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Choosing and Changing Themes with WordPress
Change themes on a whim, as well as how to alter them within WordPress
By now you should have WordPress installed on your server as well as a new theme and child theme in development. In this article, Linda shows how you can change themes on a whim, as well as how to alter them within WordPress (WP).
Theme Changes – Why?
If you followed the site development that has been happening all long in these WordPress (WP) articles, then you have an outline, some articles or blog entries ready and a new theme. The question now is this: Why would you want to change themes and when is it appropriate to do so?
I usually don't advise theme changes, unless your site is more than two years old. This amount of time allows you to develop readership and to allow them to become accustomed to your "look" or "brand." But, if you have mismanaged your outline, or menu, or if you have new visions about what your site should represent, then it is time to change your site.
Additionally, widgets allow you to change what isn't working into something that might work, with little alteration in your overall Web site visuals.
First, I want to show you how easily you can alter your Web site theme and then I'll go into more detail on how to alter your theme from your WP backend, or dashboard and settings.
Changing Themes
Although this action may seem simple, I've discovered that many clients are frightened by changing anything on their WP backend. Making a theme change is easy. Go to "Appearance" and "Themes" in the left column. You'll see something like the image below, depending upon the themes you have uploaded to WP:
The current theme in this dashboard is the default theme offered by WP. All I need to do to change the theme is to click on the theme I want. In this case, I'm going to click on the middle bottom theme, or the Hybrid Custom theme, even though it is not fully developed as a child theme:
When I clicked on that theme, a new window opens to show how that theme will look on the Web site. This is a new and wonderful improvement in WP, as I don't need to accept those changes if the site doesn't look like I want it to look. This theme preview is especially great for those who use widgets, as you can see how those widgets will look with your new theme.
If I like that theme change, all I need to do is click on the "Activate 'Hybrid Custom'" (or whatever theme is showing in the preview) and that theme is activated:
If I don't want to activate this theme, all I need to do is click on the "x" that shows in the upper right corner of the preview, and my site will retain the theme that I already have on the site.
Ta-da. Done.
Linda Goin
Linda Goin carries an A.A. in graphic design, a B.F.A. in visual communications with a minor in business and marketing and an M.A. in American History with a minor in the Reformation. While the latter degree doesn't seem to fit with the first two educational experiences, Linda used her 25-year design expertise on archaeological digs and in the study of material culture. Now she uses her education and experiences in social media experiments.
Accolades for her work include fifteen first-place Colorado Press Association awards, numerous fine art and graphic design awards, and interviews about content development with The Wall St. Journal, Chicago Tribune, Psychology Today, and L.A. Times.