How To Create a Custom Theme In WordPress | 3 Different Ways Of Custom WordPress Theme Development

Using Custom Themes to Unleash Your Digital Creativity

Are you planning for WordPress custom theme development from scratch? If so, you need to give this article your whole attention. This article will walk you through the process of making your own custom WordPress theme.

Imagine your website as a unique island, and creating a custom theme is like crafting its distinct identity. But hey, let’s not overlook the tempting convenience of pre-made themes – they’ve got their own charm and can save you both time and money.

Crafting Uniqueness: The Essence of Custom Themes

So, let’s dive into the fascinating world of crafting digital uniqueness – the core of custom themes. In this enormous terrain of website themes, developing your own theme is like personalizing your digital canvas. It’s the secret sauce that distinguishes your online presence from the countless cookie-cutter layouts available. But, before we get into the nitty gritty of creating themes, let’s take a look at some pre-made options. They’re like fast food for website themes: quick and convenient, but frequently lacking the distinct flavor that comes with a homemade touch.

Creating a custom theme is like to sewing a suit: it fits exactly since it is built specifically for you. It’s the essence of your brand, or online identity. Pre-made themes are convenient, but they lack the personalization that a custom theme provides. Consider it like decorating your home: you can buy mass-produced furniture or invest in pieces that reflect your personal preferences. Similarly, bespoke themes help your website stand out in a sea of digital sameness by representing your brand’s individuality and distinctiveness. It’s more than simply a theme; it’s a digital signature that differentiates you.

Choosing Your Digital Blueprint: WordPress Theme Frameworks

Think of a theme framework as the architectural blueprint for your digital abode. It serves as the base for creating a WordPress custom theme development , and the Genesis Framework reigns supreme in today’s fast-paced environment. With its huge library of child themes, it’s like having a wide range of architectural styles at your disposal. Just a piece of advice: once you commit, you’re in for the long haul. So, choose a framework with an active community to keep your theme fresh and updated.

Diving into Starter Themes: Your Digital Canvas
For those just stepping into the WordPress world or craving a sleek and lightweight theme, starter themes are your trusted companions. It’s like having a blank canvas for your digital masterpiece. But, before you dive in, make sure your chosen starter theme dances gracefully with the latest WordPress version, plays nice with mobile screens, and boasts code cleaner than your grandma’s kitchen. Underscores is a rockstar in this category – not a framework, but a reliable starting point that shaves off hours from your development journey.

Step by Step approach for WordPress Custom Theme Development

Wordpress custom theme development is not that difficult and complicated. In fact, it is quite easy if you follow the steps.

Basically there are three easy ways and you can choose according to your convenience

Many frameworks allow you to create a specific child theme that is intended to operate on its parent theme.
Starter themes are designed for you to entirely alter the original theme code and personalize it.
Start everything from scratch.

1. Choose a WordPress Theme Framework

The first step is to choose a WordPress theme framework. A theme framework is a foundation for building WordPress themes. It includes all the necessary files and code needed for wordpress custom theme development.

There are many WordPress theme frameworks available out there but the most popular one among all is Genesis. One thing to keep in mind before choosing a framework is that you’re tied inside your selected framework. This implies that if development is stopped, your theme can become outdated. To reduce the chances of having an out-of-date framework and theme if you select this path, it’s crucial to pick a framework with a strong community behind it.

Genesis Framework is the preferred choice of developers due to its extensive library of child themes. There are also other layouts available, including one that is full-width and suited for page builders. The Genesis Framework makes use of efficient, clear, and well-structured code. The hooks in Genesis themes make it simple to customize your website. It also works with Block Editor (Gutenberg).

However you’ll have to shell out a few bucks to get started using Genesis and start WordPress custom theme development but don’t worry this isn’t the only choice; there are a lot more frameworks to suit your needs.

2. Choose a Starter Theme

If you’re just starting out with WordPress, or if you’re looking for a simple and lightweight theme to use for your next project, a starter theme is a great option. Starter themes are typically much simpler than other themes, with fewer features and a focus on clean, minimalist design.

The pros and cons of this theme will depend on your needs. A starter theme might serve as a solid foundation if you are seeking a basic theme to expand upon. however, this may not be the way to go if you’re looking for a theme with a ton of pre-built functionality and customization choices.

When selecting a starter theme, there are a few things to consider.

First, make sure it is compatible with the latest version of WordPress.
Second, check to see if it is responsive and mobile-friendly. And finally, take a look at the theme’s code to make sure it is clean and well-organized.

A starter theme functions as a kind of toolbox that makes it as simple as possible for you to do custom theme development in WordPress without having to do the main setup steps and basic structure coding needed to make a WordPress theme function.

Underscores is a starting theme (rather than a theme framework) meant to save several hours of development effort when creating a new custom theme. Establishing familiarity with the Underscores project in its initial state could be helpful before making significant changes to it. If you’re new to starter themes, this may assist in shortening the learning curve.

Here are the procedures for employing an underscore theme

Navigate to the underscore website, Underscores.me
Enter the name of your theme and click Generate
Alternatively, you can select advanced options and enter all pertinent information.
After clicking produce, the theme will be downloaded to your computer.
Now, configure your WordPress foundation and navigate to the theme folder; if you want to install WordPress manually, see this post.
Copy and paste the underscore starting theme from your PC into the theme directory
That’s it; now go to appearance and install, activate, and begin customising your theme.

There are also additional options, such as Bones, FoundationPress, and UnderStrap. FoundationPress is a foundation-based starting theme, whereas Understrap is a Boostrap4-based beginner WordPress theme.

Your decision is (as usual) influenced by your needs and development style. Some starting themes, such as the Sage starter theme are meant to be readily integrated into more advanced configurations. Starter themes are generally best if you want to build a standalone theme from the scratch using best practices.

3. WordPress theme development from scratch

You can check this article if you want to know about WordPress and how to install it manually. If you’ve ever wanted to create a custom WordPress theme but didn’t know where to start, this tutorial is for you. In just a few minutes, you can create a basic WordPress theme that you can customize to your heart’s content.

The first thing you need to do when doing a custom WordPress theme development is to create a folder called “themes” in your WordPress installation directory.

Within your theme folder, you need to create two files:

style.css
index.php

The style.css file is where you will put all of your CSS code for your theme. The index.php file is the template file that will display your blog posts. You can also create other template files for other pages on your website (such as a “About” page or a “Contact” page).

If you want to know all there is to know about WordPress, including how each template file is structured, then you should read the WordPress handbook.
You can also check this article if you want to know more about WordPress and how to install it manually.

Conclusion:

This article covered the development processes related to theme development. So if you are thinking of providing custom WordPress development services, you know that there are three ways to develop a WordPress theme: use a framework, use a starter theme, or start from scratch. The best way for you will depend on your needs and skills. If you’re new to WordPress, we recommend using a starter theme. If you’re more experienced, you should use a framework or start from scratch. Also, Click here to explore the “benefits of WordPress” and discover why it’s the perfect choice for your website.