How to Remove the Sidebar from Your Storefront WooCommerce Theme: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
The Storefront theme is a popular, free, and highly customizable option for WooCommerce-powered online stores. Its clean design and integration with the WooCommerce plugin make it a great starting point for many e-commerce ventures. However, you might find that the default sidebar, while useful in some cases, isn’t suitable for your specific aesthetic or marketing goals. Perhaps you want a cleaner, more focused product page or a landing page without distractions. This article will guide you through different methods to remove the sidebar from your Storefront WooCommerce website, allowing you to tailor your store’s appearance to your exact needs. We’ll cover several options, from simple customization through the WordPress Customizer to more advanced code-based solutions.
Understanding the Importance of Customization
Removing the sidebar can significantly impact the user experience on your site. It’s crucial to consider the implications before making changes:
- Increased Focus on Products: Removing distractions can help customers focus Discover insights on How To Turn Off Return To Shop Button Woocommerce solely on your products and their descriptions.
- Improved Mobile Experience: A narrower content area often translates to a better mobile browsing experience, especially on smaller screens.
- Cleaner Design: A full-width layout can create a more modern and minimalist aesthetic.
- Strategic Content Placement: You might prefer to integrate information that would normally reside in the sidebar directly into the main content area.
- This method applies globally to all WooCommerce pages. You cannot target specific pages.
- It might conflict with other CSS styles.
- It can negatively impact page loading speed since the sidebar code is still loaded but hidden.
- Avoid using this method unless you have a very specific and limited reason to do so.
Main Part: Methods to Remove the Storefront WooCommerce Sidebar
Here are a few methods to remove the sidebar, ranging from the easiest to the more technically involved:
Method 1: Using the Storefront Theme Customizer (Page-Specific Removal)
The easiest and most recommended method is to use the WordPress Customizer. This allows you to control the sidebar display on a page-by-page basis.
1. Navigate to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Select the page you want to modify. You can do this by navigating to the page within the customizer preview or by using the “Homepage Settings” to select your desired page.
3. Look for the “Page” or “Layout” settings. The exact wording may vary slightly depending on the Storefront version you’re using.
4. Choose “Full Width” or “No Sidebar” from the available layout options.
5. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
This method provides the most control, allowing you to selectively remove the sidebar from specific pages while keeping it on others, such as your blog. This is the best option for targeting specific landing pages or product pages.
Method 2: Using CSS to Hide the Sidebar (Less Recommended)
While not the ideal approach, CSS can be used to visually hide the sidebar. This method only hides the sidebar; it doesn’t actually remove the underlying code, which can still impact page loading times.
1. Navigate to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Add the following CSS code:
.woocommerce-page .site-content {
width: 100%;
}
.woocommerce-page #secondary {
display: none;
}
3. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
Important Considerations for Using CSS:
Method 3: Editing the Theme’s PHP Files (Advanced – Use with Caution!)
This method involves directly modifying the Storefront theme’s PHP files. It’s the most complex and potentially risky approach, so only attempt this if you are comfortable with PHP and understand the consequences. It’s highly recommended to use a child theme to avoid losing your changes during theme updates.
1. Create a Child Theme: If you don’t already have one, create a child theme for Storefront. This is essential Learn more about How To Get Product Gallery Images In Woocommerce to prevent losing your customizations when the Storefront theme is updated.
2. Identify the Relevant Template Files: The files that control the sidebar layout are usually `page.php`, `single.php`, and `archive.php` (or corresponding WooCommerce-specific templates). Copy these files from the parent Storefront theme to your child theme.
3. Edit the Template Files: Open the copied files in your child theme and look for the code responsible for displaying the sidebar. This often involves removing code blocks containing `get_sidebar()`, `do_action(‘storefront_sidebar’)`, or similar functions.
For example, in `page.php` you might find:
Remove this entire `div` block to remove the sidebar.
4. Adjust Content Width: After removing the sidebar, you’ll need to adjust the width of the main content area. You can do this by modifying the `div` containing the main content in the template files, or by adding CSS to your child theme’s stylesheet. For example:
In your `page.php` file, you might change:
To
Or, you could modify the styling for the relevant class in your child theme’s `style.css` file.
5. Test Thoroughly: After making changes, test your website thoroughly to ensure that everything is working as expected.
Important Considerations for Editing Theme Files:
- Always use a child theme.
- Back up your website before making any changes.
- Be careful when editing PHP code, as mistakes can break your website.
- Consult with a developer if you are unsure about any of these steps.
Method 4: Using a WooCommerce Page Builder Plugin
Page builder plugins like Elementor or Beaver Builder offer visual drag-and-drop interfaces that simplify the process of customizing WooCommerce pages, including removing the sidebar.
1. Install and activate a WooCommerce compatible Page Builder Plugin: Popular options include Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi.
2. Edit the page with the Page Builder: Most page builders will allow you to edit existing WooCommerce pages by simply clicking “Edit with [Page Builder Name]” on the page.
3. Customize the layout: Page builders often have options to switch to a full-width layout which will automatically remove the sidebar. If not, you can delete the column that is acting as the sidebar.
4. Save and Publish: Save and publish your changes.
Benefits of Using a Page Builder:
- Visual Editing: Easier to see changes in real-time.
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: No coding required.
- Customization Options: Provides more control over the overall look and feel of your pages.
Conclusion:
Removing the sidebar from your Storefront WooCommerce theme is a straightforward process with several viable approaches. The best method for you will depend on your technical skill level, the scope of the changes you want to make, and your long-term website maintenance strategy. The Theme Customizer is the recommended approach for most users as it offers a simple and safe way to customize the sidebar on a page-by-page basis. If you need more extensive customization, consider using a page builder plugin. Learn more about How To Connect Printful To Woocommerce Direct theme file editing should only be attempted by experienced developers who understand the risks involved. By carefully choosing the right method, you can create a Storefront WooCommerce website that perfectly reflects your brand and provides an optimal user experience for your customers. Remember to always back up your website before making any major changes and test your site thoroughly after implementing any modifications.
