WordPress as expected of a classy blogging platform, offers the bloggers the option to choose thousands of skins and themes to choose from. These WordPress designs can be further customized after downloading them if the user has knowledge of how to do it. The unique feature of WordPress when it comes to design flexibility is the customizable control panel. WordPress themes are basically building blocks of designs that are suited to work with a graphical user interface. These template files can be modified to suit aesthetics or convenience and do not have any effect on the functionality of the platform or underlying software.
The WordPress designs can be classified into two main customizable categories, mainly one which is for the newbie and non technical blogger and the other one for the able programmer. The two main basic designs or template that WordPress provides to any new user are the classic and default themes. The user can easily change these templates by using the administration panel with a few clicks. Beyond what normal blogging platforms offer, WordPress allows theme and design modification based on templates, template tags and something called the WordPress loop. The WordPress templates and design files being different from the software files, the blog can be given an aesthetic touch without meddling with the basic code or overall schematics.
Before setting out to modify the WordPress design, it is good to understand the basic structure of the themes. The WordPress themes are built on three different files, including style.css which determines how the weblog looks, the optional functions.php file which allows users to tweak various aspects of the platform and then the template files for controlling the manner in which the data is generated and how it is uploaded. The prehistoric version of WordPress used a single file called index.php to control all these functions that limited the scope and flexibility of the platform.
The first step in modifying a WordPress design is to modify the style.css file, which helps combine two or more themes together as well. The WordPress help section is a good reference resource for knowing how to change the file. Modifying the function.php file is a bit more complicated as it is more of a plug-in that provides the admin screen which in turn is used for a variety of modifications such as color changes, styles, and many other aspects concerned with the look and feel of the blog.
Those who are not skilled or unaware of coding jargon but still want to modify the WordPress designs they use, can do so by opting for the minimal customization option for different themes. This offers them the option of not even looking at the coding but allows making changes with a few mouse clicks. The designs are widget ready with help and tutorials for both kinds of users, the nerdy lot as well as coding illiterates. In certain themes there are two style sheets which can be modified by anyone who does not know coding. There is also the theme called mandigo which offers various customization options at the click of a mouse. The WordPress tutorials and forums are a great place to find all the info that you need to tweak to your heart’s content. Twitter is also a very popular resource.