So, thinking about moving to “self hosted wordpress blog” ? learn how to find, upload and edit your themes
There are tonnes of themes available for you to download. Most of them are free. They are free themes way better than some paid ( or premium themes ). So, think twice ( or more than that ) before you purchase a paid theme.
The best way, will be to google a little. Try Google or you can go to Wordpress’ Official Website. Also, there are brilliant theme designers, with themes that will fall in love with. Here is one of my favorites, pearsonified.com
ps: I will keep updating you guys about beautiful themes that I find during my theme hunts, so subscribe to the RSS feed, for more
Uploading a theme :
Uploading a theme is easy. Download the zip file to your computer, unzipp it, and upgrade it to wordpress /wp-content/themes folder. Once it is uploaded, you can see it under “Design” tab on the dashboard. ( If you need to learn how to “upload” a file or folder, let me know, I will write another post in detail, about it )
After you upload the theme, check the “Design” tab on your dashboard, it should be there.
Upgrading your Theme
Soon, wordpress will have an option to upgrade themes directly from Wordpress dashboard, as we do with plugins now. Wordpress will download the update from their own server and update your theme. You will get notifications on your dashboard when there is a new update available for a theme.
Editing the theme.
On the same page, ie “Design” tab, you have the option to edit your themes. Unlike wordpress.com blogs with custom css, here you get to edit each and every file of your theme; not just the css file. Some themes will even have their psd files so that you can edit image files too. If you are good with Photoshop, you can edit them and get it more customized.
Files that you need to know about :
As usual, stlye.css file is where you make most of the design changes. Color changes, font changes etc are done here.
Index.php : This is the main index file. The front page.
Single.php : File for single posts,
Footer.php: Yes, the footer file
Header.php : header file
sidebar.php : sidebar file etc etc …
Click “Update” after making changes.
I think this post answered some questions that you had about wordpress themes on a self hosted wordpress blog.At the same time, it created more questions, right ? Good, go ahead and post them in the “comments”, we will find the answer together.
How are the novels going on? No post on books these days?
Sorry, since I don’t have a self hosted blog, I thought I’ll go a bit off-topic.
@ amit
oooh !! finally someone asked about books !! yes, amit I am still reading books … hmm but really reaaaallyyy slow !!! will post more soon, I promise
hmm when you have plans for self hosted blog, remember me and blog of small things ….
So, you have a Self hosted wordpress blog ready, it’s time for a theme hunt !!- No
Dude a question: I know i keep asking you the same thing again and again, but see I am a slow learner
I do not have any not bought any domain name or anything, can I just use the upgrade action in the dashboard and buy this from WP or I will have to first buy a Domain Name then only use WP to forward ?
@ Chirax
to be frank, I am not sure what you get with wordpress domain upgrade .. wordpress.com does not give much information about the plan … the best option will be, to ask people who have actually done that, like ruhi @ ruii.com
sorry sir !!
am sick of the old themes
nice post … Ur blog will be very usefull once i buy a domain
@ arvind
“happy to help you”
Cool man, I am switching between buying and not buying
not sure. Let me first make my mind 
[...] 7. How to find and install themes and how to edit them [...]
how to install the orkut themes and how to change the fonts
@ Chirax
make it quick !!
@ guru
lol.. I don’t know buddy !!