Instead of starting with a blank canvas, you can use a professionally designed template as the foundation for your project.

Templates include pre-built layouts, styling, navigation, responsive design settings, and sometimes CMS structures, allowing you to launch websites much faster than building everything from scratch.

Whether you’re creating a portfolio, startup website, SaaS landing page, blog, agency website, or online directory, templates can significantly reduce development time while helping you learn how websites are structured in Framer.

This guide explains how templates work, how to choose the right template, and how to customize them for your own website.

What Is a Framer Template?

A template is a ready-made website project that includes:

• Pre-designed pages

• Responsive layouts

• Navigation menus

• Typography styles

• Color systems

• Components

• Animations

• CMS collections (in some templates)

Templates are fully editable, meaning you can customize every aspect of the design.

Think of a template as a starting point rather than a finished website.

Why Use Templates?

Templates provide several advantages, especially for beginners.

Launch Websites Faster

Building from scratch can take days or weeks.

Templates allow you to:

• Skip initial design work

• Start with proven layouts

• Focus on content and branding

Many websites can be customized and published within a few hours.

Learn How Framer Projects Are Structured

Templates are excellent learning resources because they show how professional websites are built.

You can explore:

• Section structures

• Auto layout settings

• Components

• CMS setups

• Responsive breakpoints

Studying templates is one of the fastest ways to improve your Framer skills.

Improve Design Quality

Professional templates are usually built using:

• Consistent spacing

• Typography systems

• Design hierarchies

• Responsive layouts

This helps beginners avoid common design mistakes.

Maintain Consistency

Templates often include reusable components and design systems that keep pages visually consistent.

Examples include:

• Buttons

• Navigation menus

• Cards

• Forms

• Pricing sections

How to Choose the Right Template

Selecting the right template can save significant time later.

Before choosing a template, consider:

Website Type

Ask yourself:

• Is this a portfolio?

• A SaaS website?

• A blog?

• An agency site?

• A personal brand website?

Choose a template built for your specific use case whenever possible.

Required Features

Some templates include:

• CMS collections

• Blog functionality

• Advanced animations

• Contact forms

• E-commerce integrations

Make sure the template includes the features you need.

Design Style

Choose a design that aligns with your brand.

Examples:

• Minimalist

• Corporate

• Creative

• Startup-focused

• Editorial

It’s usually easier to customize colors and typography than to completely redesign layouts.

Content Structure

Review:

• Number of pages

• Available sections

• Navigation structure

• CMS setup

The closer the structure is to your requirements, the less work you’ll need to do.

How to Use a Template

Step 1: Create a New Project

From your dashboard:

1. Click New Project

2. Open the Templates library

3. Browse available templates

Step 2: Preview Templates

Before selecting a template:

• Review all pages

• Test navigation

• Check responsiveness

• Examine included CMS collections

This helps avoid choosing a template that requires major restructuring later.

Step 3: Duplicate or Start With the Template

Once you’ve found a suitable template:

1. Select the template

2. Create your project

3. Begin customization

You now have a complete website foundation to work from.

Customizing a Template

Templates are fully customizable.

You can modify:

• Text content

• Images

• Colors

• Typography

• Layouts

• Components

• CMS content

• Animations

• Navigation

• SEO settings

No part of the template is locked.

Replacing Template Content

Most templates include placeholder content.

Replace:

Headings

Update all headlines to reflect your business or project.

Paragraphs

Replace placeholder descriptions with real content.

Images

Swap stock images with:

• Product screenshots

• Team photos

• Portfolio work

• Brand imagery

Buttons

Update button labels and destinations.

Examples:

• Start Free Trial

• Contact Us

• Book a Call

• View Pricing

Editing Layouts

You are not limited to the original design.

You can:

Remove Sections

Delete anything you don’t need.

Examples:

• Testimonials

• Pricing tables

• Team sections

Rearrange Sections

Drag sections into a new order.

Example:

Move:

• Features section
  above

• Testimonials section

Add New Sections

Create additional sections such as:

• FAQ

• Case studies

• Blog previews

• Feature comparisons

Duplicate Existing Sections

Instead of building from scratch:

1. Duplicate a section

2. Modify its content

3. Reuse the layout

Customizing Colors and Branding

Most templates use global styles.

Update:

• Primary colors

• Secondary colors

• Typography

• Logos

• Brand assets

This instantly transforms the template into your own brand.

Working With CMS Templates

Some templates include CMS collections.

Examples:

• Blog posts

• Projects

• Team members

• Resources

When using CMS templates:

1. Delete sample content

2. Add your own entries

3. Update categories and tags

4. Configure SEO metadata

The layout updates automatically.

Testing Responsiveness

Never assume a template is perfect for your content.

Always review:

• Desktop layouts

• Tablet layouts

• Mobile layouts

Longer headlines and different image sizes may affect responsiveness.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Leaving Placeholder Content

Many websites accidentally launch with:

• Lorem Ipsum text

• Stock images

• Sample testimonials

Review every page before publishing.

Changing Too Much Too Quickly

Learn how the template works before rebuilding major sections.

Ignoring Mobile Layouts

Templates are responsive, but your content may require additional adjustments.

Deleting Components Accidentally

Many sections rely on reusable components.

Understand the structure before making major changes.

Best Practices

• Choose templates close to your final vision

• Replace all placeholder content

• Maintain consistent branding

• Optimize all uploaded images

• Test every page on mobile devices

• Review navigation thoroughly

• Update SEO settings before publishing