Navigating WordPress for the first time can feel a bit like entering an intricate maze. You know there’s a way out—the perfect website you dream of creating—but the twisting pathways of “themes,” “child themes,” and “plugins” seem to complicate the journey. The fear of taking a wrong turn and ending up at a dead end with a broken or half-finished site is real. It’s understandable to feel cautious, stepping carefully through the maze, worried about losing your way.
But what if you had a guide that not only helps you navigate the maze with confidence but also allows you to weave your own paths, ensuring you can always retrace your steps and adjust as you go? When it comes to WordPress, this guide is known as a child theme.
In this blog post we will unravel what a child theme is and talk about how it not only keeps you from getting lost but also turns the process of creating your website into an enjoyable adventure, leading you straight to the end of this maze.
Table of Contents
- What is a WordPress Theme?
- What is a Basic Child Theme?
- Why use a WordPress Child Theme?
- How to Install a Kadence Parent Theme
- How to Install Kadence WP (Parent Theme)
- Installing a Kadence Child Theme: Simple Steps
- How to Install Your Kadence Child Theme in Under 10 Minutes
- Ready to Get Started?
What is a WordPress Theme?
A WordPress theme is basically the design of your website. It controls how your site looks to people who visit it, from the colors and fonts to where menus and content appear on the page. Think of it as the website’s “skin” that you can change to match your style or brand.
Kadence WP is our favorite WordPress theme because it’s easy to use and highly customizable. It lets you adjust the design of your site without needing to learn how to code, making it perfect for beginners and experienced users alike. Its one of the most popular themes for a reason. With Kadence WP, you can create a wordpress website that looks exactly how you want it to, whether you’re setting up a blog, a business site, or an online store all with their easy starter templates.
What is a Basic Child Theme?
A child theme is a way to customize and change the design of your WordPress site without altering the original theme you are using, like Kadence WP. Think of it as creating a copy of your theme that you can edit and tweak as much as you want, without affecting the original version and you don’t need any technical knowledge.
This is great because it means you can update your main theme without losing your customization and the child theme will still be following code from the parent theme. Using a child theme lets you safely make your site look and work exactly how you want it to, while keeping all the benefits and features of the parent theme’s style intact.
Why use a WordPress Child Theme?
Using a child theme is like having the best of both worlds when it comes to designing your website. It allows you to personalize and tweak your site’s design without the risk of messing up the core features of your main theme, like Kadence WP. This means whenever Kadence WP releases updates, you can apply them without worrying about losing the unique touches you’ve added to your child theme’s CSS.
But here’s where it gets even better: you don’t have to start from scratch or be a design expert to make your site beautiful and unique. I’ve partnered with some fantastic child theme developers – Restored 316, Hello You Designs, SheShoppes, and 17th Avenue Designs – who specialize in creating gorgeous, feminine child themes. These themes are specifically designed to work seamlessly with Kadence WP, making it super easy for you to get a professional-looking site or blog up and running in no time while still using the functionality of the parent theme.
These partners offer a variety of pre-designed child themes with custom code that are not only visually stunning but also cater to a wide range of tastes and purposes. Whether you’re setting up a blog, an online store, or a portfolio, you can find a child theme that fits your vision. This saves you a ton of time and effort, letting you focus on what’s really important – your content and your audience.
How to Install a Kadence Parent Theme
Starting your blog with the right theme can make all the difference. That’s why I’m all in for Kadence WP—a newer, feature-packed parent theme that’s perfect for first-time bloggers and seasoned pros alike.
I remember the days when the technical aspects of WordPress felt like a maze without an exit. Then, Kadence WP came along, and suddenly, everything fell into place. Its user-friendly interface and flexibility make it a breeze to work with, no matter your tech skill level.
The cherry on top? Kadence WP is free, offering an array of starter templates that are just waiting to bring your blog to life. Here’s how you can set up Kadence WP on your site and start building your dream blog today.
How to Install Kadence WP (Parent Theme)
- Navigate to Your Theme Settings:
- Head over to your WordPress admin panel, and find Appearance > Themes.
