diff --git a/server/src/plugins/service-admin-http/routes-admin.ts b/server/src/plugins/service-admin-http/routes-admin.ts
index 47e7c60..6b4e62c 100644
--- a/server/src/plugins/service-admin-http/routes-admin.ts
+++ b/server/src/plugins/service-admin-http/routes-admin.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,83 @@ function rtspWithCredentials(raw: string, username: string, password: string): s
   }
 }
 
+function rangesOverlap(aStart: number, aEnd: number, bStart: number, bEnd: number): boolean {
+  return aStart < bEnd && bStart < aEnd;
+}
+
+function shiftCellsForExpansion(
+  deps: AdminDeps,
+  layoutId: number,
+  cellId: number,
+  direction: "left" | "right" | "above" | "bottom",
+): void {
+  const cell = deps.repo.getLayoutCellById(cellId);
+  if (!cell || cell.layout_id !== layoutId) return;
+
+  const cells = deps.repo.layoutCells(layoutId).filter((c) => c.id !== cellId);
+  const rowStart = cell.row;
+  const rowEnd = cell.row + cell.row_span;
+  const colStart = cell.col;
+  const colEnd = cell.col + cell.col_span;
+
+  if (direction === "right") {
+    for (const c of cells) {
+      if (c.col >= colEnd && rangesOverlap(c.row, c.row + c.row_span, rowStart, rowEnd)) {
+        deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(c.id, { col: c.col + 1 });
+      }
+    }
+    deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(cell.id, { col_span: cell.col_span + 1 });
+  } else if (direction === "bottom") {
+    for (const c of cells) {
+      if (c.row >= rowEnd && rangesOverlap(c.col, c.col + c.col_span, colStart, colEnd)) {
+        deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(c.id, { row: c.row + 1 });
+      }
+    }
+    deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(cell.id, { row_span: cell.row_span + 1 });
+  } else if (direction === "left") {
+    const insertCol = Math.max(0, cell.col - 1);
+    for (const c of cells) {
+      if (c.col >= insertCol && rangesOverlap(c.row, c.row + c.row_span, rowStart, rowEnd)) {
+        deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(c.id, { col: c.col + 1 });
+      }
+    }
+    deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(cell.id, {
+      col: insertCol,
+      col_span: cell.col_span + 1,
+    });
+  } else if (direction === "above") {
+    const insertRow = Math.max(0, cell.row - 1);
+    for (const c of cells) {
+      if (c.row >= insertRow && rangesOverlap(c.col, c.col + c.col_span, colStart, colEnd)) {
+        deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(c.id, { row: c.row + 1 });
+      }
+    }
+    deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(cell.id, {
+      row: insertRow,
+      row_span: cell.row_span + 1,
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+function shiftCellsForInsertion(
+  deps: AdminDeps,
+  layoutId: number,
+  axis: "row" | "col",
+  fromIndex: number,
+  crossStart: number,
+  crossEnd: number,
+): void {
+  for (const c of deps.repo.layoutCells(layoutId)) {
+    if (axis === "col") {
+      if (c.col >= fromIndex && rangesOverlap(c.row, c.row + c.row_span, crossStart, crossEnd)) {
+        deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(c.id, { col: c.col + 1 });
+      }
+    } else if (c.row >= fromIndex && rangesOverlap(c.col, c.col + c.col_span, crossStart, crossEnd)) {
+      deps.repo.updateLayoutCell(c.id, { row: c.row + 1 });
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 export function registerAdminRoutes(app: H3, deps: AdminDeps): void {
   // ---- Overview -------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -547,25 +624,19 @@ export function registerAdminRoutes(app: H3, deps: AdminDeps): void {
       if (direction === "right") {
         row = ref.row;
         col = ref.col + ref.col_span;
+        shiftCellsForInsertion(deps, layoutId, "col", col, row, row + 1);
       } else if (direction === "bottom") {
         row = ref.row + ref.row_span;
         col = ref.col;
+        shiftCellsForInsertion(deps, layoutId, "row", row, col, col + 1);
       } else if (direction === "left") {
         row = ref.row;
-        if (ref.col === 0) {
-          deps.repo.shiftCellsForLayout(layoutId, "col", 0, 1);
-          col = 0;
-        } else {
-          col = ref.col - 1;
-        }
+        col = Math.max(0, ref.col - 1);
+        shiftCellsForInsertion(deps, layoutId, "col", col, row, row + 1);
       } else if (direction === "above") {
         col = ref.col;
-        if (ref.row === 0) {
-          deps.repo.shiftCellsForLayout(layoutId, "row", 0, 1);
-          row = 0;
-        } else {
-          row = ref.row - 1;
-        }
+        row = Math.max(0, ref.row - 1);
+        shiftCellsForInsertion(deps, layoutId, "row", row, col, col + 1);
       }
     } else {
       // Explicit position — accept top-level row/col or nested position.
