Does Each Squarespace Template Have Its Own Site Styles Options?

Site Styles on Squarespace 7.0

Template-Specific Options

On Squarespace 7.0, each named template (Brine, Bedford, York, Farro, Skye, etc.) has its own unique Site Styles panel. The Brine template family exposes extensive design controls - dozens of font, color, spacing, and layout options. The Bedford template has a different set of options. Some templates offer more granular control than others.

What Varies Between 7.0 Templates

Font options: Some templates let you set different fonts for headings, body, navigation, and buttons individually. Others offer fewer font controls. Color options: The number of configurable colors varies - some templates expose 10+ color settings, others only 3 to 4. Spacing controls: Some templates include padding and margin sliders for sections, headers, and content areas. Others do not. Layout options: Header layout choices, sidebar visibility, and gallery display options are template-specific.

Implications

When choosing a 7.0 template, the Site Styles panel is a significant factor. A template with limited Site Styles options means you need Custom CSS for design changes that other templates handle natively. Before committing to a 7.0 template, open Site Styles and evaluate whether it exposes the controls you need. For template selection, our guide to choosing a Squarespace template covers evaluation criteria.

Site Styles on Squarespace 7.1

Consistent Options Across All Templates

On Squarespace 7.1, every site has the same Site Styles panel regardless of which starting design you chose. The options include: heading fonts (H1 through H4), body font, navigation font, button font, color palette configuration, button styles (primary, secondary, tertiary), section padding defaults, and animation settings.

Why This Matters

On 7.1, your template choice does not limit your design options. Every starting design can be customized to look like any other through the consistent Site Styles panel plus the Fluid Engine for layout. This eliminates the 7.0 problem of being locked into a template with limited controls.

What Site Styles Controls on Every Version

Typography

Font family, size, weight, letter spacing, line height, and text transform (uppercase, lowercase, capitalize) for headings and body text. On 7.0, the granularity depends on the template. On 7.1, consistent controls for every text element. For font selection, our guide to best Squarespace fonts covers pairing recommendations.

Colors

Background colors, text colors, link colors, button colors, and accent colors. On 7.1, Squarespace uses a color theme system where you define a palette and apply it across sections. On 7.0, individual color settings vary by template.

Buttons

Button background color, text color, border radius, border width, and hover state styling. On 7.1, separate controls for primary, secondary, and tertiary button styles. On 7.0, button options depend on the template. For button customization, our guide to changing button colors in Squarespace covers both Site Styles and CSS approaches.

Spacing

Section padding defaults, content width, and element spacing. These controls affect the overall breathing room on your pages. On 7.1, consistent spacing controls. On 7.0, availability depends on the template.

When Site Styles Is Not Enough

Custom CSS for Additional Control

When Site Styles does not expose the setting you need - a specific element's font size, a hover effect, or hiding an unwanted template element - Custom CSS provides the answer. CSS overrides any Site Styles setting and adds capabilities the panel does not include. For CSS techniques, our guide to Squarespace custom CSS covers selectors, properties, and responsive rules. For a ready-to-use reference, our Squarespace CSS cheat sheet covers the most common selectors.

CSS Overriding Site Styles

If you change a setting in Site Styles and nothing happens, Custom CSS may be overriding it. CSS rules with equal or higher specificity take priority over Site Styles values. Check Design > Custom CSS for rules targeting the same element. For troubleshooting, our guide to Squarespace Site Styles not working covers diagnosis and fixes.

How to Check Which Version You Are On

Open the page editor. If you see the Fluid Engine grid with freeform block placement, you are on 7.1 with consistent Site Styles. If blocks snap to fixed column positions with no visible grid, you are on 7.0 with template-specific Site Styles. For version identification, our guide to checking your Squarespace version covers four methods. For design strategies, our Squarespace design tips guide covers visual customization principles for both versions. For broader customization, our guide to customizing your Squarespace website covers the full design workflow.

Know Your Site Styles, Know Your Options

On 7.0, your template determines your Site Styles options - some templates give you extensive control, others are limited. On 7.1, every site has the same design panel, making template choice a matter of starting layout rather than feature access. Either way, Custom CSS extends your control beyond what Site Styles provides.

Check your version, explore your Site Styles panel, and use CSS for anything the panel does not cover.