Custom Layouts in Squarespace

What it covers

Custom Layouts in Squarespace is Chris Schwartz-Edmisten's course on building designs in Fluid Engine that do not look like a Squarespace template. Chris has designed on Squarespace full time since 2018, is a Squarespace Circle Leader and runs a YouTube channel of more than 6,000 subscribers about custom CSS, and this course is the material he does not give away there.

There are five video modules. Gathering Inspiration covers where to find sources for genuinely custom designs. Fluid Engine Tips and Tricks is the techniques Chris uses to build faster and avoid the spacing and mobile surprises that put people off Fluid Engine. How to Create Split Layouts covers full bleed split designs with images, video, slideshows and grid style page layouts. The Complete Guide to Boxed Content walks through the three ways of boxing content and the trade-offs of each. The Full Homepage Build is a 50 minute lesson where Chris builds a complete homepage from a custom mockup, start to finish. A bonus module gives a 20 per cent discount code for his plugins, workshops and Pro membership.

Every layout comes with copy and paste CSS, and access is lifetime, including future video and CSS updates.

Who it is for

Squarespace designers who lose clients, or lose margin, when someone shows up with a complex mockup and asks whether it can be done on Squarespace. It is beginner friendly on the CSS side because the code is supplied, and several reviewers with years of Squarespace experience say they still picked up new techniques.

Format and access

Self-paced video hosted on Chris's own site, with the CSS included in each lesson and email support from Chris if something does not make sense. Squarespace 7.1 only; it does not cover 7.0. No refunds.

Where it falls short

The lessons are about building techniques, not design taste, so the inspiration module is only a starting point if you are not already confident with layout. Because the CSS is supplied rather than explained line by line, you will get more out of it if you already understand the basics; pair it with the free CSS material Chris publishes. And the methods are tied to how Fluid Engine behaves today, which Squarespace changes from time to time, so the promised updates matter.

Related guide: browse every course we list in the Squarespace courses collection, and read my practical guide on how to use custom CSS in Squarespace for the basics the supplied snippets assume. It is also the best value pick in our best Squarespace courses in 2026 roundup.