How to Reduce Section Height in the Label Theme on Shopify Desktop

By Tony Ng.
December 11th, 2024

How to Reduce Section Height in the Label Theme on Shopify Desktop

If you’re managing an online store, appearance is key. Having a streamlined, visually appealing site can significantly improve the user experience, leading to increased visitor engagement and sales. One common issue that Shopify users encounter is the need to customize theme settings to better suit their store’s needs. In this guide, we discuss how to reduce the section height in the Label theme—specifically for desktop displays—while providing actionable solutions for similar customization challenges.

Understanding the Problem: Why Section Height Matters

In Shopify themes like Label, specific sections may have a default height that could create excessive whitespace on desktop displays. This can lead to an unbalanced layout and detract from the overall site aesthetics. Reducing section height for desktop views enhances visual appeal and ensures content is displayed more effectively.

Causes of Excessive Section Height

Default Theme Settings: Many Shopify themes have predefined section dimensions that are designed to accommodate a variety of content. While these might work well for some stores, they may not suit everyone’s needs.
Responsive Design Elements: Themes are often built with responsive design in mind, which means they automatically adjust to different screen sizes. Sometimes, this optimization leads to larger sections on desktops.
Lack of Custom CSS: Incorrect or missing CSS rules can prevent proper customization, which is often necessary to modify theme layouts effectively.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing Section Height

To effectively reduce section height, especially in the Label theme, it is crucial to correctly use CSS and understand where to apply it. Below is a detailed guide to address this issue:

1. Access the Theme’s CSS File

Firstly, navigate to your Shopify admin panel:

Go to Online Store > Themes.
Locate your current theme and click on Actions > Edit Code.
In the Code Editor, select Assets then open the theme’s CSS file (usually theme.scss.liquid or styles.css).

2. Target the Specific Section

Identify the class or ID of the section you wish to modify. This may require inspecting your site’s elements using developer tools:

Right-click the section you want to adjust and select Inspect.
Note the class or ID that’s associated with the section.

3. Apply Custom CSS for Desktop Only

Use media queries to ensure changes only affect desktop layouts. Add the following code to the bottom of your CSS file:

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .your-section-class { /* Replace with your section’s class or ID */
        margin-bottom: -80px !important;
    }
}

4. Verify and Adjust

After applying the changes, preview your store:

Ensure that the section height is reduced as expected on desktop views.
Adjust the margin-bottom value as needed for perfect alignment.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Missing Curly Braces: Ensure all CSS rules and media queries are properly enclosed in curly braces.
Incorrect Class or ID: Verify you are targeting the right section by double-checking the class or ID.
Overusing !important: This should only be used when necessary, as excessive use can complicate stylesheet maintenance.