How to start with customizing Shopify themes?

Store Design
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Topic summary

Newcomer asks where to begin with Shopify theme customization.

Key guidance:

  • Start in the Theme Editor (Customize): adjust colors, fonts, sections, logos, and banners without coding.
  • After getting comfortable, review the Products section to understand backend settings and how content populates pages.
  • Progress to custom CSS and coding only later; CSS is the styling code that controls look and layout.

Learning resources:

  • Use Shopify Help Center manuals for step-by-step documentation.
  • Watch YouTube tutorials; many comprehensive guides exist for “customize Shopify theme.”
  • One participant offers basic video tutorials via their profile (videos are central to the recommended learning path).

Status and next steps:

  • No single solution selected; approach depends on the specific customizations needed.
  • Action items: start with Theme Editor changes, explore product/backend settings, then learn CSS; supplement with docs and video tutorials.
Summarized with AI on December 10. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Very new to Shopify. Please walkthough on where to start on how to start with customizing Shopify themes?

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2

@Marisco it depends on what type of customization do you need, since you are very new I believe you are not familiar with the coding.

So you can start with clicking on customize settings of the theme. In those settings you will get option to edit the colors, fonts, sections on the pages, adding logo, banners etc.

Once you get used to it then you can go to products section to check the backends of the products and in the end then you can shift to custom css and coding.

You can go to my profile, it has link to the video of page structure, also I can share basic video tutorials to you which will allow you to learn.

3

Search Google and YouTube, and of course the Shopify Help manuals. Tons of information, tutorials, and guides. Tons and tons. It’s so easy.. Just click on your YouTube app on your phone and search “customize shopify theme”. You can literally just watch YouTube all day and learn just as much as many other merchants if not more.

4

Hi @Marisco

Step 1: Understand the Two Ways to Customize a Shopify Theme

1. No-Code Editor (Beginner level)

This is Shopify’s built-in editor where you can:

  • Add sections
  • Rearrange blocks
  • Change colors, fonts, banners
  • Edit homepage, product pages, collection pages

You don’t need coding for this.

2. Code Editor (Theme Code — Liquid, HTML, CSS, JS)

Used when you want:

  • Custom layouts
  • Custom features
  • Advanced styling
  • Adding scripts, animations, custom logic

This requires basic coding, but you can learn slowly.

Step 2: Duplicate Your Theme (VERY IMPORTANT)

Before touching code:

  1. Go to Online Store → Themes
  2. Click Actions → Duplicate

This creates a backup.
If you make a mistake, you can revert safely.

Step 3: Learn the Theme Structure (Basic Overview)

Shopify themes contain these main file types:

1. Sections

Controls layout of pages.
Example:

  • header.liquid
  • footer.liquid
  • main-product.liquid
  • featured-collection.liquid

2. Snippets

Reusable mini-components.
Example:

  • Product card
  • Price display

3. Templates

Which section goes on which page.
Example:

  • product.liquid
  • collection.json

4. Assets

CSS, JS, images.
Example:

  • base.css
  • theme.js

Step 4: Start With Small Customizations

Here are safe changes beginners can try:

** Add custom CSS**

  1. Go to Online Store → Themes → Edit code
  2. Open base.css (or theme.css)
  3. Add simple styles like:
.product-card__title {
  color: #333;
}

This is safe because you cannot “break” anything major.

Step 5: Add Custom Sections (Intermediate Skill)

You can create your own custom section:

  1. Go to Edit Code → Sections
  2. Click Add a new section
  3. Name it custom-banner.liquid
  4. Paste a simple template:
<div class="custom-banner">
  <h2>{{ section.settings.heading }}</h2>
</div>

{% schema %}
{
  "name": "Custom Banner",
  "settings": [
    {
      "type": "text",
      "id": "heading",
      "label": "Banner Heading"
    }
  ]
}
{% endschema %}

Now your section appears in the theme editor.

Step 6: Learn Essential Shopify Languages

You do not need to master everything.
Just basics of:

** Liquid (Shopify’s templating language)**

Used for:

  • Showing product data
  • Looping through collections
  • Conditions

Example:

{% for product in collection.products %}
  {{ product.title }}
{% endfor %}

** HTML & CSS**

To change layout and styling.

JavaScript (optional)

For dynamic features like sliders, popups, variant switching.

Step 7: Use Shopify Documentation (Beginner-Friendly Resources)

Start with:

Shopify Liquid Basics

Theme Customization Guide

Theme File Structure

All are simple and beginner-focused.

Step 8: Practice by Editing a Simple File

Try editing:

  • Product page
  • Collection card layout
  • Font sizes
  • Adding badges like “Sale” or “New”

These are real-world tasks and great learning.

Step 9: Use the Shopify Code Editor Tools

Shopify has:

  • Search
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Liquid autocomplete
  • Error detection

Best regards,
Devcoder :laptop:

1 Like