with header template, footers, sidebars, and other template parts, in addition to post content block.

• They use a theme.json file as full site editing theme to control global styles and settings, replacing the traditional theme customizer.

• While not mandatory, block settings are optimized for full site editing, allowing users to add blocks throughout the theme templates.

• Currently, there are over 160 block settings available, but it is a relatively small number compared to the thousands of traditional themes already popular in the WordPress community.

Regarding blocks themselves, there are two types:

• Static blocks contain content known at the time of publishing, such as paragraphs, headings, images, and buttons.

• Dynamic (Theme) blocks are designed for template building and can pull content dynamically from the site’s backend, such as post feeds, titles, featured images, and more.

Keep Reading: Learn How to Create a Custom Post Type in WordPress Easily

What You Should Know Before Using Full Site Editing

Before diving into the site editor interface and customizing your WordPress site, it is essential to understand the requirements and potential limitations of Full Site Editing. While the feature is powerful, not all WordPress users will be able to access its full functionality right away.

Compatibility with Block Themes Only

Full Site Editing is available only for block themes. If you use classic themes, the template editor will be limited or inaccessible, and you will not see the new site editor interface in your dashboard. Install a compatible block theme by checking for the “Full Site Editing” tag in the theme directory.

Block themes are purpose-built to support header and footer templates, block styles, and custom pages through the block-based layout system. These themes use a theme.json file to define global styles, content width, and template structure, replacing older customizer options.

Check Your WordPress Version

The Full Site Editing feature was introduced in WordPress 5.8 and matured in later versions. For the best experience with template parts, query loop blocks, and style variations, updating to the latest WordPress release is strongly recommended. Older versions may not support block markup or specific blocks used in newer themes.

Understand the Learning Curve

Switching to Full Site Editing might feel unfamiliar if you are coming from classic editor workflows or using builder plugins. The three-dot menu, block toolbar, and new layout tools offer rich functionality, but there is a bit of a learning curve. Be patient while exploring the entire website structure from the new editor.

Use a Staging Environment

Before activating a block theme or switching from a builder plugin, testing changes in a staging environment is wise. This ensures that the transition does not disrupt your current page structure, HTML file organization, and custom CSS.

Understanding these essentials will allow you to avoid pitfalls and get the most out of your WordPress Full-Site Editing experience.

Steps to Full Site Editing on WordPress

Ready to take your WordPress website to the next level? Follow these simple steps to unlock the full potential of full-site editing, empowering you to customize every aspect of your site with ease and precision.

Step 1: Choosing a Compatible Theme

There are over 150 full-site editing themes you can use on WordPress. You can get one for free from WordPress or buy a premium one. Let’s pick a free one from WordPress. First, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance → Themes. Then, click Add New.

Next, click Feature Filter to set filters. You can sort by subject, features, or layout. To apply filters, check the Site Editor box and click Apply Filters.

You will see your options. Pick a theme you like or choose the Twenty Twenty-Two theme for this guide. Once selected, activate your theme, and you are ready to go!

Also Read: Exploring The Best WordPress Block Themes

Step 2: Customizing a Template

Let’s begin customizing your new theme, focusing on Twenty Twenty Two theme for simplicity:

• Activate your theme: After selecting it, activate it to start customizing.

• Access the editor: Navigate to Appearance → Editor to access the editing tools.

• Explore templates: Upon entering the editor, begin with the home page template. To explore other templates, click the WordPress logo, then Templates.

• Create new templates: Utilize the Add New button to craft unique templates tailored to your site’s needs. 

• Customize template parts: Modify template parts such as headers and footers to refine your site’s appearance.

• Add blocks: Enhance your site’s functionality by incorporating blocks. Click the blue + button to add and customize blocks.

• Edit existing blocks: You can make necessary adjustments to existing blocks by clicking on them and modifying their content or settings.

Read More: Tips to Fix WordPress Updating and Publishing Failed Errors: Ultimate List

Step 3: Getting Global Styles

One standout feature of full-site editing themes is their ability to set global styles, allowing you to customize fonts, colors, and spacing across your entire site with ease. Whether you want a cohesive look or specific styles for certain blocks, this feature saves you significant time compared to older themes. Here is how to access and customize global styles in the Twenty Twenty Two theme:

• Accessing Global Styles: Click the styles icon at the top right of the site editor to access global styles for your site.

• Browse Available Styles: Once activated, explore the available styles in the Twenty Twenty Two theme by clicking the browse styles link. Here, you can choose a color scheme that suits your site.

• Typography Settings: Under the typography section, customize font options for your text and links. Adjust font family, size, line height, and weight to achieve the desired appearance.

• Color Customization: In the colors section, edit the colors used in your global color palette. Choose colors for backgrounds, text, and links from various options. Twenty Twenty Two theme offers 17 solid colors and 20 gradients, with the option to add custom colors and gradients for branding purposes.

