When yous create a new Shopify shop, one of the steps you need to go through is choosing the right shop theme. You have a couple of options there. Yous can pick a costless theme from the Shopify Theme Shop, buy one online, or you tin blueprint it by yourself.

A theme made from scratch is best for those kinds of stores which have an unusual customer journey or when they demand bespoke solutions. We went over that in our commodity about Shopify Design, so head on over there to find out if you need to invest in a custom theme pattern: Should you build your own Shopify Design?

What should you consider when picking a store theme?

Shopify's themes have different congenital-in features. When picking a shop's pattern, consider what you need in your store. To narrow it down, you tin can choice the ane that fits your industry. Mode stores have slightly different needs than food-selling sites, don't they?

Choosing the design based on features is a compelling pick. Information technology goes like this. Brand a list of all the things you want your store to take, and so look for a theme that has it. Maybe you want to have an Instagram feed built into your homepage, or maybe you want a "Frequently bought items" section in the PLP. Don't worry if a theme you like doesn't have those functions. Y'all can always search for them in the Shopify App Shop . But remember – likewise many apps can boring downwardly your shop. You may demand to piece of work on Shopify store optimization when you go overboard with the apps.

shopify theme store screenshot

Y'all can switch your Shopify theme anytime, if you don't want to choice a theme based on features, you can also use Shopify's classification of themes and pick i based on:

  • popularity
  • layout
  • image size
  • inventory size
  • last added
  • fun
  • minimalistic

Shopify treated Debut every bit a shop's default theme. It is now replaced by Dawn, which follows the latest UX and UI design guidelines. You can change your Shopify's look and feel anytime you desire.

How to install a Shopify theme?

It's easy to install a theme in Shopify. The steps you demand to take differ if you lot want to install a costless theme, the one you bought or you lot accept on your bulldoze (it may be because you lot downloaded it from a site that'south different from Shopify Theme Shop).

If you don't take a Shopify account yet, utilise a trial flow to cheque if it's the correct platform for you.Use your 14-day trial period.

Installing a free theme

The bulk of merchants who are new to Shopify choose a free theme. It'south a bully starting point, considering every theme is responsive, easy to edit, and built with UX in mind.

To install a gratuitous theme, go to the Online store section in the left-side card and click the tab "Themes" where you tin access Shopify themes. Scroll down until you see "Theme library" section and click the CTA button "See free themes".

A screenshot of Shopify admin panel that shows when you can access free themes

When you click the push button, a window with free themes pops up. You can read theme descriptions, get to know their features and option a color version. In one case you find the right one, click the green button to add it to your Shopify.

A screenshot of Shopify admin panel when you can preview free themes

You're not finished. Now y'all need to activate information technology. In one case information technology is in your shop, publish it. Then it becomes your store's design. The design that we chose for this tutorial is called Narrative, and you can see the info that it was recently added side by side to its proper noun. So, let'south publish information technology by selecting "Publish" from the drib-down menu (look at the screenshot below).

The theme isn't activated in our store. You need to publish it to use it

Installing a paid theme in Shopify

Paid themes are installed pretty much the same. After visiting the admin panel, go to "Online store" > "Themes", and instead of going to "Free themes", click on the button "Visit Shopify Theme Store".

A screenshot of Shopify admin panel that shows when you can access free themes

Afterward that, we get into the Shopify Theme Shop (see the screenshot below), where we can see every theme. Themes price between 160-180 dollars. Prior to installing it in the shop, we can see how information technology fits our store. Once we have the winner, let'southward connect our payment card to the store and buy the theme we brutal in beloved with.

Shopify theme store with a paid theme

Installing a theme from the drive

Nosotros described two most popular cases for installing Shopify themes – installing a free theme and a paid theme direct from Shopify. Now it's time to talk about the third scenario in which you want to install a theme that you got elsewhere. Information technology may be a pattern that we got from popular web design services or congenital upon request by a Shopify agency. It doesn't matter because the steps are the same.

To install a theme exterior of Shopify, nosotros need a ZIP file with designs on our calculator's bulldoze or connect with GitHub. Allow's get through all the steps once again. Log in to the Shopify Admin Panel, go to "Online store" in the left-side menu and pick "Themes".

Go to the bottom of the folio and select "Add a theme" from a drop-down carte. That menu is placed directly nether the header "Theme library" (See the screenshot below).

to add your own theme, click „Add a theme

Be conscientious: Downloading themes from unauthorized sites comes with a risk. They may non be compatible with Shopify. Check reviews before spending coin.

Looking to get inspired? See our Top Shopify shop examples until at present

How to edit a Shopify theme?

As well editing the look, adding images and videos, or modifying the layout, you tin introduce more advanced changes into your store, be it adding new subpages, apps, newsletter signup sections, conversation box, etc. How should yous go about it?

Bones design tweaks in the Shopify editor

The customization level depends on the Shopify program that you lot're on. Nevertheless, any Shopify merchant tin can change fonts, colors, upload the logo and favicons, add social media profiles, edit the footer, adapt the carte and homepage). The editor makes it piece of cake to run across how your website looks on unlike devices.

How to get within the Shopify editor? Go to the Theme section, scroll down to the Theme library and click "Accommodate" from "the drop-down menu". Now, you're inside the editor.

Editing theme's HTML/CSS code

More than advanced users, who know how to code, can brand changes to the frontend to modify the theme even more. How to access the code? Inside the tab "Sales channels" go to "Online store" > "Themes" > "Theme library" and choose "Edit theme" from the dropdown menu next to the theme'south name.

Screenshot of Shopify theme editor where you can edit HTML, CSS

You will notice all the theme files within this editor. You can also add their theme sections, for example, a section with featured products or newsletter signup.

Be conscientious:Earlier y'all change anything in the PageBuilder, create a shop backup by duplicating the theme. You can duplicate the theme in the same dropdown menu that you tin find the "Edit theme" selection.

Do you want to build an original Shopify pattern?

It's not complicated to change Shopify themes. But it starts to get tough when you lot want to create a theme from the footing up. So, you need the help of an experienced Shopify developer, who tin assistance yous build the theme. Y'all may too need a designer who tin create a beautiful and piece of cake-to-navigate store design. We're ready to help yous. Use the form below to contact u.s. about creating a beautiful Shopify store for you.