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Get started with Themes

Themes help you modernize your brand guidelines without rebuilding them. They define the layout, navigation, and style of your documentation

Updated this week

What is a Theme

A theme controls the layout, navigation, and visual design of your guidelines. It defines how users experience your brand content, from headers and sidebars to spacing, buttons, and colors.

Why Themes

We’ve rebuilt the user experience to match the speed, scale, and standards of modern branding, with flexible themes that adapt to your team, not the other way around. Built on modern tech, customizable layouts, and designed to scale.

With themes, you can:

  • update the entire layout in minutes

  • apply consistent styles across all pages

  • build polished documentation without developers (except the custom theme)

  • scale your brand without losing control

Themes make it simple to adapt.

Meet the Themes

Choose the starting point that matches your brand and your team’s needs. Each theme has its specific help article linked.

  1. Classic Theme: Familiar header-sidebar layout, rebuilt for speed, consistency, and no-code updates.

  2. Muse Theme: Sleek sidebar-only layout that simplifies structure and focuses navigation.

  3. Paper Theme: Full-width layout with top navigation. Ideal for modern, brand-led content.

  4. Custom Theme: Tailored theme built with code. For full creative and technical control.

Choose the right Theme

Check out the full comparison table to see how the themes stack up side by side.

Who can install and use Themes

  • Admins install themes from the Marketplace

  • Owners and editors apply and customize themes

  • Viewers see the final, published layout

How to apply a Theme

You can try a theme in a test guideline before rolling it out live.

  1. Create or open a guideline

  2. Click the paintbrush icon in the PowerBar

  3. Select a theme from the list

  4. Customize headers, navigation, spacing, and design

  5. Save your changes

Your content stays exactly the same, only the layout and structure will change.

Use cases

Explore the links below to discover practical ways to use each feature.

  1. Craft your content layout

    1. Adjust content width, margins, and alignment

    2. Show or hide components to showcase content

  2. Customize background color with color schemes

    1. Customize your default color scheme

    2. Create a new color scheme

    3. Rename your color scheme

    4. Delete your color scheme

    5. Select your color scheme for all documents

    6. Select your color scheme for a specific document page

    7. For more info, see the color schemes page

  3. Build your footer

    1. Create your footer in seconds

    2. Add unlimited links and buttons

    3. Organize content into multiple columns

    4. Customize type styles

    5. Show or hide your footer on specific pages

  4. Update all documents at once

    1. Apply customizations across all documents instantly

Can I migrate my current settings

Yes. Most design settings, like typography, buttons, and color schemes, will carry over. Header and navigation settings cannot be migrated yet, but support is coming soon.

Can I import settings from another guideline

Yes, it’s a great way to save time and stay consistent.

  1. Click the paintbrush icon

  2. Click Import settings

  3. Choose the brand and guideline to import from

  4. Click Confirm

Custom fonts can’t be imported yet. Add the font block manually.

💡 Tip: Use a master or template guideline for easy rollout across teams.

Will anything break

No. Switching themes does not affect:

  • your content

  • your users

  • your access levels

Only the layout and design will change. Everything else stays intact.

What happens to my content or team access

Nothing changes. Your:

  • content stays exactly the same

  • structure is preserved

  • team roles and permissions are untouched

Themes only update layout and styling, not the actual guideline content.

Switching between Themes

You can switch Themes at any time. Each theme saves its settings, so you can explore and revert without losing your work.

Can I switch back to legacy

Yes, but we don’t recommend going back to legacy themes. They are no longer receiving updates, and you’ll miss out on future improvements.

Why is legacy being removed

To improve the editing experience for everyone. All innovation now goes into Classic, Muse, and Paper. Legacy will not get new features or fixes.

There’s no set removal date yet, but we recommend switching soon. You’ll be notified in advance through in-app messages and emails.

Cover pages vs. document pages

We’re moving away from cover pages to simplify editing and reduce fragmentation. Document pages are now more powerful and flexible.

  • New features are no longer added to cover pages

  • No sunset date yet, but migration is encouraged

  • A migration tool is in development

To migrate manually:

  1. Create a document page

  2. Rebuild the content

  3. Move the page to the top of the structure to set it as the new landing page

Can I use custom CSS with Themes

No. Classic, Muse and Paper Themes do not support custom CSS. Instead, use the no-code customization panel for layout and design control.

What if I need more advanced customization

Use the Brand SDK to build your own theme. You’ll need:

  • a designer and a front-end developer

  • access to the SDK setup guide

  • a build and deployment process

You can build in-house or work with a certified Frontify partner.

[Learn more about the Brand SDK]

Related Articles
Color Schemes - Customize your Guidelines background
Work with the Classic Theme
Classic Theme - Elevate your sidebar
Classic Theme - Update all your documents at once
Color Schemes - FAQ
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