Convert HTML Template into WordPress Theme

WordPress Theme Conversion
6th June, 2025 by developer

How to Convert a Multipage HTML Template into a WordPress Theme

Converting a multipage HTML template into a fully functional WordPress theme allows you to retain your front-end design while gaining the flexibility of WordPress. Unlike single-page conversions, this guide focuses on converting full templates like about.html, services.html, portfolio.html, and blog.html into usable WordPress templates.

✅ Prerequisites: You need basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, a local server like XAMPP or LocalWP, a WordPress install, and your HTML files ready.

🗂️ Step 1: Create a Theme Folder
Go to wp-content/themes/ and create a folder such as my-multipage-theme. Inside, create:

    style.css

    index.php

    header.php

    footer.php

    functions.php

    page-about.php

    page-services.php

    page-portfolio.php

    page-blog.php

Include a theme header in style.css:

/*

Theme Name: My Multipage Theme

Author: Your Name

Description: Converted from HTML

Version: 1.0

Text Domain: my-multipage-theme

*/

🔧 Step 2: Divide Your Template
Move everything above your main content into header.php, and footer sections into footer.php.
Replace hardcoded CSS/JS links with:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php bloginfo('stylesheet_url'); ?>">

Use:

<?php get_header(); ?> <!-- Content --> <?php get_footer(); ?>

🔄 Step 3: Make Content Dynamic
Replace static HTML with WordPress functions:

    <title></title> → <?php the_title(); ?>

    <p></p> → <?php the_content(); ?>

    Menus: <?php wp_nav_menu(); ?>

🧠 Step 4: Register Features


In functions.php:

function my_theme_setup() {

register_nav_menus(array(

'primary' => __('Primary Menu', 'my-multipage-theme'),

));

add_theme_support('title-tag');

add_theme_support('post-thumbnails');

}

add_action('after_setup_theme', 'my_theme_setup');

📑 Step 5: Display Blog Posts


Use this in page-blog.php:

<?php

/*

Template Name: Blog Page

*/

get_header(); ?>

<h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>

<?php

$args = array('post_type' => 'post');

$query = new WP_Query($args);

if ($query->have_posts()):

while ($query->have_posts()): $query->the_post(); ?>

<h3><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h3>

<div><?php the_excerpt(); ?></div>

<?php endwhile;

endif;

wp_reset_postdata();

?>

<?php get_footer(); ?>

🧭 Step 6: Add a Screenshot
Save a screenshot (880x660) of your theme as screenshot.png in your theme folder to display it under Appearance > Themes.

⚙️ Step 7: Activate and Manage
From the WordPress dashboard:

    Activate the theme under Appearance > Themes

    Create pages (About, Services, etc.)

    Select appropriate templates under Page Attributes

    Create and assign a menu under Appearance > Menus

References:

Cloudways. How to Convert HTML to WordPress

Hostinger. Convert HTML to WordPress

peakanddale. peakanddale

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