Native Squarespace Template Analysis
Helpful notes on the distinctive features of the Native template
Updated March 2018
Template Name: Native
Native was one of the first templates to launch with the previous version of Squarespace, Squarespace 6, way back in 2012. As such, it is one of the oldest templates still available for use with Squarespace today. At the time, it was supposedly created with minimalist blogs in mind, but by today's standards, this template feels pretty dated... and I would not be surprised to see it retired soon.
Why choose Native?
As mentioned, Native feels a little behind the times, not only in terms of the design, but especially when it comes to the amount of elements you can control style-wise: Native has one of the smallest number of design controls of any template. And even though it was designed for bloggers (in 2012), today's bloggers want something with a bit more "oomph" than what Native has to offer, in my opinion anyway. I really struggle to see why you'd want to use Native in 2018, unless you are super techno-phobic and want the easiest possible template to start from.
Native is currently one of the only Squarespace templates that offers Promoted Blocks - the ability to show a larger image or video above the content of the blog post. However, this is a pretty niche feature, and you can achieve a similar effect by setting a Content Inset on the Skye family of templates to make the rest of the content show in a skinnier column than the image(s). Heck, you could even create a similar inset effect just by using spacers to create empty columns on either side. As such, for serious bloggers I would suggest looking at the Skye or Farro families instead of Native.
Final tip: be sure to read my Squarespace Template Bible for further detail on what templates do and don't control - and how to avoid the single biggest mistake people make when choosing a Squarespace template.
| Strong Point / Best For… | Minimalists who want plenty of white space to allow content to breathe, and easy site setup. |
| Design Notes | Full-bleed canvas with minimal design elements. Medium style controls. |
| Homepage | Standard |
| Index Page | NO |
| Sidebars | NONE |
| Header | Large logo space, with optional tagline and Site Description above minimalist navbar. No visual separator from canvas background. |
| Header Images (Banners) | NONE |
| Main Navigation | Main horizontal nav at top, text only. |
| Fixed Navbar? | NO |
| Other Navigation | NONE |
| Social Icons | Centred in footer, above normal content. Change icon color, size, and style. |
| Footer | Standard, no visual separator or style controls except text color. |
| Page Titles & Descriptions | NO |
| Gallery Design | Grid or slideshow, with adjustable style settings for each. |
| Gallery Display | Image descriptions can show as overlay. |
| Blog Notes | Full text of blog posts show in blog home. |
| Promoted Blocks? | YES, wider than normal content column. |
| Products Notes | |
| Other Features / Notes | |
| Similar to… | Montauk |
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