layouts.php

<?php
// in the config for any module, you can map routes to their appropriate layout

'route_layouts'=>array(
    'home'=>'layout/layout-2col-left.phtml',
    'category'=>'layout/layout-2col-left.phtml',
);

// A later module could override the previous configuration

'route_layouts'=>array(
    'home'=>'layout/layout-custom.phtml',
);

// The dirty work - It hooks into the process and sets the current layout

/** Assign the layout for this route, based on the `route_layouts` key of the config */
$e->getApplication()->getEventManager()->getSharedManager()->attach('Zend\Mvc\Controller\AbstractActionController', 'dispatch', function($e) {
    $controller = $e->getTarget();
    $route = $e->getRouteMatch()->getMatchedRouteName();
    $config = $e->getApplication()->getServiceManager()->get('config');
    if (isset($config['route_layouts'][$route])) {
        $controller->layout($config['route_layouts'][$route]);
    }
}, 100);