Jan 03
Double Column vs Single Column Sidebars
Over the break, I did a little bit of guest blogging for my girl Casey over at News Notion.
In one of my posts, I wrote about double column vs single column sidebars.
At the time I wrote it, the whole thing was more of a fleeting thought than something I had completely committed to, but since that time ’till now I just can’t get the subject off my mind!
Here’s where I am with the whole topic…
This Site’s Sidebar Content
Recently, since I’ve been putting the screws to this site, I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of stuff that I used to get to you guys, no longer exists. Most notable to me is the ol’ recent comments. I really like that one because it’s a good way to keep you guys in the know about random conversations on random posts that you may not be aware of.
But there’s more stuff besides that, (and as the site stands now), putting all that content into my single sidebar would mean that it would extend forever. And unless I’ve written some unbelievable 3 page content, no chance you guys are going to scroll all the way down to make sure you didn’t miss something that I hid away in my sidebar. So what’s the solution?
Enter the Double Column Sidebar
In my old theme, I didn’t have the need for a double column sidebar because I had, two sidebars, one on each side of the content. But even looking back to that, my sidebars weren’t very efficient in regards to dispensing information because they were filled with a lot of crap including too many categories and unimportant content like the calendar. On a sidenote, I personally liked the calendar because it reminded me of how good I was doing with posting But anyway…
I think I need to go to the double column sidebar because even for the three or four things I CURRENTLY have in the sidebar, it’s just way too long. And I think if I just expanded its current width by 10 pixels that I’d be able to pull it off.
Who’s Doin’ it Well and Doin’ it Swell
Mike, Casey and Rhys are doing a pretty good job with their double column sidebars. At the very least they’re doing better than me who doesn’t quite have one yet. But if I had to pick the best amongst the blogs I visit often, I’d probably have to go for Brown Baron (though CI gets an honorable mention).
Brown’s sidebar just looks good. Not too wide and things are spaced great so everything doesn’t look like they run into each other.
So question : Anybody else have this sidebar dilemna? Or am I the only one who cares about how his sidebars look and perform?
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Dang that sidebar screenshot looks fantastic haha. For me, this blog looks great – whether it’s a single or double columned sidebar. Whatever you decide, I’m sure I’ll love it.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Hey Bush! I’m back.
How’s it all going? 
I have a single sidebar right now, and I don’t have space for a second one, but if anything new comes up, I’ll have to redesign it. 
I like those sidebars too.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
@Brown – Thanks for the support man. At this point it’s just a matter of time before I make the move to double sidebars.
@Grace – Well we don’t want you to have to redesign your blog again. Ha ha. I can’t believe that you’re finally back! It’s been like 3 months! Where the devil have you been!? We’ve missed you! (#):D
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Thanks for the linky!
Wierd, just a few days ago I increased the size of the sidebar to incorporate 3 more 125×125 squares (the reason will be explained shortly
).
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Anyway, the reason why I prefer 3 columns is you can fit a lot more on, and seeing as how popular 1024 width+ screens, it seems only logical to extend it just a little further.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
@Rhys – Yeah, I guess even though your sidebar is wide enough to hold 3 125×125 icons across, I still consider it two column because of the content below your ads. But I mean really, tomato toMAto right?
And that’s in interesting note about the 1024 because when I was redoing the theme here, I made my content wide enough so that the main content was around 500px in width and so that the sidebar wasn’t SO big that I couldn’t perhaps open up the space around my main content to advertisers.
But the more I thought about it, the less I really got excited about that idea.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Bush- 3 months of no blogging has got me into the blogging mood again.
I just felt like I should stop blogging for a while and work on something else. 
But now I’m back. 
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
@Grace – Hey, well I guess we all need a good break every now and then. Personally, I tend to take smaller breaks because if I were to go for too long w/o blogging I would get back all discombobelated(sp). Ha ha (#):)
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I definitely prefer a single sidebar. You can always move random stuff/widgets to the footer if you need to, or wrap them up into tabs like several blogs are doing now.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Make the leap to double bars my friend. You’ll be glad you did. I have to agree with you that Baron’s sidebar has always looked clean and held to a high standard.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
@Kyle – It’s too bad this post didn’t have a big section for sidebars, ’cause I think I’d have to give your site the big ol’ A+. But I mean seriously, your site is just looking fantastic through and through. *nod*
@Mark – Yeah, I’m gonna do it. I just need a free hour or two to play with the css to knock it out. My new “a little bit at a time all the time” work ethic seems to be paying its dividends ’round here.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:48 am
I am not a big fan of double column sidebars. However, if you have to do it, definitley put them on the same side.
Otherwise, I agree with Kyle and others that some stuff can be above the footer.
Also, you could reduce the size of your sidebar by doing things like making archives into a dropdown, like my blog.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Thank you very much Bush! Though I can’t take credit, as many others have done something similar before me.
I think before to long you will see a majority of blogs and blog themes doing something along those lines. Blog sidebars are full of a lot of situational stuff which needs to be there for certain readers who will look for it, but doesn’t need to be there for others.
Great discussion here!
January 4th, 2008 at 11:07 am
@Apex – It seems that footers are all the rage now (that is footers with content) but I haven’t really sat down yet and figured out what I would want in there, and what I would want (completely) in the sidebars yet. And dropdowns are something else that might be considered. Great point.
@Kyle – I meant to say, “It’s too bad this post didn’t have a big section for SINGLE sidebars…” ‘Cause I really do think yours is ace!
And yeah, you’re probably right about the “situational sidebars”. Maybe in a few releases of WordPress we’ll start seeing it built in. (#):) (Remember, you heard it here first!)
January 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I’m thinking about doing away with all sidebars in favor of a chunky, triple thickened, ultra cool footer bar…hehe:)
January 10th, 2008 at 5:42 am
@Bobby – … I’m not gonna lie. That made me REALLY want a milkshake. (#):)