@@ -672,9 +743,17 @@ export function registerAdminRoutes(app: H3, deps: AdminDeps): void {
     const body = await readBody<Record<string, string | number>>(event);
     const dim = String(body?.["dim"] ?? "");
     const delta = Number(body?.["delta"] ?? 0) || 0;
+    const direction = String(body?.["direction"] ?? "");
 
     const cell = deps.repo.getLayoutCellById(cellId);
-    if (cell && cell.layout_id === layoutId && (dim === "row_span" || dim === "col_span") && delta !== 0) {
+    if (
+      cell
+      && cell.layout_id === layoutId
+      && (direction === "left" || direction === "right" || direction === "above" || direction === "bottom")
+    ) {
+      shiftCellsForExpansion(deps, layoutId, cellId, direction);
+      notifyKiosks();
+    } else if (cell && cell.layout_id === layoutId && (dim === "row_span" || dim === "col_span") && delta !== 0) {
       const current = dim === "row_span" ? cell.row_span : cell.col_span;
       const next = Math.max(1, current + delta);
       if (next !== current) {
diff --git a/server/src/web-templates/admin-pages.tsx b/server/src/web-templates/admin-pages.tsx
index 968584a..56f03bb 100644
--- a/server/src/web-templates/admin-pages.tsx
+++ b/server/src/web-templates/admin-pages.tsx
@@ -1418,23 +1418,28 @@ interface LayoutEditPageProps {
 
 export const LAYOUT_BUILDER_CSS = `
 .layout-builder { display: grid; gap: 4px; aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; background: #ddd; padding: 4px; border-radius: 4px; }
-.layout-cell { background: #fff; border: 2px solid #2563eb; border-radius: 4px; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; cursor: pointer; position: relative; min-height: 60px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.85rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1e40af; overflow: hidden; }
+.layout-cell { background: #fff; border: 2px solid #2563eb; border-radius: 4px; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; cursor: pointer; position: relative; min-height: 60px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.85rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1e40af; overflow: visible; }
 .layout-cell:hover { background: #f0f7ff; }
 .layout-cell.editing { background: #f9fafb; border-color: #1e40af; box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px #1e40af33; cursor: default; align-items: stretch; justify-content: stretch; text-align: left; font-weight: 400; color: inherit; padding: 8px; overflow: auto; }
 .layout-cell-empty-text { color: #999; font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: 400; }
-.layout-cell-add { position: absolute; background: #2563eb; color: #fff; border: none; width: 24px; height: 24px; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.2s; padding: 0; z-index: 2; }
-.layout-cell:hover .layout-cell-add { opacity: 1; }
-.layout-cell-add:hover { background: #1e40af; opacity: 1; }
-.layout-cell-add-top { top: -12px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); }
-.layout-cell-add-right { right: -12px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); }
-.layout-cell-add-bottom { bottom: -12px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); }
-.layout-cell-add-left { left: -12px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side { position: absolute; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.2s; z-index: 3; }
+.layout-cell:hover .layout-cell-side, .layout-cell-side:hover { opacity: 1; }
+.layout-cell-side-top { top: -12px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side-right { right: -12px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side-bottom { bottom: -12px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side-left { left: -12px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side-trigger { background: #2563eb; color: #fff; border: none; width: 24px; height: 24px; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1; padding: 0; }
+.layout-cell-side-trigger:hover { background: #1e40af; }
+.layout-cell-side-menu { display: none; position: absolute; gap: 4px; background: #111827; border-radius: 4px; padding: 4px; box-shadow: 0 8px 18px rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.25); }
+.layout-cell-side:hover .layout-cell-side-menu { display: flex; }
+.layout-cell-side-top .layout-cell-side-menu { bottom: 28px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side-bottom .layout-cell-side-menu { top: 28px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); }
+.layout-cell-side-left .layout-cell-side-menu { right: 28px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); flex-direction: column; }
+.layout-cell-side-right .layout-cell-side-menu { left: 28px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); flex-direction: column; }
+.layout-cell-side-menu button { background: #fff; color: #111827; border: none; border-radius: 3px; cursor: pointer; font-size: 0.7rem; line-height: 1; padding: 5px 7px; white-space: nowrap; }
+.layout-cell-side-menu button:hover { background: #dbeafe; color: #1e40af; }
