Finding My Style: A Journey Through Customising My Blog
When I first started my blog, I had no idea how much creativity and personality could go into its design. I thought content was the only thing that mattered—until I stumbled upon the world of customisation. From fonts and colors to layouts and widgets, every little tweak made my blog feel more like me. In this post, I'll share my journey of transforming a basic template into a space that truly reflects my style.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Theme
The foundation of any blog's design is its theme. I spent hours browsing through free and premium options, looking for something clean yet flexible. I finally settled on a minimalist theme with a sidebar because I wanted readability to be a priority. The best part? Many themes allow deep customisation, so even if you start with something simple, you can make it unique.
Tip: Don't just pick a theme because it looks pretty—think about functionality. Does it support the features you need (e.g., SEO, mobile responsiveness, custom menus)?
Step 2: Playing with Colors & Fonts
I've always loved earthy tones, so I swapped the default bright blues and whites for warm terracottas, soft greens, and creamy backgrounds. Fonts were another game-changer. Switching from a generic sans-serif to a slightly rounded, friendly font made my blog feel more personal.
Pro Tip: Stick to 2-3 fonts max—one for headings, one for body text, and maybe an accent font for special sections. Too many fonts can make your blog look messy.
Step 3: Customising the Layout
I wanted my blog to be easy to navigate, so I experimented with different layouts. I moved my sidebar to the left (I'm a lefty, so it felt natural), adjusted the width of my posts for better readability, and added a featured post slider at the top.
Widgets Are Your Friends: I added a simple "About Me" widget, a search bar, and a category cloud to help readers explore.
Step 4: Adding Personal Touches
This is where the real fun began! I:
- Created a custom header with a hand-drawn logo
- Added a favicon (that tiny icon in the browser tab—so satisfying!)
- Used subtle animations for hover effects on buttons
- Embedded a Spotify playlist widget for my "Writing Vibes" section
These small details made my blog feel alive.
Step 5: Testing & Tweaking
After all the changes, I tested my blog on different devices (phone, tablet, laptop) to make sure everything looked good. I also asked a few friends for feedback—turns out, my dark mode toggle wasn't working properly!
Lesson Learned: Customisation isn't a one-time thing. I'm always tweaking things based on feedback and new ideas.
Final Thoughts
Customising my blog has been one of the most rewarding parts of blogging. It's not just about aesthetics—it's about creating a space that feels like home. If you're just starting out, don't be afraid to experiment. Your blog should be as unique as you are!
What about you? Have you customised your blog? What's your favorite design tweak? Let's chat in the comments!