{"id":1083,"date":"2020-12-11T10:19:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T10:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/?p=1083"},"modified":"2023-05-12T09:05:01","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T09:05:01","slug":"how-to-make-a-custom-wordpress-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/how-to-make-a-custom-wordpress-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Custom WordPress Theme?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The previous post<\/a> may have created an impression that WordPress development should be quite expensive. That\u2019s not quite so: even if you are creating a website to make a fortune, it shouldn\u2019t cost you one upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We decided to elaborate on the custom vs. customized site topic to show that even startups and small companies can afford an exclusive look and feel for their WordPress website. Whether you contemplate a website for your business, or plan on developing one on your own, or are about to hire someone for your project – we hope that this post will provide some valuable tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Customize a WordPress Theme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to save both time and money is to customize an existing free WordPress theme with a suitable structure rather than to create one from scratch. Especially if you are the developer, and particularly if you are new to WordPress development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s crucial that the chosen site template should generally fit your idea of the future site\u2019s functionality and appearance. Usually, changing colors is easy. Modifying the overall look and feel takes some digging. It takes even more time and effort to add e-commerce widgets which existing plugins or WordPress itself are lacking, or to migrate the data from a non-WP platform, or to integrate third-party services when the necessary plugins are either not available or inadequate in functionality. Search through the free and premium themes for different industries and niches on WordPress.com<\/a>, ThemeForest<\/a>, Envato Market, Mojo Marketplace or other sites. You may find an existing theme with a range of features that fit the majority of your requirements and modify it to fit the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are many ways to customize a WordPress theme. You can start once you\u2019ve installed it. (This step-by-step guide<\/a> shows how to make a WordPress site without any coding.) When you click on the \u2018Customize\u2019 link under the \u2018Appearance\u2019 menu, you can change your theme settings with a live preview of the website. Afterward, whenever you\u2019re logged into WordPress, navigate to the home page and click \u2018Customize\u2019 in the toolbar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also customize a WordPress theme with a CSS editor. It\u2019s built into the Customizer: go to \u2018Appearance\u2019 and select \u2018Edit CSS.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A variety of plugins allow writing custom CSS too. If it\u2019s just a styling issue, you can try Advanced CSS Editor or custom CSS in Jetpack plugin to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, plugins can quickly provide the required functionality and style that can be difficult to create for a WP beginner. Beaver Builder is a popular choice. Independent developers may offer such customization plugins at no charge or under a \u2018freemium\u2019 model, i.e. the basic functionality is free and you pay only if you need the more in-depth functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We prefer WPBakery Page Builder (formerly Visual Composer) and SiteOrigin\u2019s Page Builder. The latter has been utilized in the development of VisitHaiti, a tourism website currently in production with Alternative-spaces. The plugin allowed, among other things, to add an impressive video of sea waves instead of a static hero image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, such page builders have drawbacks as well. Here is another recent example: a brand new luxury foods online store that is under development right now. For faster integration in the market, the website\u2019s code should have minimal HTML markup that search engines have trouble understanding. SEO experts advised against using any page builder, and our team had to create the necessary solutions from scratch. (Actually, that\u2019s one of the benefits of working with an agency: they have seasoned professionals to see to all aspects of a project.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s generally recommended to start with the WP Customizer before moving on to more complicated methods. However, they all have their limitations. Even customization with CSS applies typically to the looks and not much to the functionality. When dealing with a site\u2019s structural elements, the best way to customize a WordPress theme is to create a child theme. WordPress Codex strongly recommends this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A WP child theme inherits the functionality of the parent (a theme that was installed but not activated yet). In a nutshell, a child sits on top of the main theme files that control the look and feel of a site. If there is a version of a template in each theme, your WordPress site will use the version from the child theme. If it has none, the site will default to using the parent\u2019s template. This makes a child theme the safest way to modify an existing one, whether you need a few tiny tweaks or extensive changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If interested, you can have a step-by-step instruction in creating your first child theme<\/a>. But as usual, we recommend sticking with the pros. Only an experienced WordPress web designer or developer knows how to customize a WordPress theme in a way that won\u2019t cause you problems later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With thousands of free and premium site templates out there, and all the customization options available, what\u2019s the point of going for a custom WordPress site?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pros and Cons of a Custom WordPress Theme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are at least two huge advantages. The first is the freedom from any constraints of a pre-existing template. With a bespoke theme, you can be really creative with your WordPress site and build in any specific functionality to meet your business\u2019 individual needs. A unique design and layout will further help your brand stand out from the competition. That’s the second point of having a tailor-made website template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The primary objections against one are the possible time and cost implications. A basic business or personal website theme can cost around $1,500-$5,000. With additional built-in features or companion plugins, it can cost up to $10K, and an enterprise-level project cost can even exceed $30K. And don\u2019t forget about the additional costs of WP hosting, website maintenance, and support after delivery of your custom WordPress theme. Over time, its components can become obsolete. The utilized WP functionalities can turn out to be vulnerable too. Such vulnerabilities may be easier to eliminate in the theme by disabling the functionality or building an equivalent, rather than wait for WordPress to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, knowing the factors that affect the cost<\/a>, you can save money and avoid overpaying. The development time and cost primarily depend on the desired features, design, and functionality. Do your research, write down your requirements<\/a>, and prioritize them. A clear idea and scope of the project will help you get a more accurate quote, reduce the number of revisions, and avoid possible change-order fees eventually. Start small and extend your WordPress website as your business requirements grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a wide range of professionals and companies offering WordPress development services. A custom-built theme takes at least a designer and a developer to create. Full-service agencies, which have both types of professionals on their teams, tend to be more expensive. (Although the prices largely depend on the location.) Alternatively, you can find a freelancer to design and another to develop, or even someone to do both<\/a>, and manage the whole process yourself. In any case, the cost will depend on the required expertise, relevant experience, and creativity. Occasionally, an expert U.S.-based WP developer turns out to be more expensive than an overseas team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whoever you engage in the project, it\u2019s important that you understand what they are doing and why. For example, the creation of a WordPress custom plugin may be a waste of time if an existing plugin can be used. On the other hand, exclusive WordPress plugin development can be beneficial for a specific niche when there is no ready solution. You should also be interested in the way your future site is built: from the ground up or by using one of the WP theme frameworks. And these deserve a separate chapter in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress Frameworks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

 A framework is basically a set of standards and functionalities created to facilitate the development of new themes. A \u2018WordPress theme framework\u2019 often stands for a code library intended to be used as a parent theme template. It covers the theme\u2019s essential features, which may range anywhere from drag-drop functionality, sliders, SEO widgets, etc., to the design elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theme frameworks are often confused with parent themes. Technically, any theme can be made into a parent and then used in conjunction with a child theme. But a framework should include much more, such as template files, options screens, various add-ons or own API, built-in widgets and additional tools like custom layouts which reduce the need for plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frameworks significantly reduce the building time: they spare developers the need to code everything themselves. Instead of having to create a WordPress theme from scratch, a theme developer can create a child theme and add custom styling, leaving the functionality aspects to the framework. When the functionality is already in place, they can proceed faster to create the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A WordPress framework also promotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n