- Add a New Theme:
- Click on ‘Add New.’ Use the search bar in the top right corner and type in ‘Kadence.’
- Install Kadence:
- Kadence WP will pop up in the search results. Hit ‘Install,’ and once it’s done, click ‘Activate.’
- Add in Plugins to Load Your Blocks and Demo Content:
- Now, let’s add some functionality with plugins. Go to Plugins and click ‘Add New.’
- First, find ‘Kadence Starter Templates,’ click ‘Install,’ then ‘Activate.’
- Next, search for ‘Kadence Blocks,’ click ‘Install,’ and then ‘Activate‘ to access of of the parent theme’s files.
- Start Customizing:
- With Kadence activated and your plugins ready, you can begin to customize your theme from scratch. Or, dive into one of the Free Starter Templates Kadence offers and install it to get a head start.
By selecting a Kadence WP free starter template, you’re steps away from customizing and crafting your blog into a space that resonates with you and your audience. Yes it is possible to start building your blog with this fantastic, free WordPress theme!
Installing a Kadence Child Theme: Simple Steps
Not feeling tech-savvy or keen on building your website from the ground up? No worries! Opting for a child theme from developers who specialize in the Kadence WP framework might just be your golden ticket. These ready-made templates offer a semi-custom look for your website or blog without the hefty designer price tag.
We have partnered with three theme developer superstars: Restored 316, HelloYou Designs, and 17th Avenue Designs as our favorite child theme providers. They develop stunning, plug-and-play themes perfect for new bloggers. All of these developers add in new child theme design options several times a year.
- Restored 316: Choose from 23 beautiful child theme options to give your site a unique flair.
- HelloYou Designs: Explore 14 chic child theme options for a sleek website look.
- SheShoppes: This developer has 16 fun Kadence child themes and block collections for sale.
- 17th Avenue Designs: Discover 2 Kadence child theme option, with more to come! (Vivian and Savannah)
Good thing that these child themes are not only easy to install but also instantly elevate your blog to a designer website level, all without breaking the bank. If you are using a different theme you can always switch out to the Kadence framework in one of these child themes as your current theme. Most child themes will have theme name options that align with different niches so that you can envision your content in the theme.
How to Install Your Kadence Child Theme in Under 10 Minutes
Follow these straightforward steps to get your Kadence Child Theme up and running on a fresh WordPress site:
- Install the Kadence WP Parent Theme: Ensure you’ve followed the preliminary steps above to install the Kadence WP parent theme on your site.
- Add Your Child Theme:
- Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, then go to Appearance > Themes.
- Click “Add New,” followed by “Upload Theme” > “Add File.”
- Choose the .ZIP file for your child theme.
- Note: You must leave the child theme in the .ZIP format! Keeping the file in this format is an important step to ensure you have all of the child theme files. What’s included in the .ZIP file? This will include files such as the php files, css files, any custom css users, child theme stylesheets, child theme directory, all in a nice zipped up child theme folder.
- Select “Activate” to set your child theme live.
- Import Demo Content:
- Head over to Appearance > Starter Templates.
- In the top right corner, select “Gutenberg,” then pick the child theme provider—Restored 316, HelloYou Designs, or 17th Avenue Designs.
- Choose your theme to begin importing demo content. This step could take between 5-10 minutes, so be patient as your pages load. This step will bring in all of the child theme’s stylesheet data.
- Customize Your New Theme: Once the import is complete, you’re ready to start customizing your theme to match your vision. Its always a best practice to switch out the images, colors, and fonts to make the theme yours.
Ready to Get Started?
Purchasing a child theme from Restored 316, HelloYou Designs, SheShoppes, or 17th Avenue Designs is your first step toward a stunning website that captures your unique style. Visit their websites to explore your options and choose the perfect theme for your blog.
So, why wait? Choose a Kadence child theme from one of these fantastic sellers and start creating a blog that not only looks amazing but feels uniquely yours without the custom designer price. Let’s bring your blogging dreams to life, one beautiful theme at a time. Its the best way to get a custom website without the designer website pricing.
