Innovative navigation for modern WordPress websites


navigation menu trends
Innovative navigation for modern WordPress websites

The role of navigation in user experience

Let’s be real when was the last time you stuck around on a website where you couldn’t find anything? Exactly. Navigation is one of the most underrated tools in user experience. It’s the roadmap that tells people where to go, how to get there, and what to do next.

Understanding how WordPress navigation works today

What’s the Navigation Block?

What makes it better?

  • You can move things around visually, not just in a list.
  • Menus aren’t limited to links anymore you can toss in buttons, search fields, or even logos.
  • Submenus? Super simple. Just nest them like building blocks.
  • And yes, it works on mobile out of the box.

Use case: A design agency wanted their menu to include a “Get a Quote” button and a small logo, without breaking the layout. The Navigation Block made that super simple with no plugin needed.

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Types of navigation you’ll want to know

Global navigation

Tip: Keep it to 5–7 items max. You want it easy to scan.

Contextual or hierarchical navigation

Menus that change based on where you are on the site. If someone’s browsing your blog, maybe they see categories. If they’re in your shop, they get product filters.

Use case: An online magazine added a category-specific sidebar menu to help readers jump between tech, lifestyle, and opinion pieces without going back to the homepage.

Footer navigation

Footer menus don’t get enough love. They’re like the safety net there when users scroll all the way down and want to keep exploring.

Tip: Add legal links, social media, maybe even a mini sitemap. Give people options when they’re at the end of the page.

Sidebar navigation

Still useful, especially for long-form content like docs or tutorials.

Tip: Keep it sticky if the content scrolls a lot. It saves users from having to scroll up and down constantly.

Best practices to follow

Keep it clean and focused

Tip: Don’t make users think. Say exactly what the page is.

Put things where people expect them

Header for your main links. Footer for the basics. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel unless you have a strong reason.

Tip: If you’re not sure where to put something, think: where would I look for it as a visitor?

Create a visual hierarchy

Use font sizes, colours, and spacing to guide the eye.

Use case: A nonprofit added icons next to their primary links (“Donate,” “Volunteer”) to make them stand out visually and their click-through rate went up 18%.

Design for mobile first

More than half of your visitors are probably on their phones.

Tip: Use a hamburger menu or off-canvas layout. Make tap targets big enough and leave room for fingers.

Build like a pro

Tools you can use in WordPress

Classic menus (Appearance > Menus)

Still around and still useful, especially if you’re using older themes. Great for people who prefer the old-school way of managing things.

The Site Editor + Navigation Block

If you’re using a block-based theme, this is your best bet. It’s visual, flexible, and future-proof.

Tip: You can even create different headers for different templates (like a landing page with no menu at all).

Customise WordPress menu
Customise WordPress menu

Navigation trends that actually work

Minimalist, hidden menus

Tip: Use animation wisely too much, and it feels slow.

Vertical menus for standout designs

Tip: Works best when the content is centered or the layout is asymmetric. Avoid if you have lots of horizontal scrolling.

Full-screen overlays

Don’t sleep on footer navigation

  • Add links that didn’t fit in the header
  • Include helpful extras: support, docs, FAQs
  • Embed social links or mini CTAs

Tip: Think of your footer as a secondary home page for serious users who scroll all the way down.

Final thoughts: Navigation that helps, not hinders

Whether you’re keeping it simple or going all-in with mega menus, the goal is the same: help your visitors get where they want to go, fast.

WordPress menus for modern fast navigation

Discover how to create clear, responsive, and stylish WordPress menus with expert tips and resources.

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FAQs: Innovative navigation design ideas for modern WordPress websites

What are hidden menus, and why use them in WordPress websites?

How do interactive mega menus enhance user engagement?

Why consider vertical navigation for your WordPress site?

What makes full-screen overlays a bold navigation choice?

How can footer navigation improve user discovery on WordPress sites?

Are hidden menus suitable for all types of WordPress websites?

Can mega menus affect website loading times?

What is navigation for modern WordPress?

Navigation for modern WordPress refers to the advanced and user-friendly navigation menus and systems that are designed to enhance the user experience on WordPress websites. These include features like responsive design, mega menus, and interactive elements that work seamlessly across all devices.

How do I create navigation for modern WordPress?

To create navigation for modern WordPress, use the block editor or page builder plugins like Elementor or Beaver Builder. These tools provide advanced features to design and customize navigation menus with ease. You can also use modern themes that offer built-in navigation options.

What plugins can improve navigation for modern WordPress?

Plugins like Max Mega Menu, WP Mega Menu, and UberMenu can significantly improve navigation for modern WordPress. These plugins offer advanced features such as mega menus, dropdowns, and customizable styling options to enhance your site’s navigation.

How do I make navigation for modern WordPress responsive?

To make navigation for modern WordPress responsive, ensure your theme supports responsive design and use plugins or menu systems that automatically adjust to different screen sizes. Many modern themes and plugins come with built-in responsive navigation options.

Can I add icons to navigation for modern WordPress?

Yes, you can add icons to navigation for modern WordPress using plugins like Menu Icons or Font Awesome. These plugins allow you to easily integrate icons into your menu items, enhancing the visual appeal and functionality of your navigation.

How do I style navigation for modern WordPress?

To style navigation for modern WordPress, use the WordPress Customizer under Appearance > Customize or a page builder plugin. You can apply custom CSS to change colors, fonts, sizes, and other design elements, or use a plugin that offers advanced styling options for menus.

How do I add a mega menu to navigation for modern WordPress?

To add a mega menu to navigation for modern WordPress, use a plugin like Max Mega Menu or UberMenu. These plugins provide features to create large, multi-column menus that can include images, videos, and other interactive elements, enhancing your site’s navigation.

How do I create a one-page navigation for modern WordPress?

To create a one-page navigation for modern WordPress, use a theme or plugin that supports one-page design. You can create anchor links within your page content that correspond to menu items, allowing users to smoothly scroll to different sections of the same page.

What themes support navigation for modern WordPress?

How do I customize navigation buttons for modern WordPress?

To customize navigation buttons for modern WordPress, use the WordPress Customizer or a page builder plugin to access button settings. You can adjust the appearance of buttons by changing colours, sizes, padding, and hover effects using custom CSS or the plugin’s built-in options.

How do you ensure vertical navigation is responsive on mobile devices?

What are the best practices for designing full-screen overlays?

Best practices include ensuring easy access to close the overlay, optimizing for speed to prevent delays in menu display, and maintaining focus on the menu options to not overwhelm users with too much information at once.

How frequently should footer navigation be updated?

Author-Kyra

Kyra Pieterse

Author

Kyra is the co-founder and creative lead of MaxiBlocks, an open-source page builder for WordPress Gutenberg.

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