Incidental WordPress Theme

About Incidental WP Theme

Incidental is a WordPress theme built by GoodLayers, the team behind the popular Goodlayers core plugin and Page Builder. It targets creative agencies, studios, and portfolio sites that need a clean, image-forward layout without a bloated feature set.

The theme ships with the GoodLayers Page Builder, giving you drag-and-drop control over layouts without writing code. It includes multiple homepage demos, portfolio post types, smooth scroll effects, and full-width section support. Typography and color controls are handled through the live customizer, so changes preview in real time.

Incidental is compatible with WooCommerce, WPML for multilingual sites, and most major SEO plugins. It follows WordPress coding standards and gets periodic updates from GoodLayers to stay current with core releases.

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GoodLayers themes have their own conventions. The page builder, shortcode structure, and theme options panel behave differently from standard WordPress themes. A developer unfamiliar with the framework will spend hours just understanding how pieces connect.

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Pros

GoodLayers Page Builder included with no extra cost or subscription
Multiple pre-built demos covering agency, portfolio, and creative studio layouts
Live customizer lets you preview color, font, and layout changes in real time
Built-in portfolio post type with filterable category support
Compatible with WPML for multilingual site builds

Cons

GoodLayers Page Builder is proprietary, making it harder to switch themes later without rebuilding content
Documentation is limited and some features require trial and error to configure correctly
Performance on image-heavy pages needs manual optimization since lazy loading is not aggressive by default
Update frequency from GoodLayers is inconsistent compared to more actively maintained theme brands
WooCommerce styling requires custom CSS to match the theme properly beyond basic product pages

Who is Incidental for?

Creative Agency Website

Incidental suits agency sites well. The full-width section layout, animated transitions, and service page templates give agencies the visual presence they want. The GoodLayers Page Builder handles team pages, case study layouts, and multi-column service grids without requiring a developer for every edit.

Freelance Portfolio

Freelancers benefit from Incidental’s portfolio post type and project archive pages. You can organize work by category, display project details with custom fields, and link to live work. The clean typography keeps focus on the work rather than the site frame itself.

Photography Studio

Full-width imagery and minimal chrome make Incidental a strong fit for photography sites. Gallery sections and slideshow elements are built into the page builder. Portfolio filtering lets visitors browse by shoot type, client, or location without any plugin dependency.

Interior Design Firm

Interior design firms need visually clean layouts with strong project photography. Incidental’s demo templates cover before-and-after layouts and project case studies. The customizer handles brand fonts and neutral color palettes that interior design clients typically expect.

Digital Product Studio

Studios selling digital products can attach WooCommerce to an Incidental site and maintain the visual quality of a portfolio alongside a shop. Custom landing page layouts built in the GoodLayers builder work well for product launches and feature showcases.

Customizing Incidental

Out of the box, Incidental gives you a solid starting point. But most agency and portfolio sites need something more specific than a demo template. That is where an Incidental expert makes the difference.

Common customization work includes building custom portfolio filters, adjusting the GoodLayers Page Builder sections to match a brand identity, creating custom post type layouts, and integrating third-party tools like contact forms, booking plugins, or CRM connections.

More advanced projects involve child theme development to protect customizations during updates, custom CSS for typography and spacing, and performance tuning for image-heavy pages. If you have tried to push Incidental beyond its default settings and hit a wall, working with a developer who knows the GoodLayers framework will save you significant time.

Recommended plugins for Incidental

Incidental works with the broader GoodLayers plugin ecosystem, including their Core plugin which powers most of the shortcodes and page builder elements. WooCommerce integration is functional for small shops attached to a portfolio or agency site.

For better search visibility, pairing Incidental with a dedicated SEO plugin is recommended. Site speed is worth attention on image-heavy builds. Check out our WordPress performance service and WordPress SEO optimisation service if either is a priority for your project.

Not sure which plugins to use? This WordPress plugins directory covers the most popular options with reviews and setup guides.

Incidental common issues

Incidental theme page builder elements not loading correctly

This usually happens when the GoodLayers Core plugin is outdated or deactivated. First, confirm the plugin is active under Plugins. Then check that both the theme and the Core plugin are on compatible versions. If elements still fail to render, a JavaScript conflict with another plugin is the likely cause. Disable plugins one at a time to isolate it. Need help tracking it down? Our WordPress bug fixing service covers exactly this.

Incidental theme not updating without breaking layout

Incidental updates can affect custom CSS added directly to the theme files or overridden page builder settings. Always use a child theme before making code-level changes. If you have not done this yet, create one before the next update. Back up the site first, then test the update on a staging environment. If the layout breaks, a developer can compare the diff and patch only what changed.

Incidental portfolio filter not working

Portfolio filters rely on JavaScript and correct category assignment. Check that each portfolio item has at least one category assigned in the Portfolio Categories taxonomy. Then confirm the filter shortcode or page builder element has those categories selected. If filters worked before and stopped, a plugin conflict or jQuery version mismatch is likely. Clear all caches after any change to rule out stale output.

Incidental theme slow loading on image-heavy pages

Image-heavy pages in Incidental load slowly when images are uncompressed and served at full size. Compress images before upload using a tool like Squoosh or ShortPixel. Enable a caching plugin and use a CDN for static assets. The GoodLayers sliders load all slides on page load by default, which adds significant weight. Limiting slides or using lazy loading for below-fold sections helps. See our WordPress performance service for a full audit.

Incidental FAQ

Is Incidental by GoodLayers still being updated?

GoodLayers does release updates for Incidental, but the pace is slower than some theme developers. The theme is still available on ThemeForest and receives compatibility fixes for major WordPress releases. Before starting a new project on Incidental, check the changelog on ThemeForest to confirm recent activity. If you need ongoing maintenance, consider a WordPress maintenance plan.

Can I use Incidental without the GoodLayers page builder?

Technically yes, but most of the theme’s layout features depend on the GoodLayers Core plugin and its built-in page builder. Using Incidental without it means losing shortcodes, portfolio elements, and many section types. You would essentially be using a bare theme. It is not a practical setup for most sites.

Does Incidental work with Elementor?

Incidental is not designed around Elementor and the two page builders can conflict. Some users run Elementor on specific pages while leaving GoodLayers builder active elsewhere, but this creates maintenance complexity. If Elementor is your preferred builder, a theme built specifically for it would be a more stable choice long term.

How do I create a child theme for Incidental?

Create a new folder in wp-content/themes with a name like incidental-child. Add a style.css file with the correct Template header pointing to incidental, then add a functions.php that enqueues the parent theme stylesheet. Activate the child theme from the WordPress dashboard. Any code changes go into the child theme so updates to Incidental do not overwrite your work.

Can I migrate my Incidental site to a different theme?

Migrating away from Incidental is not straightforward because page content is built with GoodLayers shortcodes. Those shortcodes will not render correctly in another theme. You would need to rebuild page layouts in the new theme. If you are considering a WordPress migration, factor in content rebuilding time as part of the project scope.

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Whether you need a full custom build on Incidental or a targeted fix, working with a developer who knows GoodLayers saves time and avoids costly mistakes. FoxyConcept connects you with experienced WordPress developers through Codeable’s vetted network.

Get a free estimate with no obligation. Describe your project, receive a clear quote, and only move forward when you are confident it is the right fit.