How to Customize a WordPress Theme?

For those who are not regularly involved in operating this material management system, designing a WordPress theme may seem like a rather difficult task. 

Explore our article to learn how to customize a WordPress theme in simple steps.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Choose the Right Theme

WordPress has plenty of free and commercial themes available to choose from as well. Here’s how you can choose one:

Check Ratings and Reviews: It is very important to consider feedback from the user since it reflects or provides information on the efficiency and effectiveness of a specific theme.

Consider Customizability: The students also pointed out that some themes are more flexible compared to others. Some of the flexible job themes highlighted by the students include the following: If you intend to modify your site a lot, then you should select a theme famous for its endless customization options.

Step 2: Install and Activate Your Theme

Once you’ve chosen your theme, it’s time to install and activate it:

Navigate to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard.

Click Add New and search for your chosen theme.

Click Install and then Activate.

Your site now has a new look, but it’s still generic. Let’s move on to personalizing it.

Step 3: Use the WordPress Customizer

Here’s how to use it:

Go to Appearance > Customize.

Explore the Options: The options available here will vary depending on your theme. Common options include site identity, colors, fonts, and header images.

Site Identity: Add your site title, tagline, and logo. This is crucial for branding.

Colors & Fonts: Pick hues and typefaces that are consistent with your brand.

Menus: Tailor the navigation menus on your website. Items in the menu can be moved, removed, and rearranged.

Add widgets to your bottom, sidebar, and other widget places. Widgets may contain recent posts, search bars, social network connections, and more.

Step 4: Customize Your Header and Footer

Header: Look for a header-specific area in the Customizer. You may edit the header picture, modify the header arrangement, and submit your logo here.

Footer: In a similar vein, you may alter the text, add or delete widgets, and change the background color in the footer area.

Step 5: Customize Your Pages and Posts

Each page and post on your site can have a unique look. WordPress allows you to customize these individually:

Edit Page/Post: Go to the page or post you want to customize and click Edit.

Page Attributes: You can choose different templates (if your theme offers them) and customize the layout.

Gutenberg Editor: It allows for intricate customization. You can add blocks for text, images, videos, and more. 

Custom CSS: You can add custom styles directly within the editor. Look for the Additional CSS option in the Customizer.

Step 6: Install Plugins for Added Functionality

Here are some types of plugins you might find useful:

Page builders
SEO.
Security
Performance
E-commerce

To install a plugin:

Go to Plugins > Add New in your dashboard.

Search for the Plugin you need.

Click Install Now and then Activate.

Step 7: Custom CSS and Child Themes

You might need to add custom CSS or make a child theme for more complex customizations:

Custom CSS: To add this, go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in the Customizer. Using custom CSS, you can make stylistic adjustments that aren't possible with the Customizer.

Young Themes: Make a child theme if you want to alter it significantly. The functionality of a parent theme, which is another theme, is passed down to a child theme. As a result, when the parent theme is changed, your customizations remain intact. There are a ton of internet guides that may help you with the process of making a child theme.

Step 8: Test Your Site

Now thoroughly test it to ensure everything looks and works as expected: 

Responsive Design: Learn how your site appears in different form factors, including desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Browser Compatibility: This is something that you should do so that your site will display as expected in different browsers.

Functionality: Check for broken or unintended links, all form fields must function as intended, and all active elements should behave correctly.

Loading Speed: To check the site speed, you can use tools such as the Google Site speed test, and it also shows you how you can improve your site speed.

Final words

WordPress is always fascinating to build, especially when one fixes it to one's preferred tastes. By following these steps, you will easily achieve the goal of having a site that has the qualities closest to your personality and fulfills your unique requirements. 

Nevertheless, let me remind you that the optimal website concept always involves the expressive cooperation of both Form and Function. Hence, spend a considerable amount of time on this, try something out randomly, and, at the same time, do not forget to have fun. For more information, contact our support team!