How to Choose the Perfect Squarespace Template for Your Business in Version 7.1 (Fluid Engine)
Squarespace has long been known for its beautifully designed templates, giving users the ability to create stunning websites with ease. But with the introduction of Fluid Engine in Squarespace 7.1, users now have even greater control over their layouts and designs, without needing to know any code. Fluid Engine brings drag-and-drop functionality, more robust grid customization, and unprecedented flexibility to every page, giving you more creative freedom to craft a website that suits your business.
In this post, we’ll explore how to choose the perfect Squarespace template for your business while making the most of the new Fluid Engine features. Whether you’re building a portfolio, an e-commerce store, or a blog, understanding how templates work in v7.1 will help you create a stunning and functional website.
1. Understanding Squarespace’s Universal Templates in v7.1
Unlike previous versions of Squarespace, where templates had distinct features and limitations, Squarespace 7.1 offers a universal template system. This means that all templates now have the same core functionality, and the primary difference between them is their aesthetic style (layout, fonts, colors, etc.). No matter which template you choose, you have access to the same features, including the new Fluid Engine layout system.
With Fluid Engine, every template is highly customizable, allowing you to design your site with more control over layout, structure, and mobile responsiveness.
What this means for you:
The template you choose serves as a starting point for design, but it doesn’t lock you into a specific layout or feature set. You can rearrange and customize it as needed.
Fluid Engine allows you to drag, resize, and layer content blocks, making any template adaptable to your needs, regardless of whether you start with an e-commerce or portfolio-focused template.
2. Leveraging Fluid Engine for Advanced Layout Control
The standout feature of Squarespace v7.1 is the Fluid Engine, which gives you complete control over your page layout, thanks to its drag-and-drop grid system. You’re no longer restricted to fixed columns or rigid layouts—Fluid Engine enables you to place content anywhere on a flexible grid and create overlapping, dynamic, and unique designs.
How Fluid Engine enhances your template choice:
Dynamic layouts: You can arrange text, images, and other content blocks however you like, even in overlapping patterns. This opens up creative possibilities for portfolios, product showcases, or storytelling layouts.
Customizable mobile views: Fluid Engine allows you to design layouts for both desktop and mobile separately, ensuring your site looks perfect on any device. No more awkward mobile designs!
Precision control: You can adjust the spacing, alignment, and positioning of elements down to the pixel, creating a more polished and professional design.
Because Fluid Engine gives you this much control, you’re not as bound by a template’s default layout. You can modify any template to fit your unique needs.
3. Choosing a Template Based on Your Brand Aesthetic and Goals
While all templates in v7.1 are highly customizable, choosing a starting point that matches your brand’s aesthetic can save you time and effort during the design process. Squarespace still categorizes templates based on different use cases, such as Online Stores, Portfolios, Blogs, and Personal Branding, but the design flexibility of Fluid Engine makes it easier to tailor any template to your vision.
Factors to consider:
Industry and Purpose: If you're building an online store, starting with a commerce-focused template like Swell or Pacific gives you access to pre-designed product pages and checkout flows. For portfolios, templates like Paloma or Lusaka offer visually rich galleries that showcase your work beautifully.
Brand Identity: Are you looking for something minimalist, bold, elegant, or playful? Since all templates in Squarespace 7.1 are customizable with Fluid Engine, focus more on the visual style (fonts, colors, layout) rather than template features. You can easily change fonts, colors, and layouts to fit your brand identity.
Pro Tip: Even if a template is not specifically tailored to your industry, it can be customized to fit your needs. Focus on the look and feel of the template and use Fluid Engine’s flexibility to adjust the layout for your business goals.
4. Mobile Optimization: Designing for All Devices with Fluid Engine
One of the most critical aspects of web design is ensuring your site looks great on all devices, especially as mobile traffic continues to grow. While all Squarespace templates are mobile-responsive by default, Fluid Engine allows you to fully customize your mobile layouts independently from the desktop version.
How Fluid Engine enhances mobile design:
Separate mobile and desktop editing: With Fluid Engine, you can design the desktop version of a page, and then switch to mobile mode to adjust layouts, resize elements, and optimize images specifically for mobile. This ensures that your mobile visitors have a smooth, engaging experience.
More control over spacing: In mobile view, you can fine-tune the padding and spacing of elements to make sure they’re not crowded or too spaced out on small screens. This gives you more control over user experience on mobile than previous versions.
Selecting a template that looks great on desktop and mobile will ensure a seamless experience for your visitors, no matter how they access your site.
5. Customizing the Look with Design Tools
Once you've chosen your template, it's time to customize it. Squarespace’s design tools allow you to tweak everything from colors and fonts to spacing and background images. With Fluid Engine, you can create unique layouts for different sections of your website, making it feel completely custom.
Key customization options in Squarespace v7.1:
Style Editor: This tool gives you control over fonts, color palettes, button styles, and more. With the Universal Templates in v7.1, these customizations are consistent across all templates, meaning you can make the site completely your own without coding.
Custom Blocks: Use Fluid Engine to design custom sections that stand out—whether it’s a product showcase with overlapping images and text or a client testimonial block with unique arrangements. The flexibility of Fluid Engine means you can design visually engaging sections that break the mold of traditional web layouts.
Backgrounds: You can add background images or videos to sections, giving your site more depth and visual interest. Choose templates with full-width design elements if you want a bold, immersive feel.
6. Testing and Previewing with Fluid Engine
Once you’ve selected and customized your template, it’s important to test and preview your design across different devices and scenarios. Squarespace makes it easy to preview how your site will look on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
How to test your design:
Desktop vs. Mobile Preview: Use Squarespace’s preview function to switch between desktop and mobile views. With Fluid Engine, you can make adjustments to each version individually to ensure that all elements look clean and professional on every screen size.
Test responsiveness: As Fluid Engine allows for more freedom in arranging content blocks, make sure that your custom designs translate well across devices. Double-check that important elements like call-to-action buttons, navigation menus, and text are easily accessible on mobile.
Experiment with different layouts: One of the advantages of Fluid Engine is its versatility. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different block arrangements, layering, and animations. Because Fluid Engine gives you full creative control, you can test and adjust your design until it’s perfect.
7. Plan for Growth with a Flexible Template
Choosing a template with long-term growth in mind is essential, especially if you’re starting small but planning to expand. Fluid Engine’s flexibility ensures that you won’t outgrow your template as your business evolves.
Factors to consider:
Scalability: Whether you're starting with a blog and plan to add e-commerce functionality later, or you’re a small business looking to grow into a larger operation, templates in Squarespace v7.1 are designed to scale with your business.
Add features over time: Since Fluid Engine supports advanced layout adjustments, it’s easy to integrate new sections like testimonials, product catalogs, or portfolios as your business grows, without needing to start from scratch.
With the robust customization features in v7.1, you can ensure your site evolves with your business needs.
Choosing the perfect Squarespace template for your business in version 7.1 is easier than ever thanks to the Fluid Engine. With the ability to customize layouts, design mobile-friendly versions separately, and adapt templates for any industry, you’re no longer limited by template constraints. Instead, you have a flexible system that allows your site to grow and evolve, delivering a professional and polished result.
Remember, while templates provide a starting point, it’s the customization and thoughtful design you implement with Fluid Engine that will ultimately set your website apart. By focusing on your brand, goals, and user experience, you can create a site that not only looks great but functions perfectly for your business.