 .layout-cell-delete { position: absolute; top: 4px; right: 4px; background: rgba(220, 38, 38, 0.9); color: #fff; border: none; width: 20px; height: 20px; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1; padding: 0; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.2s; z-index: 2; }
 .layout-cell:hover .layout-cell-delete { opacity: 1; }
-.layout-cell-resize { position: absolute; bottom: 4px; right: 4px; display: flex; gap: 2px; opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.2s; z-index: 2; }
-.layout-cell:hover .layout-cell-resize { opacity: 1; }
-.layout-cell-resize button { background: rgba(37, 99, 235, 0.85); color: #fff; border: none; min-width: 24px; height: 18px; border-radius: 3px; cursor: pointer; font-size: 0.65rem; line-height: 1; padding: 0 4px; font-weight: 700; }
-.layout-cell-resize button:hover { background: #1e40af; }
 .layout-cell-edit-form { width: 100%; }
 .layout-cell-edit-form .form-group { margin-bottom: 0.5rem; }
 .layout-cell-edit-form label { font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: 600; display: block; margin-bottom: 0.15rem; }
@@ -1585,55 +1590,30 @@ export function renderCell(
       {(["top", "right", "bottom", "left"] as const).map((dir) => {
         const directionParam = dir === "top" ? "above" : dir;
         return (
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            class={`layout-cell-add layout-cell-add-${dir}`}
-            title={`Add cell ${dir}`}
-            hx-post={addUrl}
-            hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ after_cell_id: c.id, direction: directionParam })}
-            hx-target="#layout-grid"
-            hx-swap="innerHTML"
-            {...{ "onclick": "event.stopPropagation()" }}
-          >+</button>
+          <div class={`layout-cell-side layout-cell-side-${dir}`} {...{ "onclick": "event.stopPropagation()" }}>
+            <button type="button" class="layout-cell-side-trigger" title={`Actions ${dir}`}>+</button>
+            <div class="layout-cell-side-menu">
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                title={`Expand ${dir}`}
+                hx-post={resizeUrl}
+                hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ direction: directionParam })}
+                hx-target="#layout-grid"
+                hx-swap="innerHTML"
+              >Expand</button>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                title={`Add cell ${dir}`}
+                hx-post={addUrl}
+                hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ after_cell_id: c.id, direction: directionParam })}
+                hx-target="#layout-grid"
+                hx-swap="innerHTML"
+              >Add</button>
+            </div>
+          </div>
         );
       })}
 
-      {/* resize buttons */}
-      <div class="layout-cell-resize" {...{ "onclick": "event.stopPropagation()" }}>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          title="Increase width"
-          hx-post={resizeUrl}
-          hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ dim: "col_span", delta: 1 })}
-          hx-target="#layout-grid"
-          hx-swap="innerHTML"
-        >+W</button>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          title="Decrease width"
-          hx-post={resizeUrl}
-          hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ dim: "col_span", delta: -1 })}
-          hx-target="#layout-grid"
-          hx-swap="innerHTML"
-        >-W</button>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          title="Increase height"
-          hx-post={resizeUrl}
-          hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ dim: "row_span", delta: 1 })}
-          hx-target="#layout-grid"
-          hx-swap="innerHTML"
-        >+H</button>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          title="Decrease height"
-          hx-post={resizeUrl}
-          hx-vals={JSON.stringify({ dim: "row_span", delta: -1 })}
-          hx-target="#layout-grid"
-          hx-swap="innerHTML"
-        >-H</button>
-      </div>
-
       {/* delete button */}
       <button
         type="button"
@@ -1781,9 +1761,9 @@ export function LayoutEditPage(props: LayoutEditPageProps) {
         <div class="card" style="margin-bottom:1.5rem">
           <h2 style="margin:0 0 1rem; font-size:1.1rem">Layout Builder</h2>
           <p style="color:#666; font-size:0.85rem; margin-bottom:1rem">
-            Hover a cell for <strong>+</strong> (add neighbour), resize handles
-            (<strong>+W -W +H -H</strong>) and <strong>×</strong> (delete).
-            Click a cell to edit content in-place.
+            Hover a side <strong>+</strong> to add a neighbour or expand the cell.
+            Expanding pushes cells in that direction out of the way. Click a cell
+            to edit content in-place.
           </p>
           <div id="layout-grid">
             {renderGrid(l.id, cells, props.entities, props.cameras)}