How to Customize a WordPress Theme in 2023

To customize a WordPress theme, follow these steps:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Appearance” section.
Click on the “Themes” tab and then click the “Customize” button next to the theme that you want to customize. This will open the theme customization panel.
In the theme customization panel, you’ll see a variety of options that you can use to customize the appearance of your website, such as the layout, colors, typography, and more.
Make any changes that you want to the theme settings and preview them in the live preview window.
Once you’re happy with your changes, click the “Publish” button to save them.

Note that the specific customization options available will depend on the theme that you’re using. Some themes may offer more customization options than others.

In addition to using the theme customization panel, you can also customize your WordPress theme using widgets and menus. To access the widgets, go to the “Appearance” section and click on the “Widgets” tab. To customize the menus, go to the “Appearance” section and click on the “Menus” tab.

Top 5 Ways to Customize Your WordPress Theme?

Modify the CSS: One of the easiest ways to customize the appearance of your WordPress theme is to modify its CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). You can do this by going to Appearance > Customize in the WordPress dashboard, and then clicking on the “Additional CSS” tab. Here, you can add your own CSS rules to change the colors, fonts, and layout of your theme.
Use a plugin: There are many plugins available that allow you to customize your WordPress theme without having to write any code. Some popular options include Customizer Export/Import, Theme Customization API, and Simple Custom CSS.
Create a child theme: If you want to make more significant changes to your theme, you may want to create a child theme. A child theme is a separate theme that inherits the functionality and styling of its parent theme, but allows you to override certain elements and add your own customizations.
Modify the template files: Another way to customize your theme is to modify its template files, which control the structure and layout of your website. You can access these files by going to Appearance > Editor in the WordPress dashboard.
Use a custom page builder: Page builders are plugins that allow you to create custom page layouts using a drag-and-drop interface. Some popular page builders for WordPress include Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi.

Step 1: Use WordPress Customizer [The tool, not the wrestler]

How to Customize a WordPress Theme in 2023

Top 5 Ways to Customize Your WordPress Theme?
Step 1: Use WordPress Customizer [The tool, not the wrestler]
Step 2: Use the Theme Customization Options
Step 3: Make Changes via The CSS
Step 4: Use a WordPress Page Builder Plugin
Step 5: Invest in Photos and Good Design

Use WordPress Customizer WordPress itself has a built-in editor tool called “The Customizer” that is separate from whatever theme you have installed. Doesn’t “Customizer” sound like a really cool professional wrestler name? The Customizer. Can you smell what the customizer is customizing? That would be another line he would say. You can get to the customizer from your dashboard by navigating to appearance then customize. It’s not super in-depth but it gets the job done for some simple and necessary adjustments. Here you can update items like logo and title, the general layout, the top-level color scheme, typography, menus, and the widget section.

Step 2: Use the Theme Customization Options

Used the theme customization options. Within whatever theme you have itself you’ll find a bunch of easy to use customization options. The Customizer likes what he hears! The specifics here will vary from theme to theme but you will typically be able to access these features from your dashboard likely under the appearance tab listed as the same name as your theme.

Step 3: Make Changes via The CSS

Make changes to the CSS. Changing CSS is so easy you could do it in your sleep while taking a CSS-ta. CSS (or cascading stylesheet for those keeping score at home) is the code in your website files that make your site look the way it does. Everything from text size, color, and font to image margins, column width, and more. Any element in your site tagged with the CSS style tag will pull its styling from the CSS, meaning you can change all of those elements at the same time by just updating the CSS code. BOY that’s simple and efficient! When adjusting the CSS you want to make sure you’re not changing the core CSS. Instead, access the additional CSS section from the WordPress customizer we mentioned in number one, or you can use a CSS editor plug-in like SiteOrigin CSS. Plugins like this often include user-friendly, no code needed visual editors. So easy even Taylor Swift could do it, then break up with it, then write a song about it.

Step 4: Use a WordPress Page Builder Plugin

Use a WordPress page builder plugin. A lot of WordPress themes come with easy-to-use page builder functionality, but you can also install specific standalone plugins to accomplish the same thing. These plugins are set up to give the user drag-and-drop abilities that make page building very intuitive to even the most Taylor Swift of all of us. I don’t know why I assumed Taylor Swift can’t code. I’d just assumed she’s so good at singing and guitar that like when would you have time to practice coding you know? If you’re in the market for a page builder, check out Elementor Page Builder, Beaver Builder, or Divi Builder. All great page builders. Elementor? If Elementor even steps one foot in this ring I will drag and drop him. Code this Elementor. All of these take the burden of coding off your hands. Simplifying the process of building a site. Freeing up more time to practice guitar.

Step 5: Invest in Photos and Good Design

And finally number five. Invest in photos and good design. Colors and text can only take you so far. A truly excellent and customized website should have original images and design elements. A purposefully designed logo by an experienced graphic artist will add tons of value to your brand. Check out sites like Fiverr.com or upwork.com to easily hire an experienced artist at an affordable rate. Yeah, I like it too. And professional headshots, product shots, and general imagery can add extra custom polish. Setting you apart from your competition. Sites like unsplash.com and pixels com are excellent free use photo resources if you can’t go the full professional photographer route.

And there you have it. Five simple and accessible ways to customize your website, giving you a competitive edge. I assumed you don’t know how to code, What’s your customization method of choice? What’s your favorite?

Check Out: Divi vs Elementor – Which One Should You Choose?