Goodbye Sections, Hello Containers: My Mind-Blowing Experience with Elementor’s New Layout System
For years, Elementor users have structured their websites using Sections, Columns, and Inner Sections. It was the standard way to build layouts—until now.
Recently, while setting up a church website, I ran into an unexpected issue: I couldn’t create inner sections. At first, I thought it was a bug, but after some digging, I realized that Elementor had officially replaced the old system with Flexbox Containers.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. But after experimenting, I was mind-blown. This was a complete game-changer.
The Moment of Realization
I had my usual workflow in mind:
Create a Section →
Add Columns →
Nest Inner Sections inside columns →
Place content within each section
But when I tried to add an inner section, it wasn’t there. Gone. Completely removed.
Frustration kicked in. How was I supposed to structure my content without inner sections?
That’s when I decided to take a step back and truly understand Elementor’s new container system.
What’s Different in Elementor?
Instead of relying on Sections and Columns, Elementor now uses Containers, which are powered by Flexbox and CSS Grid.
Flexbox Containers allow you to control alignment, spacing, and direction with ease.
Grid Containers give you full control over complex layouts with rows and columns without needing extra nesting.
No more inner sections! You can now achieve the same effect by nesting containers inside other containers.
How I Made It Work
After some trial and error, I figured out the magic formula:
Use a single Container instead of Sections.
Nest additional Containers inside instead of using Columns.
Use Flexbox for alignment and CSS Grid for more complex layouts.
Enjoy a more streamlined, performance-optimized design!
Once I got the hang of it, I realized just how powerful and flexible this system is. The layouts I created looked cleaner, and responsiveness was easier to manage.
Why Elementor’s New Layout is a Big Deal
Here’s why Containers are an upgrade:
✅ Better Performance: Fewer nested elements = faster load times.
✅ More Flexibility: You can create any layout using just Flexbox & Grid.
✅ Easier Responsiveness: No more struggling with mobile adjustments.
At first, I thought Elementor broke something, but now I see that they actually made it better.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling with the new Elementor layout system, don’t panic! Embrace Containers and experiment with Flexbox & Grid. It might take a little getting used to, but once it clicks, you’ll never want to go back.
What are your thoughts on the new system? Have you tried it yet? Let’s discuss!