Notion has always been about giving users the tools to build their own workflows. With its latest Customize layout feature, Notion takes customization to the next level. Now, users can tailor how their database pages look, allowing for better organization, visual clarity, and more control over which properties are highlighted.

Whether you’re managing a small project or a large knowledge base, learning to use this feature will unlock new ways to organize and display content. In this post, we’ll explore how to activate and use the Notion Layout feature, break down its core sections, and share a few tips and tricks to get the most out of it.

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Key Takeaways

1. Easy Access to Layout Customization: We’ll show where to find the “Customize Layout” option across different places in Notion.
2. Breaking Down Page Sections: Learn how Notion organizes pages into headings, properties, relations, and panels to improve clarity.
3. Grouping and Pinning Properties: Discover how to group similar properties and pin important ones for quick access.
4. Panel Feature and Styling Options: Understand how the new panel allows selective visibility and property styling.
5. Resetting and Previewing Layouts: Don’t worry if things go off track—Notion provides ways to preview changes and reset layouts.

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Activate ‘Customize Layout’

You can activate the “Customize Layout” feature from three different locations:

1. Source Database
2. Database Item
3. Property Settings

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For all these options, head to Page Settings by clicking ••• in the top-right corner of the page, then select Customize layout.

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When accessing it from a database item, you can also hover over the title, and the option will appear next to Add cover.

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After clicking, you'll see a page that looks like this:

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Notion Layout Setup

Page Sections

Once inside the “Customize Layout” view, the page is divided into multiple sections:

• Heading: Displays the title, backlinks, and pinned properties.
• Property Group: Shows your database properties according to their visibility settings.
• Relations Group: Displays relation properties marked as Page section.
• Panel: This right-side section allows you to add properties selectively, with unique styling options.

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Notion Panel

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In the Panel section, you can add or create new properties. Any changes you make in the panel are reflected in the main database.

A unique feature of the panel is Style, which lets you display properties as Large or Small.

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Pro tip: Properties added to the panel won’t appear in other sections, like the properties group or pinned properties.

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Once you’re done adding properties, click Apply to all pages to save your changes.

To view panel properties later, click the View details icon at the top-right of the page.

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Group Notion Properties

This feature might just be the most exciting part of the update! You can now group your Notion properties into sections to stay organized.

Here’s how:

1. In the layout view, go to Property group.
2. Click + Add section in the sidebar.
3. Name your section.
4. All properties will be placed in the first section by default.
5. Use + Add section to create more sections.
6. Drag and drop properties between sections as needed.
7. Click Apply to all pages to save your changes.

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Sections work like toggles: click to expand or collapse them.

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Pro tip: You can add new properties directly to specific groups without reopening the Customize Layout menu.

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Pin Notion properties

Pinning properties allows them to appear at the top of the page, horizontally aligned.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Heading section from the layout settings.
2. Click the pin icon next to any property.
3. Click Apply to all pages to save.

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⚠️ Pinned properties won’t show up in other sections.

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Pro tip: The Heading section also lets you toggle backlinks on or off.

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Hide Notion properties

Notion makes it easy to control property visibility:

• From outside Customize Layout: Adjust property visibility from the property’s settings.
• Within Customize Layout: Click the eye icon inside the Properties group.

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Creating New Sections

You can create new sections by clicking the large blue "+" button at the bottom of the existing sections. Like Panels, this creates a single-property section. For numeric properties, you can choose between "Large" or "Small" for the display size.

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Global Settings

You can further customize the layout with these options:

• Page Settings: Adjust inline comments, page discussions, and property icons.
• Preview: Use the search bar to select which database item to preview.
• Reset to Original Layout: Revert to default settings if needed.

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Preview‍

Click the dropdown menu beneath the database title to select which database item to preview. You can use the search function to quickly find your preferred page.

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Reset to original page layout‍

If you're feeling lost or unsatisfied with your new layout, don't worry—you can always revert to the default settings. Simply click the down arrow next to the blue "Apply to all pages" button, then select Reset to original page layout.

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Conclusion

Notion layout feature is a game-changer for anyone looking to personalize their workspace. With tools to group, pin, and selectively display properties, it’s easier than ever to create a layout that fits your workflow. Whether you’re organizing a small project or managing complex data, this new feature helps streamline your setup and keep everything in order.

So dive in, experiment, and find the layout that works best for you! And remember—you can always reset things if you need a fresh start.

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