Step 1: define the custom region in your theme's .info file
The .info file for your Drupal 7 theme will be located within the root of the theme's main folder. e.g. bootstap subtheme's .info theme file is located at:/themes/bootstrap_subtheme/bootstrap_subtheme.info
Open up your theme's .info file and you should see some regions like this:
regions[navigation] = 'Navigation' regions[header] = 'Top Bar' regions[highlighted] = 'Highlighted' regions[help] = 'Help' regions[content] = 'Content' regions[sidebar_first] = 'Primary' regions[sidebar_second] = 'Secondary' regions[footer] = 'Footer'
to add a new region just type in a new one in bootstrap_subthemel.info file.
regions[featured] = featured
Step 2: print out your new region in page.tpl.php file:
<?php if ($page['featured']): ?> <div class="featured"> <?php print render($page['featured']); ?> </div> <!-- /.featured --> <?php endif; ?>