Managing Blank Space on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Blank spaces usually come from padding around text, images, and other elements
- Extra blocks in Squarespace can create unwanted white space
- Style options differ between Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1
- Remove spacer blocks and adjust padding to clean up your layouts
- Always check how changes look on mobile devices
White space (or negative space) in web design refers to the intentional blank areas that help create cleaner, more readable pages. But when it's unintentional, it can make your site look messy or broken.
Most unwanted blank space comes from two sources: padding settings and extra blocks like spacers. Both are fixable in Squarespace.
Adjusting Padding Settings
Each Squarespace version handles padding differently:
Version 7.1
Site-wide Spacing: Go to the Spacing panel and adjust the Site Margin to control space around your content.
Header Padding: Click Edit > Edit Site Header > select Full or Inset to define content width, then adjust padding as needed.
Section Padding: In the page editor, click the pencil icon on any section. Use the Format and Background tabs to change dimensions or alignment.
Version 7.0
Open the Site Styles panel and click directly on areas in the live preview to alter padding. Look for options related to 'padding', 'margin', or 'full bleed'.
Be careful here – changing padding in 7.0 can affect other parts of your site, so check multiple pages after making changes.
Always preview your changes on mobile devices. Padding adjustments can display differently across platforms.
Removing Extra Blocks
If you're using the classic editor, extra blocks might be creating blank spaces:
- Open the Pages panel and select the page you want to edit
- Hover over unwanted blank spaces in the editor. If a block is causing the space, you'll see an icon
- Click the block and press the trash icon to remove it. Confirm by clicking Yes
Check your pages regularly in editor mode to spot and remove accidental blank spaces from misplaced blocks.
FAQs
Can I remove all padding in Squarespace?
You can reduce most padding to '0px', but some padding is built into the template design and can't be changed.
How do I keep spacing consistent across devices?
Toggle between desktop and mobile view in your editor regularly to check spacing and make adjustments.
Where do I find padding controls if they're not obvious?
Check the style panel for your Squarespace version or search for keywords like 'margin' or 'padding' in the editor.
Jargon Buster
Padding: Space inside or between containers that affects how your layout looks without adding actual content.
Responsive Design: A website's ability to adapt to different screen sizes, keeping layouts consistent across devices.
Spacer Blocks: Tools in Squarespace used to intentionally create empty space within layouts for better visual flow.
Wrap-up
Managing blank space on Squarespace becomes straightforward once you know where to look. Whether you're adjusting padding or removing unnecessary blocks, each change helps create a cleaner, more professional website. Your site's appearance directly affects how visitors engage with your content, so these adjustments are worth the effort.
Ready to dive deeper into Squarespace design? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more detailed tutorials and expert guidance.