Preface
Are you ready to take your website design skills to the next level without spending a dime? Elementor, the leading WordPress page builder, offers a treasure trove of free sections that can help you create stunning page layouts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, understanding how to leverage these pre-designed sections is key to building professional-looking websites efficiently. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to use Elementor’s free sections to craft beautiful and functional designs. Let’s dive in!
What are Elementor Sections?
Before we get into the specifics, let’s clarify what Elementor sections are. In Elementor, a section is the building block of your page layout. It’s a container that holds columns and widgets, allowing you to structure your content effectively. Sections can be customized with various styling options, such as background colors, images, and padding, providing you with complete control over your design.
Accessing Elementor’s Free Sections
Hint: Before you start building, make sure you’ve installed and activated the Elementor plugin on your WordPress site. Need help? Here is how to install WordPress plugins!
Accessing Elementor’s free sections is straightforward. Follow these steps:
Open a Page or Post with Elementor:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages or Posts and click “Edit with Elementor” on the page or post you want to design.
Adding a New Section:
- Click the “+” button to add a new section. You’ll see options to choose the structure of your section (e.g., single column, two columns, etc.) or a Template.
Browse the Library:
- Click the folder icon, which opens Elementor’s library of pre-designed templates and blocks. Here, you’ll find a variety of free sections ready to be inserted into your page.
Exploring the Free Sections Library
Elementor’s free sections library is a goldmine of pre-designed content blocks that can be easily customized. These sections are categorized to help you find what you need quickly.
Types of Free Sections Available
- Headers: Create engaging headers for your website with pre-designed elements like navigation menus, logos, and calls to action.
- Footers: Design professional footers with contact information, social media links, and copyright notices.
- About Us: Introduce your company or yourself with visually appealing “About Us” sections.
- Services: Showcase your services with dedicated sections that highlight key features and benefits.
- Contact Forms: Add contact forms to your pages to allow visitors to get in touch with you directly.
- Testimonials: Build trust by displaying positive reviews and testimonials from your customers.
- Call to Action (CTA): Drive conversions with compelling CTAs that encourage visitors to take specific actions.
Customizing Elementor’s Free Sections
One of the best things about Elementor’s free sections is that they are fully customizable. You can tweak every aspect of a section to match your brand and design preferences.
Changing Text and Fonts
- Edit Text: Click on any text element within the section to change the content. Use the text editor to format the text, add links, and more.
- Change Fonts: Go to the “Style” tab and adjust the typography settings. Choose from hundreds of Google Fonts or upload your own custom fonts.
.elementor-heading-title {
font-family: 'Your Custom Font', sans-serif;
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #333;
}
Adjusting Colors and Backgrounds
- Background Colors: Modify the background color of a section or column by selecting the “Style” tab and choosing a new color.
- Background Images: Add background images to create visual interest. You can upload your own images or use free stock photos from sites like Unsplash or Pexels.
.elementor-section {
background-image: url('your-image-url.jpg');
background-size: cover;
background-position: center;
}
Modifying Layout and Spacing
- Padding and Margin: Adjust the padding and margin settings to control the spacing around elements. This is crucial for creating a clean and balanced layout.
- Column Width: Change the width of columns to create different content layouts. For example, you might want a wider column for your main content and a narrower column for a sidebar.
.elementor-column {
padding: 20px;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
Adding and Removing Elements
Feel free to add or remove elements within a section to customize it further.
- Add Widgets: Drag and drop new widgets into the section to add more content, such as images, videos, or buttons.
- Remove Elements: Click the “x” icon on any element to delete it. You can also right-click and select “Delete” from the context menu.
Best Practices for Using Elementor’s Free Sections
To make the most of Elementor’s free sections, keep these best practices in mind:
- Maintain Consistency: Use a consistent design language throughout your website. Stick to a limited color palette, font choices, and spacing conventions.
- Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your sections are responsive and look great on all devices. Use Elementor’s responsive editing tools to adjust the layout and styling for different screen sizes.
- Use High-Quality Images: Use high-resolution images to enhance the visual appeal of your sections. Optimize images for the web to reduce file sizes and improve page load times.
- Keep it Simple: Avoid cluttering your sections with too many elements. A clean and simple design is often more effective.
- Leverage White Space: Use white space strategically to create a balanced and visually appealing layout.
Info: A great way to add white space is to use the Spacer widget in Elementor!
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Ready to go beyond the basics? Here are some advanced tips and tricks for using Elementor’s free sections:
Using Custom CSS
For even more control over your design, you can add custom CSS to your sections and elements. This allows you to create unique effects and styles that are not available in Elementor’s built-in settings. To add Custom CSS simply click on Advanced -> Custom CSS.
.elementor-section-custom {
box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
border-radius: 10px;
}
Creating Section Templates
If you find yourself reusing the same section design multiple times, save it as a template. This allows you to quickly insert the section into any page or post without having to recreate it from scratch.
Combining Sections
Experiment with combining different sections to create unique page layouts. Mix and match headers, footers, and content sections to achieve the desired look and feel.
Examples of Beautiful Websites Built with Elementor
Need some inspiration? Check out these stunning websites built with Elementor for design ideas:
- Inspirational Showcase of Beautiful Websites Built with Elementor 1: See examples here
- Inspirational Showcase of Beautiful Websites Built with Elementor 2: See examples here
These showcases demonstrate the versatility and power of Elementor in creating diverse and visually appealing websites.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best tools, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems when using Elementor’s free sections:
- Section Not Loading:
- Ensure your Elementor plugin is up-to-date.
- Clear your browser cache and try again.
- Check for plugin conflicts by deactivating other plugins temporarily.
- Design Changes Not Saving:
- Make sure you click the “Update” button to save your changes.
- Disable any caching plugins that might be interfering with the saving process.
- Responsive Issues:
- Use Elementor’s responsive editing mode to adjust the layout for different devices.
- Check the padding and margin settings to ensure they are appropriate for all screen sizes.
Info: Always back up your website regularly to prevent data loss in case of errors!
Alternatives to Elementor’s Free Sections
While Elementor’s free sections are a great starting point, you might want to explore other options as your needs evolve.
Elementor Pro Templates
Consider upgrading to Elementor Pro for access to a wider range of pre-designed templates and blocks. The Pro version offers more advanced features and customization options.
Third-Party Template Libraries
Explore third-party template libraries that offer Elementor-compatible sections and templates. These libraries often provide niche-specific designs and unique elements.
Building Your Own Sections
As you become more comfortable with Elementor, try building your own sections from scratch. This gives you complete control over the design and allows you to create truly unique layouts.
Conclusion
Elementor’s free sections provide an excellent foundation for creating beautiful and functional page layouts. By understanding how to access, customize, and optimize these pre-designed blocks, you can build professional-looking websites quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, mastering Elementor’s free sections is a valuable skill that will help you create stunning websites. So, start exploring the library, experiment with different designs, and unleash your creativity!
