Full Site Editing (FSE) represents the biggest evolution in WordPress since custom themes. With block themes and the Site Editor, you can now customize every aspect of your website—headers, footers, templates, and page layouts—using the same intuitive block interface you already know from the content editor.
No more digging through theme options panels. No more editing PHP files. In 2026, everything is visual, everything is blocks, and this guide will show you exactly how to take full advantage of it.
What Is Full Site Editing?
Full Site Editing is WordPress's block-based approach to building complete websites. Instead of being limited to editing post and page content, you can now use blocks to design:
- Headers: Navigation menus, logos, search bars, social icons
- Footers: Copyright info, links, newsletter signups
- Templates: How single posts, archives, 404 pages, and more are structured
- Template Parts: Reusable sections like sidebars or CTAs
- Global Styles: Site-wide colors, typography, spacing
The result? Complete creative control without touching code, and changes that apply instantly across your entire site.
Block Themes vs Classic Themes
Understanding the difference is crucial for choosing the right approach:
Classic Themes (Traditional)
- Templates are PHP files
- Customization through Theme Customizer or options panels
- Requires child themes for significant modifications
- Limited what you can change without code
- Examples: Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP
Block Themes (Modern)
- Templates are HTML files with block markup
- Customization through Site Editor
- Visual editing for everything
- Unlimited flexibility without code
- Examples: Twenty Twenty-Five, Flavor, Ollie
Block themes aren't replacing classic themes overnight—both work fine. But new themes are increasingly block-based, and the momentum is clearly in FSE's direction.
Getting Started: Activating a Block Theme
Your first step is choosing and installing a block theme. WordPress's default theme, Twenty Twenty-Five, is an excellent starting point—it's well-designed, regularly updated, and demonstrates FSE best practices.
To activate:
- Go to Appearance → Themes
- Click Add New Theme
- Filter by "Block Themes" in the Feature Filter
- Install and activate your chosen theme
Once active, you'll notice Appearance → Editor replaces the Customizer—this is the Site Editor, your new home for global design.
The Site Editor: Your Design Command Center
Access the Site Editor via Appearance → Editor. You'll see a visual preview of your site with a left sidebar for navigation. Here's what each section does:
Navigation
Create and manage your site's menus. Add pages, custom links, social icons, and search. Menus built here work across your entire site.
Styles
Control your site's visual identity:
- Colors: Define your palette and apply to backgrounds, text, links
- Typography: Choose fonts, sizes, and weights for headings and body text
- Layout: Set content width and spacing
- Blocks: Style individual block types site-wide
Pages
View and edit all your pages directly from the Site Editor. Quick access without switching contexts.
Templates
Control the structure of different page types:
- Index: Main blog/posts listing
- Single Posts: Individual blog posts
- Single Pages: Static pages
- Archive: Category, tag, and date archives
- 404: Page not found
- Search: Search results
Patterns
Reusable block combinations you can insert anywhere. Create your own or use the Pattern Directory's community-contributed designs.
Customizing Your Header
Let's build a professional header from scratch:
- Open Appearance → Editor
- Click the header area (or go to Template Parts → Header)
- Click to edit the header
A typical header structure:
Row Block Container
Add a Row block with these elements:
- Site Logo: Upload your logo with link to homepage
- Navigation: Your main menu
- Social Icons: Links to your profiles
- Search: Search toggle or form
- Buttons: CTAs like "Get Started" or "Contact"
Header Styling Tips
- Use Space Between justification for logo-left, nav-right layouts
- Add padding via the Dimensions panel (typically 16-24px vertical)
- Set a background color or keep transparent for overlay headers
- Make it sticky by setting position to "Sticky" in Advanced
Customizing Your Footer
Footers typically contain multiple sections. Here's a professional approach:
Upper Footer (Main Content)
Use a Columns block with 3-4 columns:
- Column 1: Logo + brief description + social icons
- Column 2: Quick links (navigation list)
- Column 3: Resources or categories
- Column 4: Contact info or newsletter signup
Lower Footer (Credits)
Single row with:
- Copyright notice: © 2026 Your Company
- Legal links: Privacy Policy, Terms
Footer Styling
- Dark background with light text often works well
- Generous padding (60-100px vertical)
- Clear visual hierarchy between sections
Working with Templates
Templates control how different content types display. Here's how to customize the most important ones:
Single Post Template
Structure for blog posts:
- Open Templates → Single Posts
- Use the Post Content block where article content appears
- Add Post Title, Post Featured Image, Post Date, Post Author
- Include Post Terms for categories and tags
- Add Post Navigation for previous/next links
- Include Comments block if desired
Archive Template
For category, tag, and author pages:
- Use Archive Title block for the page heading
- Add Query Loop block to display posts
- Inside Query Loop, add Post Template with your desired layout
- Configure columns, excerpts, featured images
- Add Pagination block below
Creating Custom Templates
Need a unique layout for specific pages?
