When it comes to WordPress, customizing the look of your site is simple and straightforward. When you install WordPress through Sites at Grinnell, the default (or pre-set) theme is called Lovecraft. It is a very customizable theme.

You can find general information about Lovecraft here.

In addition to Lovecraft, you’ll have other themes available to you through the Sites at Grinnell standard WordPress template. If Lovecraft doesn’t meet your needs, you can activate another theme on your site or install a completely new one.

1. Start at your site’s Dashboard.
   
2. Navigate to Appearance > Themes.
   
3. You will see thumbnail images representing each of the themes that you currently have available on your site. Simply mouse over any one of them, and click the Activate link.
   

That’s all you need to do to change the look of your site with a new theme.

If none of the themes that were provided when you installed WordPress are what you’re looking for, you can always search for and install other themes from the WordPress Theme Repository.

1. Navigate to Appearance > Themes.
   
2. Installing new themes is quite simple. You start by going to the Add New Button.
   
3. Initially you are routed to a Featured page of themes, and you can scroll through to see previews of some featured themes. Using the menu at the top you can use the Feature Filter button to filter by your desired Subject, Features, or Layout. You can also click Newest or Recently Updated.
4. Under the thumbnail picture of each theme (when you hover your mouse over the theme) are three choices – Install, Preview, and Details & Preview. Those choices should be pretty self-explanatory so click Install to add a new theme to your site.
   
5. After you install the theme, it is still not active on your site. You will need to Activate it to use it.
   

Once activated, your site will be using the new theme. Visit your site’s homepage to view your new theme.