• Adjust Padding: Finally, fine-tune the padding of your layout. Set padding for the top, left, right, and bottom collectively or individually to ensure your site’s content is well-spaced and visually appealing.

Read More: WordPress Changes Not Showing? Fix Easily!

Step 4: Using Theme Blocks

In the block editor, you can access over 90 blocks to create page templates in the site editor. Some of these are dynamic theme blocks, displaying dynamic content on your site’s front end. For instance, when you are in the single post template, you will see blocks like post title, post featured image, and post content. These are handy for building dynamic templates to display your blog posts.

• Using Theme Blocks for Headers, Footers, and More: There are 27 theme blocks. Let’s focus on how to use a few of them to build a new header template for your site. First, go to the Templates menu and select Blank template to start.

• Navigating the Layers View: To see which blocks are used on your page, click the layers icon at the top left of your site editor screen.

• Adding Blocks for the Header: Click the blue + icon and scroll down to the theme block options. Select the template part block and drag it onto your blank page. Give it a name and click create. Then, add a spacer block for 20px of space at the top, and a columns block with a 33/33/33 column variation.

• Customizing the Header: Add the site logo, navigation, and social links blocks to the columns. You can upload images, add menu items, or add social media icons accordingly.

• Adjusting Layout: In the layers view, adjust the width of each column to 20%, 60%, and 20% respectively, under Column Settings → Width. This ensures proper spacing for your header.

• Saving Your Template: Once satisfied with your header design, click Publish to save your template.

Keep Looking: Best Elementor SaaS WordPress Themes 

Step 5: Block Patterns for Starting Designs

When designing templates, block patterns are a quick way to add blocks for easier design. WordPress offers standard block patterns, or you can create your own. Here’s how to access and use them:

• Access Block Patterns: Click the blue + icon in the site editor, then go to the patterns tab. There, you’ll find various categories, such as footers, headers, buttons, galleries, and more.

• Edit Patterns: Each pattern can be customized to fit your design. You can adjust colors, fonts, and padding styles within individual blocks.

• Save Patterns: To save a pattern you have customized, click the ellipsis menu in the list view, then choose Add to Reusable Blocks. You can also save it as a Template Part for later use.

Using block patterns streamlines your design process, helping you create professional-looking templates with ease.

More Reading: Best Site Reputation Management Tools to Monitor Social Mentions 

Pro Tips and Common Pitfalls When Using Full Site Editing

Now that you have a solid grasp of how to get started, it is time to focus on best practices and watch out for a few common challenges that may arise as you build with the WordPress site editor.

Always Back Up Before Major Changes

Create a backup before updating your theme files, adding a new template, or editing the page’s structure. This protects your content if something breaks due to block conflicts or removing blocks that affect the current page.

Use the Code Editor for Advanced Control

While the block interface is powerful, advanced users can take it further by using the code editor within the Site Editor. This is especially helpful for customizing an individual block’s layout or inserting HTML comments. You can also fine-tune alignment, spacing, and content width beyond what the visual editor allows.

Master the Query Loop Block

The query loop block is a cornerstone of dynamic content building in Full Site Editing. It lets you display post grids, product listings, or category-specific feeds anywhere on your site, not just the page templates. Learn to adjust the loop settings, add filters, and customize the page’s content using reusable block structures.

Avoid Mixing Classic and Block Themes

Using classic themes alongside FSE tools can create inconsistencies. Your footer or header templates might not display correctly, and you could lose access to the site editor interface. To avoid issues, theme developers recommend sticking to fully block-compatible themes.

Explore and Customize Style Variations

Many modern block themes have built-in style variations that alter the website’s fonts, colors, and spacing. You can switch these variations easily without affecting the page content, giving you design flexibility without needing third-party page builders.

Use Reusable Blocks and Template Parts

Creating reusable blocks helps you maintain a consistent design for elements like comment forms, CTA sections, and custom pages. Save blocks or patterns directly through the three-dot menu in the editor, and organize your layouts more efficiently across multiple templates.

Be Mindful of Plugin Conflicts

Some older builder plugins or classic editor extensions may conflict with FSE features. When possible, use block-compatible builder plugin alternatives, and disable conflicting tools that duplicate features already built into the new template editor.

By following these tips and being aware of common pitfalls, you will gain better control over your WordPress templates and build faster, leaner, and more future-proof websites using Full Site Editing.

Conclusion

WordPress full site editing empowers you to unleash your creativity and take complete control over your website’s design. Explore compatible block themes, master the block editor, leverage community resources, implement best practices, and embrace continuous learning.

Following these actionable steps, you can unlock a world of possibilities, streamline your workflow, and future-proof your online presence with this innovative WordPress feature.

FAQs About WordPress Full Site Editing