- In Site Editor, go to Templates
- Click the + icon → Add Template
- Choose template type (page, custom, etc.)
- Build your layout with blocks
- Assign to specific pages via the page editor
Global Styles: Site-Wide Design Control
Global Styles let you define consistent design across your entire site:
Typography
- Set font families for headings and body text
- Define size presets (Small, Medium, Large, etc.)
- Control line height and letter spacing
Colors
- Create a color palette (primary, secondary, accent)
- Define background and text defaults
- Set link colors and hover states
Layout
- Content width (typically 650-750px for readability)
- Wide width (900-1200px for wider elements)
- Padding and block spacing defaults
Block Styles
Style specific block types globally:
- All buttons use your brand color
- All quotes have consistent styling
- All images have rounded corners
Essential Blocks for Site Building
These blocks are fundamental for FSE:
Structure Blocks
- Group: Wrapper for organizing blocks
- Row: Horizontal layout
- Stack: Vertical layout
- Columns: Multi-column layouts
Theme Blocks
- Site Logo: Your logo linked to home
- Site Title: Your site name
- Navigation: Menus
- Query Loop: Dynamic post lists
- Template Part: Reusable sections
Post Blocks
- Post Title: Article heading
- Post Content: Main content area
- Post Featured Image: Hero image
- Post Excerpt: Summary text
- Post Date, Author, Terms: Metadata
Best Practices for Block Theme Development
Whether building sites for yourself or clients, follow these guidelines:
Start with Style Variations
Many block themes include multiple style variations—complete looks you can switch instantly. Explore these before customizing from scratch.
Use Patterns Extensively
Create reusable patterns for common sections:
- Hero sections
- Feature grids
- Testimonial layouts
- Call-to-action sections
- Team member cards
Leverage Template Parts
Template parts are reusable across templates. A sidebar template part, for example, can be included in posts, pages, and archives—change it once, update everywhere.
Test Responsiveness
Use the Site Editor's device preview (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure layouts work on all screens. FSE handles most responsiveness automatically, but check edge cases.
Document Customizations
If building for clients, export and save template versions. Use pattern categories to organize custom patterns logically.
Top Block Themes for 2026
Ready to try FSE? These block themes offer excellent starting points:
Twenty Twenty-Five
WordPress's default theme—clean, versatile, well-supported.
Flavor
Minimal design perfect for portfolios and personal sites.
Ollie
Business-focused with professional patterns and style variations.
Developer Blog
Designed for tech content with code-friendly styling.
Zenflavor
Magazine-style layouts with multiple homepage options.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Missing Customizer Options
The Customizer is replaced by the Site Editor. Look for settings in Styles, Templates, or Template Parts instead.
Plugin Compatibility
Most plugins work fine with block themes. For FSE-aware alternatives, check plugin descriptions for "block" or "FSE" support.
Learning Curve
FSE is different from classic themes. Spend time in the Site Editor experimenting—it becomes intuitive quickly.
Performance
Block themes are generally lightweight. Avoid adding too many patterns or heavy blocks that can slow pages.
Conclusion
Full Site Editing and block themes represent WordPress's future. The ability to customize every aspect of your site visually—without code—democratizes web design in a way classic themes never could.
Start with a quality block theme like Twenty Twenty-Five. Explore the Site Editor systematically: headers, footers, templates, global styles. Create patterns for sections you'll reuse. The investment in learning FSE pays off in complete creative control over your website.
The transition takes effort, but the result is a more intuitive, flexible, and powerful WordPress experience. Welcome to the future of WordPress design.
