diff --git a/lib/helpers/check.js b/lib/helpers/check.js
index 40cb8aa..91cf6ba 100644
--- a/lib/helpers/check.js
+++ b/lib/helpers/check.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ module.exports = check;
  * @param {String} pattern
  * @return {Boolean}
  */
-function check(files, file, pattern, def){
+function check(files, file, pattern, def, layoutKey){
   var data = files[file];
 
   // Only process utf8 encoded files (so no binary)
@@ -32,5 +32,5 @@ function check(files, file, pattern, def){
 
   // Only process files with a specified layout or default template. Allow the
   // default template to be cancelled by layout: false.
-  return 'layout' in data ? data.layout : def;
+  return layoutKey in data ? data[layoutKey] : def;
 }
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 28ed9df..ac4d037 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ var settings = [
   'partialExtension',
   'pattern',
   'rename',
-  'exposeConsolidate'
+  'exposeConsolidate',
+  'layoutKey'
 ];
 
 /**
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ var settings = [
  *   @property {String} partialExtension (optional)
  *   @property {String} pattern (optional)
  *   @property {Boolean} rename (optional)
+ *   @property {String} layoutKey (optional)
  * @return {Function}
  */
 function plugin(opts){
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ function plugin(opts){
   }
 
   if (typeof opts.exposeConsolidate === 'function') {
-    opts.exposeConsolidate(consolidate.requires)
+    opts.exposeConsolidate(consolidate.requires);
   }
 
   // Map options to local variables
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ function plugin(opts){
   var partials = opts.partials;
   var pattern = opts.pattern;
   var rename = opts.rename;
+  var layoutKey = opts.layoutKey || 'layout';
 
   // Move all unrecognised options to params
   var params = omit(opts, settings);
@@ -108,14 +111,15 @@ function plugin(opts){
      * Stringify files that pass the check, pass to matches
      */
     Object.keys(files).forEach(function(file){
-      if (!check(files, file, pattern, def)) {
+      if (!check(files, file, pattern, def, layoutKey)) {
         return;
       }
 
       debug('stringifying file: %s', file);
       var data = files[file];
       data.contents = data.contents.toString();
-      var template = metalsmith.path(dir, data.layout || def);
+      var template = metalsmith.path(dir, data[layoutKey] || def);
+
       if (!templates[template]) {
         debug('found new template: %s', template);
         templates[template] = file;
@@ -134,7 +138,7 @@ function plugin(opts){
       // Deep clone params (by passing 'true')
       var clonedParams = extend(true, {}, params);
       var clone = extend({}, clonedParams, metadata, data);
-      var str = metalsmith.path(dir, data.layout || def);
+      var str = metalsmith.path(dir, data[layoutKey] || def);
       var render = consolidate[engine];
 
       // Rename file if necessary