If you’re considering giving your WordPress website a fresh look, you’re not alone. It’s a common scenario, and with the flexibility WordPress offers, updating your site can be both exciting and manageable, even if you’re not a tech expert. Let’s walk through the key steps and considerations to help you approach this project with confidence.
Understanding Themes and Their Role
Your WordPress theme helps control your website’s design and layout. Depending on your setup, this may include your header, footer, fonts, colours and the way your pages are displayed.
You can have several themes installed, but only one active theme at a time.
Changing your theme does not normally remove your pages and blog posts, but it can change how they look and which features are available. Some parts of your design may depend on your existing theme or page builder.
Before choosing a new theme, work out what you want to improve. You may be able to refresh your existing website without changing its theme at all.
Understanding Your Website’s Editing Tools
Not every WordPress website uses the same editing tools.
Your pages might use the WordPress Block Editor, the Classic Editor or a page builder such as Elementor, Divi Builder, WPBakery or Beaver Builder. Some websites use different tools for different pages.
If your website uses a block theme, you may also have access to the WordPress Site Editor. This lets you work with areas such as your header, footer and page templates using blocks.
You do not need to install a page builder simply to give your website a fresh look.
Start by finding out what your website already uses. Switching editing tools can mean rebuilding parts of your pages, so it helps to understand what is involved before making that decision.
Preparation is Key: Backup Your Site
Before making changes, make sure you have a recent, complete backup of your website’s files and database.
Check where that backup is stored and how you would restore it. If your host or website support person manages your backups, ask them to confirm what is included.
For bigger changes, such as switching themes or rebuilding layouts, use a staging site where available. This is a separate copy of your website where you can test changes before putting them on your live site.
A backup gives you a recovery option, but restoring it can also roll back newer content, enquiries or orders. Knowing your recovery plan before you start makes the process easier to manage.
Taking Stock: Evaluate Your Current Setup
Before changing anything, take a few minutes to find out what your website uses.
- Find your active theme
Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard. Note the name of the active theme. - Check your installed plugins
Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins. Look for a page builder such as Elementor, Divi Builder, WPBakery or Beaver Builder. Note whether it is active.
Some builders are included within a theme, so the plugin list may not tell you the whole story. - Check how your pages are edited
Open an existing page for editing and look at which editor it uses. For now, you are only checking. There is no need to save changes.
If your website uses a block theme, you may also see Appearance > Editor for the Site Editor.
If these menu options are missing, your account may have limited access. Ask whoever manages your website to help you identify the setup.
Knowing what you already have will help you choose suitable tutorials and plan your refresh.
Define Your Goals for the Refresh
Are you looking to simply tweak the visuals, like updating colours or fonts, or are you aiming for something entirely different? If it’s the latter, it’s helpful to spend some time researching and gathering inspiration. Look at other websites you admire, and sketch out a basic design to clarify what you want to achieve.
Moving Forward
Once you understand your current setup and what you want to achieve, choose one useful improvement to start with.
That might be updating the wording on your services page, replacing an older image or making your booking link easier to find. A refresh does not have to mean rebuilding your whole website.
For larger design changes, check what your existing theme and editing tools can do before buying something new. The right choice depends on your website, your goals and how you want to manage it going forward.
If you would like help deciding what to keep, what to change and where to start, you can book a 1:1 WordPress session.
For ongoing guidance while you work through your changes, the WordPress Learners Lounge gives you somewhere to ask questions and get support.
Big Love from Oz,
Natalie Crowe – WordPress Expert
