DocumentationGetting started

Getting started with Zen Builder

Zen Builder is a Bootstrap 5 block theme and a blocks plugin that work inside the WordPress editor. This guide takes you from a fresh install to your first page.

What you get

  • Zen Builder theme — templates, header, footer and the global styles for your site.
  • Zen Builder child theme — where your own CSS and template changes live, so theme updates never overwrite them.
  • Zen Builder plugin — the Bootstrap blocks: Section, Container, Row, Column, Card, Button, Accordion, Tabbed Panel and more.
  • Theme Options — the design system screen at Zen Builder → Theme Options in the dashboard.

Build your first page

  1. Install and activate the theme, child theme and plugin (see Installation).
  2. Open Zen Builder → Theme Options, set your colours and fonts, then click Save Changes.
  3. Go to Pages → Add New Page and give the page a title.
  4. In the page settings, choose a full-width template so sections can span the screen (see Templates).
  5. Open the block inserter and add a Section. Inside it add a Container, a Row and one or more Columns.
  6. Add content inside the columns: Heading, Paragraph, Image, Button or Card blocks.
  7. Preview on desktop, tablet and mobile, then click Publish.

Make your changes in the child theme. Updating the parent theme replaces its files, so anything edited there would be lost.

Next steps