Design and Style Forms Visually

WordPress forms are single-column by default. That means every field stacks top to bottom, making even a short form feel long and clunky. Layout & Styles changes that.

This add-on gives you a visual form styler and layout builder for Ninja Forms. Drag fields into multi-column layouts, resize columns to any width, and style every element of your forms without writing a single line of CSS. Full form customization, all from the Ninja Forms builder you already know.

With Layout & Styles, you can:

Key Features

Key Features of Layout & Styles

Drag and drop fields into columns

Creating multi-column forms takes seconds. Grab any field and drag it to the left or right side of another field to instantly create a two-column layout. Keep dragging more fields alongside to build three-column or mixed-width layouts. No shortcodes, no HTML, no guesswork.

Add fields to existing columns by dropping them underneath other fields in that column. Need to move a field back to its own row? Drag it outside the column boundary and it snaps into a full-width row. You can also delete empty columns when you no longer need them.

Resize columns to any width

Click and drag the bar between any two columns to set exact widths. Give a name field 70% and a phone field 30%, or split fields evenly across the row. Every column width adjusts visually in real time, so you can see exactly how your form will look before you publish.

This level of control lets you match your form layout to your page design. Shorter fields like phone numbers or zip codes can share a row, while longer fields like addresses or messages get the space they need.

Reorder rows and field groups visually

Restructuring your form layout is just as simple. Click the bar on the left side of any row and drag it into a new position. Entire rows, including all their columns and fields, move together. No need to rebuild sections from scratch when you want to change the form flow.

Style form elements without writing CSS

The built-in visual editor lets you change colors, fonts, borders, spacing, and backgrounds for any part of your form. Pick a background color from the color picker, set border widths per side, adjust font sizes, and fine-tune margin and padding values. All changes happen through point-and-click controls.

Supported styling properties include background color, border width and color, text color, font size, height, width, float, margin, and padding. Need something more specific? An advanced CSS field lets you add any custom rules, like border-radius, line-height, or box-shadow, directly in the form builder.

Global and field-level styling controls

Layout & Styles provides a four-tier styling hierarchy. The Form Styles tab sets defaults for all form containers, rows, and success messages. The Default Field Styles tab applies to every field type. The Field Types Styles tab lets you set different defaults per field type (text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes, and so on). And the Error Styles tab controls error messages and invalid field highlighting.

The more specific your rule, the more weight it carries. A style set on an individual field overrides the field type default, which overrides the global default. This gives you two levels of control: set a consistent look across all forms, then fine-tune individual fields when you need them to stand out.

Mobile-responsive column layouts

Multi-column layouts automatically stack into a single column on smaller screens. Your visitors see a polished multi-column form on desktop and a clean, easy-to-tap layout on mobile. No extra configuration needed, and no media queries to write.

Works with any Ninja Forms form

Layout & Styles works with every form you build in Ninja Forms. Contact forms, registration forms, payment forms, multi-step forms, and any form using other Ninja Forms add-ons. Add columns, resize layouts, and style fields regardless of which form type or add-ons you are using.

WordPress Form Styler: Visual Customization Without Code

Most WordPress form plugins give you a functional form with little control over how it looks. You either accept the default appearance or dig into your theme’s stylesheet. Layout & Styles works as a complete form styler built right into the Ninja Forms builder. Every visual property you would normally set in CSS is available through a point-and-click interface.

Change the background color of your form container, set a border on individual fields, adjust text color for labels, or add padding between fields and form edges. The color picker supports hex values for exact brand matching, and the border width field accepts the same 1-to-4-value syntax you would use in CSS (all sides, top/bottom and left/right, or each side individually).

For form customization that goes beyond the built-in controls, the advanced CSS field accepts any valid CSS rules. Add border-radius for rounded corners, line-height for readable text, or box-shadow for depth. You get the convenience of a visual styler with the flexibility of raw CSS when you need it.

Form Layout Design: Build Compact, Professional Forms

A long single-column form can feel overwhelming. Visitors see a wall of fields and abandon the page before they start typing. Multi-column form layouts solve this by grouping related fields side by side. A first name and last name share one row. City, state, and zip code sit together. The form looks shorter, feels faster, and converts better.

Layout & Styles gives you complete control over your WordPress form layout. Every column width is adjustable, every row is draggable, and the entire layout responds to screen size automatically. Whether you are building a quick contact form or a detailed registration form, the drag-and-drop layout builder helps you create forms that match your site’s design and your visitors’ expectations.

Common Use Cases

• Shorten long forms without removing fields: Place related fields side by side in multi-column layouts so your form takes up less vertical space and feels faster to complete.
• Match forms to your brand identity: Set exact colors, fonts, and spacing to make every form look like a natural part of your website instead of a generic plugin output.
• Build professional registration and application forms: Create polished multi-section layouts with consistent styling that instill confidence in the people filling them out.
• Standardize form appearance across your site: Use global styles to set defaults once, then apply them to every form. Update one setting and every form updates with it.
• Sell products and services with styled order forms: Combine Layout & Styles with Ninja Forms payment add-ons to create checkout experiences that look custom-built.
• Create mobile-friendly forms without extra work: Multi-column layouts stack automatically on small screens, so your forms work everywhere without separate mobile configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I create multi-column forms in WordPress?

  With the Layout & Styles add-on, you drag any form field to the left or right side of another field to instantly create a two-column layout. Keep adding fields to build three-column or mixed-width layouts. No coding or shortcodes required.

• Can I customize my form layout without CSS?

  Yes. Layout & Styles gives you a visual editor for colors, fonts, borders, spacing, and backgrounds. You can also set global styles that apply to every form and override them on individual fields when needed.

• What is a form styler plugin?

  A form styler plugin lets you change the visual appearance of your WordPress forms without writing CSS. Layout & Styles provides point-and-click controls for colors, borders, fonts, spacing, and layouts, so your forms match your site's design.

• How do I style WordPress forms without CSS?

  Install the Layout & Styles add-on and open the styling panel in the Ninja Forms builder. Use the color picker, border controls, and spacing settings to customize any form element. An advanced CSS field is also available if you need fine-grained control.

• Are multi-column form layouts mobile responsive?

  Yes. Multi-column layouts created with Layout & Styles automatically stack into a single column on smaller screens. Your forms look polished on desktop and are easy to complete on phones and tablets without extra configuration.

• Can I set different styles for different field types?

  Layout & Styles includes a four-tier styling hierarchy: form-level defaults, field defaults, field-type-specific styles, and individual field overrides. The more specific your rule, the higher its priority, giving you precise control over every element.

• Does Layout & Styles work with other Ninja Forms add-ons?

  Yes. Layout & Styles is compatible with every Ninja Forms add-on. Apply custom layouts and styling to contact forms, payment forms, multi-step forms, and any other form you build with Ninja Forms.