Page layout: split the space into rows and columns

In this lesson, learn how to work with columns and build complex pages (there is a video at the end)

By default, the page consists of horizontal rows where blocks are placed. One block takes one row. This is what the blue horizontal line represents when you drag the block.

But Notion has the ability to create columns, and things get a lot more interesting with them. With the help of columns, we made this structures earlier:

Column Creation Algorithm

Option 1 – using drag and drop

Columns appear when you drag and drop a block to the right or left of another. The blue line becomes vertical. If you drag several blocks simultaneously, they will all go to a column.

The content under the first block will not automatically fall into its column. It will be in the next row. To finish creating two columns, you must grab the remaining blocks and drag them under the first block.

To start the next row below the columns, drag the box below the columns until the blue line spans the full width of the page.

Block width. By default, all columns have the same width. You can adjust it by dragging the pop-up vertical line to the left of the column:

Option 2 – using “X columns” blocks

Notion has blocks called 2 columns, 3 columns, 4 columns and 5 columns. They create the appropriate number of columns.

This option has one clear advantage over the first method. Column blocks can be created inside other columns. You won’t be able to do that using drag and drop.

When you create columns this way, they appear empty and can be easily overlooked. Highlight them with a selection box if needed. In the screenshot, one column is divided into three columns, and the second column is into 4. Some of them are only visible when selected.

Columns and databases. Yes, we have not yet covered the “database” topics, but this feature is worth mentioning here.

Databases cannot start a new column. Therefore, if you want to put the database in a column, start it with any other block – and then remove it if necessary.

There is also another option. Turn the database into a page database first: ••• → Turn into page. Drag the resulting page to the left or right of another block to start a column. Already in the column, return your database to a block view: ••• → Turn into inline.

Video tutorial: