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Top 5 Shopify Themes With Sidebar Menu & How To Edit It

June 21, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

A sidebar menu is a valuable tool that allows visitors to navigate through your website effortlessly. Let’s explore 5 Shopify themes with a sidebar menu and how to edit it.

Why Should You Choose A Shopify Theme With A Sidebar Menu?

  • Enhanced Navigation: With a sidebar menu, you can categorize your products and collections, making it easier for customers to explore and find specific items. This improves the overall user experience and reduces the bounce rate. 
  • More Display Space: High-volume stores often have a wide range of products. A sidebar menu allows you to showcase subcategories under each main category, enabling customers to navigate to their desired products quickly. 
  • Improved Mobile Experience: Responsive Shopify themes with a sidebar menu ensure that your website looks great on mobile devices as well. The menu can be collapsed or expanded, providing a user-friendly browsing experience on smartphones and tablets.

The 5 Best Shopify Themes With Sidebar Menus

Theme NameVendorNicheRatingsKey FeaturesDownload
YuvaShine Dezign InfonetMultipurpose4.9/5Countdown sale banner, Reels & parallax banner, Creative animated stickersGet Theme!
ExpressionClean Canvas LtdArtisanal, Furniture4.5/5Sidebar menu, Countdown timer, Quick viewGet Theme!
HandmadeSuperfineArtisanal, Furniture4.3/5Quick view, Search and opt-in modals, Notification barGet Theme!
PaperBrickspace LabMultipurpose4.3/5Store locator, Age verifier, Countdown timerGet Theme!
NorthFuel ThemesMultipurpose4.0/5Multiple product layouts, Quick shop, Unique collection grid layoutsGet Theme!

If you’ve ever visited a Shopify site and wondered about the specific Shopify themes it is using, our theme detector tool is here to help.

Read our experts' theme evaluation process and methodology for more details.

Yuva

Yuva is designed for stores with lots of products, so it makes sense that it has a sidebar menu to make browsing easier. This theme is all about being clean and simple, letting the high-quality product images and detailed descriptions do the talking.

Yuva is designed for stores with lots of products, so it makes sense that it has a sidebar menu to make browsing easier. This theme is all about being clean and simple, letting high-quality product images and detailed descriptions do the talking. It will always be my favorite Shopify theme with a mega menu.

Ratings

97% of customers have a positive experience with the Shopify Yuva theme. People seem to like its user-friendly design, modern look, and excellent customer service. They say the support team is quick and helpful when you need them. However, a few users have had some serious issues, especially with structured data, that affected their sales.

Key features

  • Countdown sale banner
  • Reels & parallax banner
  • Creative animated stickers
  • Quick buy
  • Back-in-stock alert
  • Slide-out cart
  • Re-order
  • Back-to-top button

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Enhanced Aesthetics
  • Responsive Support Team
  • Adaptive Features
  • Customization Support
  • Versatile customization options

Cons

  • Coding issues sometimes happen

Best for

  • Fashion brands looking to present their clothing and accessories.
  • Beauty and wellness brands
  • Stores focusing on lifestyle and home decor items.
  • Businesses selling sports and outdoor equipment.
  • Stores offering unique and artistic handcrafted products.

More Info / Download Theme Demo

Expression

Expression is the Shopify theme that makes a good first impression. It uses textured backgrounds and subtle natural elements to create a warm, inviting feeling.

Expression is the Shopify theme that makes a good first impression. It uses textured backgrounds and subtle natural elements to create a warm, inviting feeling. The sidebar menu is both practical and visually appealing, making it easy to find different categories, collections, or pages without cluttering up the main part of the site.

Ratings

Users have mixed experiences with the Expression theme. While some appreciate its clean design, modern look, and ease of updates, others find it lacking in essential features like a scrolling slideshow effect. However, from my personal view, I think this theme performs well with its design and features at this price. I’d give it a 4.5/5.

Features

  • Sidebar menu
  • Countdown timer 
  • Quick view
  • Color swatches
  • Trust badges
  • Product videos
  • Shipping/delivery information
  • Slideshow

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Fast loading speed
  • Unique design
  • Unlimited free trial
  • Rich feature set
  • Ease of use and customization
  • Additional options for the checkout and cart, such as the sticky cart and in-pickups

Cons:

  • Lack of quick view or quick buy features
  • Support is available only via social media and email

Best for

  • Fashion brands and clothing stores. 
  • Home Decor and furnishing shops
  • Beauty and cosmetics brands.  

More Info / Download Theme Demo

Handmade 

I’ve also tried the Handmade Shopify theme, and it’s got a warm, cozy feel that’s perfect for handmade or natural products. The muted colors and classic fonts really create a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to explore and appreciate the craftsmanship. The sidebar menu is adaptable, which is great for organizing your products.

Ratings

There weren’t any negative reviews at this time. Users mentioned how well the theme works for certain types of businesses and how appealing it looks. However, there are still some areas where the theme could be improved.

Key features

  • Quick view
  • Search and opt-in modals
  • A notification bar
  • Product image zoom
  • Parallax
  • Slideout cart.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Lightning-quick loading
  • Special theme styles 
  • Unlimited free trial
  • Variety of features
  • Adaptability and simplicity of use
  • Additional options for the checkout and cart, such as the sticky cart and in-pickups
  • 5 presets to choose from

Cons

  • No live chat support
  • High-resolution images, if not optimized, can slow down loading times

Best for

  • Jewelry businesses that create unique and artisanal pieces.
  • Stores sell various accessories, such as scarves, handbags, and belts.
  • High-volume home decor and artisan businesses.
  • DIY craft supplies and materials.
  • Lifestyle brands that promote a particular aesthetic or vibe.

More Info / Download Theme Demo

Paper

Checking the Shopify Paper Theme, and I’m really impressed with how you can customize the sidebar menu. The theme’s design is minimalist, using a monochromatic color scheme that really makes the products stand out. It’s like a gallery setting, where each product looks like a piece of art on display. What’s really cool about this theme is how it focuses on making the product pages really immersive, giving you a detailed look at each item.

Ratings

I checked out the reviews for the theme on the Shopify theme store, and all of them are positive! This means people are really happy with it.

Key features

  • EU translations (EN, FR, IT, DE, ES)
  • Store locator
  • Age verifier
  • Countdown timer
  • Color swatches

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Fast loading speed
  • Original style
  • Limited free trial
  • Numerous features
  • Simple use and personalization
  • More cart and checkout options, such as the sticky cart and in-pickups

Cons

  • The theme is not refundable.
  • Lack of live chat support.

Best for

  • High-volume fashion and apparel stores.
  • Stores selling electronic gadgets and tech products.
  • High-volume home decor and interior design businesses.
  • Businesses catering to toys and games.
  • High-volume beauty and cosmetics brands.

More Info / Download Theme Demo

North

The Shopify North theme comes with 5 preset styles, all with a clean, modern design that works well for all sorts of industries. The navigation bar at the top is easy to see and use, helping customers quickly find what they need. There’s also a sidebar menu that adds more depth to browsing without making the page feel too cluttered.

Ratings:

Users have mixed experiences with the North theme. Some appreciate its good looks, animations, ease of use, and quick and helpful customer support. However, significant issues are reported. I personally rated this theme 4.2/5 for its value for money.

Key features

  • Multiple product layouts
  • Quick shop
  • Unique collection grid layouts
  • EU translations (EN, FR, IT, DE, ES)
  • Store locator
  • Color swatches
  • Quick view
  • Stock counter

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 5 presets to choose from
  • Affordable price
  • Unique designs
  • Unlimited free trial
  • Rich feature set
  • Ease of use and customization
  • Support for in-person selling

Cons

  • Bugs happen sometimes
  • Basic customization options
  • Lack of live chat support
  • Slower loading speed compared to other premium Shopify themes

Best for

  • High-volume stores selling electronic gadgets and tech products.
  • Fashion retailers looking for a stylish and engaging online store.
  • Businesses specializing in sports gear and outdoor equipment.
  • High-volume home decor businesses.
  • Stores selling children’s products.

More Info / Download Theme Demo

How To Add And Customize Sidebar Menu In Your Shopify Store

Here are 5 steps on how to enhance your Shopify store’s navigation and user experience by adding and customizing a sidebar menu:

  • Step 1: Access the Online Store Section: To begin, click on the “Online Store” section located on the left side of your screen.
  • Step 2: Navigate to Themes: Once in the “Online Store” section, click on “Themes” to view your current theme and theme library.
  • Step 3: Customize Your Theme: To add a sidebar to your site, click on the “Customize” button of the current theme.
  • Step 4: Select Collection Pages: Within the customization options, choose “Collection Pages” to work on the pages where you want the sidebar to appear.
  • Step 5: Choose Sidebar Filtering Type: Finally, select the type of sidebar filtering you prefer, either by tags or by groups, to organize your store’s content effectively.

Editing Your Shopify Sidebar Menu

  • Step 1: Access the Themes Section: Log in to your Shopify account, click on “Online Store,” and then select “Themes” from the left menu.
  • Step 2: Enter Customization Mode: Click on the blue “Customize” button to access the customization mode for your current theme.
  • Step 3: Choose the Page to Edit Sidebar: From the customization options, select the page where you want to edit the sidebar by clicking the downward arrow in the upper left corner of the window.
  • Step 4: Locate Sidebar Settings: Your sidebar settings may be visible in the “Sections” area or coded into one of the sections. For example, the sidebar option may not be directly visible in the Parallax theme. However, within the “Collection” section, you can find the option to edit the sidebar.

Final Words

The five themes discussed in this article offer excellent features and customization options, allowing you to create a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate website. Take the time to explore these themes and choose the one that best suits your store’s needs and branding.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.