Behind the Build: Using Bricks Builder and Microthemer
This article dives a bit deeper into my own process — how I’ve been using Bricks Builder together with Microthemer across my WordPress projects. I wrote about this same combo recently on my agency site, MKS Web Design, and wanted to unpack it a bit more here from a personal perspective. These are just my own takeaways, lessons learned, and a few things that keep proving themselves over and over again in real Kansas projects.
Bricks Builder – It Just Clicks!
Everytime I open up Bricks, it feels like it was built for people who actually do this work day-to-day. It gives full control but still stays light and simple to manage. I like that it writes clean code without stuffing a dozen divs everywhere. For me, that makes a huge difference when you’re building something that needs to last long-term. I’ve used it to build everything from real estate platforms to full manufacturing websites, and it just handles dynamic content without fighting back.
Some of the best things about Bricks are the small ones — how you can set up global templates, re-use layouts, and plug in ACF fields without any drama. It’s not flashy, it’s just solid. I’ve tried a bunch of builders over the years and this one finally feels like it plays nice with WordPress instead of working against it.
Microthemer – The Secret Weapon for Finishing Touches
I started using Microthemer when I got tired of jumping between style sheets and browser dev tools a hundred times a day. It’s basically a live CSS editor that sits right inside WordPress. You can tweak padding, adjust spacing, test hover effects — all without guessing numbers in the dark. It sounds small, but those micro-adjustments are what make the difference between something that looks “ok” and something that feels finished.
When I built Sharp Manufacturing’s website, Microthemer saved me so much time on polishing spacing, transitions, and those responsive quirks that only show up once the site’s live. It’s fast, visual, and for once I didn’t have to fight my own CSS. That alone is worth it.
So, It’s Strategy — Not Stacking
The biggest lesson I’ve picked up through this process isn’t even about the tools. It’s about how they work together. I used to stack plugins like crazy trying to make everything fit, but now I’m learning it’s better to slow down and think through the strategy. Bricks handles the structure, Microthemer handles the fine-tuning, and that’s really all you need most of the time. It keeps the workflow lean and the sites easier for clients to update later on.
- Bricks takes care of layout and logic
- Microthemer does the detail styling
- No extra plugins or CSS mess to clean up
- Fast loading, Kansas-tested, and mobile-ready
- Less stress and more control overall
So, my Final Thoughts…
I’ve built a lot of sites in WordPress, but this combo has honestly made me enjoy the process again. It’s clean, flexible, and just works. The funny thing is, the less I pile on, the smoother everything goes. That’s been true across every client project lately. If you’re building WordPress sites — especially for Kansas businesses like I do — try this setup. It’s not perfect, but man, it gets close.
This post builds on the article I published over at MKS Web Design, where I wrote more about the Sharp Manufacturing build and what went into the development side. Between that project and others I’ve launched this year, I’m convinced this workflow isn’t just a toolset — it’s a smarter way to build for the long-term.
