How to Customize Shopify Themes | The Ultimate Guide

Last updated: November 18 2024

Written and researched by experts at Avada Learn more about our methodology

While choosing a theme that resonates with your brand is important, customization is equally crucial to make your store truly unique and stand out from the competition.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of customizing your Shopify theme, from understanding the theme editor to editing individual sections and fine-tuning settings.

Before Customizing Your Theme

Before customizing your Shopify theme, consider the following:

Duplicate Your Theme: Before making any changes, it’s crucial to create a backup of your current theme by going to Online Store > Themes and selecting Duplicate. This ensures that you can easily revert to the original version if anything goes wrong.
Choose the Right Theme: Select a theme that aligns with your brand aesthetic and offers the essential features you need. Consider factors like layout options, customization flexibility, and performance optimization.
Understand Support Levels: Check the documentation and support resources available, such as forums or direct help options. Understanding what support is available will help you navigate any challenges during your customization process.
Media Requirements: Learn about Shopify’s recommended dimensions, file types, and size limits to ensure images load correctly.
Consider Hiring Help: Hiring a Shopify Partner can be a great solution if the customization process seems overwhelming. These experts specialize in theme customization and can help you realize your vision effectively.

Getting To Know The Shopify Theme Editor

The Shopify Theme Editor is your primary tool for customizing your theme.

It's a user-friendly interface that allows you to preview your changes in real time and make adjustments without needing to write code.

Sidebar Menus

The sidebar menus provide access to different sections and settings of your theme, allowing you to modify various aspects of your store's design and functionality.

Sections

Sections are the building blocks of your Shopify theme, each representing a specific area of your store, such as headers, footers, product displays, and more. The theme editor lets you add, remove, and rearrange these sections to create a personalized layout that suits your brand.

Together, the sidebar menus and sections in the Shopify Theme Editor provide a comprehensive and user-friendly way to tailor your store’s appearance and functionality to meet your business needs.

How To Customize Shopify Themes

Let's explore how to customize different areas of your store using the theme editor:

To begin customizing your Shopify themes, go to Online Store > Themes, and click Customize.

Home Page

You can customize the Home Page by adding your logo, changing the header & footer, setting up featured products, slide shows, etc., and rearranging the sections to your liking.

Here’s the detailed guide to set up the basic elements of your Homepage

Header:

Step 1. Navigate to the Theme Editor.
Step 2. Select the Header section from the sidebar.

Step 3. Upload your logo, change the navigation menu, and adjust the layout.

Footer:

Step 1. Click on the Footer section in the theme editor.

Step 2. Add links, social media icons, and contact information. Customize the footer for professionalism and accessibility.

Add links, social media icons, and contact information.

Featured Collection:

Step 1. Find the Featured Collection section in the editor.

Step 2. Customize the heading, heading size, and description. Highlight bestsellers or new arrivals to attract attention.

Customize the heading, heading size, and description.

Announcement Bar:

Step 1. Locate the Announcement Bar section in the editor.

Step 2. Customize the color and placement for visibility. Insert social media links.

Customize the color and placement for visibility.

Now, take some time to explore the rest of your Home Page. You can add more sections, customize them, and rearrange them to tell your brand's story and guide your customers through their shopping journey.

Product Page

Next, let’s move on to the product page.

Product Title and Description:

Step 1. Go to the Product Page section in the theme editor.

Go to the Product Page section in the theme editor.

Step 2. Customize the layout of the product title and description. Use formatting options to highlight key information.

Customize the layout of the product title and description.

Product Images:

Step 1. Adjust the display settings for product images.

Step 2. Choose features like zoom, image gallery, or slideshow. Ensure high-quality images for better customer engagement.

Choose features like zoom, image gallery, or slideshow.

Add to Cart Button:

Step 1. Locate the settings for the Add to Cart button.

Step 2. Customize its appearance and position for visibility. Ensure the button stands out to improve conversion rates.

Editing Shopify Theme Settings

Beyond individual sections, you can also customize your theme's overall settings:

Color

Step 1. Navigate to the Theme Editor and select the Theme Settings option in the sidebar.

Navigate to the Theme Editor and select the Theme Settings

Step 2. Look for the Colors section, where you can customize the background, text, and button colors to match your brand identity.

Step 3. Choose colors that enhance readability and create a cohesive look throughout your store.

Logo

Step 1. In the Theme Settings, find the Logo section.

Step 2. Upload your logo image and adjust its size if necessary. Ensure that your logo is clear and recognizable, as it plays a crucial role in your branding.

Animation

Step 1. Go to the Animation settings within the Theme Settings.

Step 2. Here, you can enable or disable animations for elements like buttons and images to create a dynamic user experience. Choose subtle animations that enhance user interaction without being distracting.

Here, you can enable or disable animations

Typography

Step 1. Locate the Typography section in the Theme Settings.

Step 2. You can customize font styles, sizes, and line spacing for headings and body text. Select fonts that reflect your brand’s personality and ensure they are easy to read.

You can customize font styles, sizes, and line spacing for headings

Button Styles

Step 1. In the Button Styles section, you can modify the appearance of buttons throughout your store.

Step 2. Adjust the button shape, color, and hover effects to make calls to action more compelling. Ensure buttons are prominent and encourage users to take action.

Adjust the button shape, color, and hover effects

Once you've customized all parts, click Save to apply the changes to your home page.

Previewing After Customizing Your Theme

After making customizations, it's essential to preview your changes before publishing them.

Step 1. In the Theme Editor, click… Icon.

Step 2. Tap on the View.

Step 3. Check different pages and elements to ensure everything appears as expected. Once you're satisfied with your adjustments, you can save and publish the changes to your live store.

By following these steps, you can effectively edit your Shopify theme settings and create a visually appealing and cohesive online store!

How To Publish Shopify Themes

Publishing your Shopify theme is the final step in making your customizations live for your customers. Here’s how to do it from both the Theme Editor and the Shopify Admin:

From Theme Editor

Step 1. After adjusting your settings, click Preview to see how it looks and ensure everything is as intended.)
Step 2. Click Save to save your changes.
Step 3. Choose Publish.

From The Shopify Admin

Step 1. Log into your Shopify admin and go to Online Store > Themes.
Step 2. Find the theme you want to publish. Select Publish, then confirm your choice.

Step 3: After publishing, check your store’s URL to ensure everything displays correctly.

Wrapping Up

Customizing your Shopify theme is essential for creating a unique and engaging online store that reflects your brand and resonates with your customers. By using the theme editor, exploring theme settings, and even incorporating custom code if needed, you can tailor your store's design to meet your specific needs and achieve a visually appealing and high-converting storefront.

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Sam

Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.