How to Customize a Blog Theme?

[HalfSwede]

Just got my blog up and running (WordPress is part of my hosting package). Does anyone know how to easily customize a theme?

Should I just start with a blank theme (i.e. no pictures)? I figured out how to download and then FTP a theme to my web hosting server so that it showed up in my WordPress administrator's control panel. (A minor acccomplishment for me.:) ).

But I would like to customize it further so that it looks more like the homepage of my web site.

Any pointers?

[darrin365]

Hi, halfswede,

If you've found a template where you really like the placement of everything and you just want to change the colors, that's pretty easy. Most of that will be done in the template's CSS file. It will be one of the files that was packaged with the template and will be named xxxxx.css.

Then find the CSS file for your website. It's in the folder "common" in your root server. It's called giftescapes.css. You can copy the colors of common elements, such as a:link, a:hover, etc. Where it says " color: #0B3D91;". To copy the color, just copy the #0B3D91 part.

It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. If you need help, some of us here can probably help you out.

[HalfSwede]

Hi Darrin:
Thank you for the reply.

Let me ask this (or for anyone else that wants to jump in): How does one go about picking a "good" theme? I was looking at one site with 100's of themes: 2 column, 3 column, with this feature, without that feature, etc. Are there any particular layouts and/or features that one would definitely want that makes things easier down the road?

Any layout or format that people accept as 'standard'?

Thanks

[MiniBlueDragon]

Honestly? It's down to personal preference and what will look best for your muse...

For an example of colouring you may love the look of a black and purple website but if you're selling baby-care products it just won't work... Similarly if you were selling Rock/Metal t-shirts and you found a pastel blue and white website people simply won't buy...

As for columns you need to ask yourself what they will be used for; will you have a top navigation? A left navigation? A left navigation with a right sub-menu?

Also try to make sure your chosen theme uses .css and <div> coding to make things easier in the future... Web design nowadays is pushing harder and faster toward the W3C Standards and by going down this road you're future-proofing yourself.
Also with .css and <div> you're covering allowing sight-impared customers to browse using a readerand the site will make sense to them (and also cover your ass if any laws come into effect stating that websites MUST cater for them!)
Lastly and most importantly by using .css and <div> coded templates/themes you're allowing yourself to change the ENTIRE site from one single file.

Check out CSS Zen Garden (http://www.csszengarden.com/) for examples (it uses the same coding through every single theme on there and the only changes are the graphics and the .css file!)