For years, SharePoint users have faced a common frustration. It is the static, rigid page layouts that limit creativity and flexibility. Whether you’re designing internal communications, departmental dashboards, or knowledge bases, the traditional column-based structures often force content to conform to the layout, rather than the other way around.
Microsoft’s introduction of Flexible Layouts in SharePoint Pages and News Post is a significant shift designed to remove these limitations and put control back into the hands of content creators. This new feature allows teams to design dynamic, responsive, and highly engaging pages that adapt to their unique needs without compromising structure or usability.
Let’s explore how SharePoint Flexible Layouts address real-world challenges, what makes them so impactful, and how your team can leverage them for better content experiences.
If you’ve worked with SharePoint for content creation, you’ve likely experienced the constraints of its structured layout system. Pages were previously divided into fixed columns one, two, or three and while this helped maintain consistency, it often sacrificed flexibility.
Authors had to compromise on visual storytelling, repeating similar structures across pages just to maintain alignment. Content felt boxed in, unable to breathe or stand out. These limitations directly impacted engagement, branding, and the ability to tailor messages effectively.
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For organizations striving to create compelling and informative intranet experiences, this posed a real problem: how do you make content clear and visually engaging within such a rigid system?
Why SharePoint flexible layouts
Recognizing this challenge, Microsoft introduced Flexible Layouts, a game-changing section type that gives authors the freedom to design beyond traditional columns. Unlike fixed grids, Flexible Layouts are built on a two-dimensional canvas that allows web parts to be positioned freely across rows and columns.
You can now drag, drop, resize, group, and even overlap elements in a way that better supports storytelling, branding, and functional design. Whether you’re showcasing visuals, highlighting key metrics, or guiding a user journey, the layout now adapts to your message not the other way around.
This flexibility opens the door to building pages that not only look better but communicate more effectively.
Key features
Flexible Layouts come packed with intuitive features designed to enhance user experience while simplifying the authoring process:
- Two-Dimensional Grid: Position content anywhere on the grid for more tailored design.
- Drag-and-Drop Editing: Effortlessly move web parts across the layout.
- Resizable and Overlapping Web Parts: Highlight content creatively with layering and scaling.
- Web Part Grouping: Combine multiple elements into a single group for easier management.
- Responsive Reflow Options: Choose how content adapts on mobile either left-to-right or top-to-bottom.
These features are designed not just for aesthetic purposes, but to solve real layout challenges users have faced for years.
Real benefits that matter to you
What does this mean for your day-to-day SharePoint usage? It means you’re no longer confined to templates that force design compromises. Here’s how Flexible Layouts deliver practical value:
Design Freedom
You can now structure content to suit your message, not squeeze it into rigid boxes. Want to showcase a customer quote beside a chart, layered over a background image? You can.
Visual Engagement
Creative layouts draw the eye, improve readability, and allow users to absorb information more intuitively especially when content is grouped or layered meaningfully.
Efficiency and Consistency
With built-in templates and snapping guides, design freedom doesn’t come at the cost of inconsistency. You can maintain visual standards while creating unique layouts.
Mobile Optimization
Flexible Layouts are designed to be responsive. You can preview how each page will look on mobile and adjust the layout to ensure key content remains visible and easy to navigate.
How to use flexible layouts in practice
Getting started is simple and doesn’t require advanced technical skills. Here’s how it works:
- Add a Flexible Section: On your SharePoint Page or News post, add a new section and select “Flexible” as the layout type.
- Insert Web Parts: Use the toolbox to drag the desired web parts into the section text, images, lists, videos, and more.
- Drag and Resize: Arrange each element freely across the grid. Use the handles to resize and the guides to align.
- Group and Overlap: Combine elements into a group for consistent movement and layout. Use overlapping sparingly to highlight or emphasize key content.
- Preview for Mobile: Before publishing, preview your page on smaller screens. You can choose how content should re-flow left-to-right or top-to-bottom for the best mobile experience.
This flexibility enables both casual users and power users to create professional-looking pages with ease.
Practical considerations and best practices
A great SharePoint design isn’t just about looks it’s about function too. Here are a few practical tips to keep your pages accessible, consistent, and user-friendly.
- Maintain Accessibility: Avoid overlapping critical text and visuals in ways that hinder readability, especially for users with visual impairments.
- Be Mindful of Web Part Constraints: Some web parts have fixed size options (e.g., Quick Links, People). Learn their limitations to avoid layout issues.
- Ensure Consistency: Too much variation in layout can be distracting. Use templates and spacing guides to maintain alignment and visual harmony.
- Test Across Devices: Always preview your design on desktop, tablet, and mobile to ensure a great experience everywhere.
Final thoughts
SharePoint Flexible Layouts mark a significant evolution in how intranet content is created and consumed. With AVASOFT’s expertise, they empower authors to build meaningful, visually rich, and user-friendly pages that drive engagement.
By embracing this new layout system, your organization can move beyond static structures and start crafting content that connects, informs, and inspires. Whether you’re new to SharePoint or a seasoned admin, Flexible Layouts enabled by AVASOFT offers the freedom to communicate with clarity and impact across devices, departments, and use cases.
