# How to Choose a Site Template and Customize Your Theme

## Overview

Every co-op website starts from a professionally designed template you can make your own. Pick a template to set your overall look in one step, then fine-tune individual colors and fonts to match your co-op. These settings live on the **Appearance** tab in Site Settings.

## Step 1: Open the Appearance tab

1. In the admin sidebar, click **Website**.
2. From the Website Pages list, click **Site Settings**.
3. Click the **Appearance** tab.

## Step 2: Choose a site template

1. Under **Site Template**, review the grid of template cards. Each card shows a preview of the design along with its color palette and number of included starter pages.
2. Click **Preview with my content** on any card to see that template applied to your existing pages without saving anything.
3. Click a template card, then confirm to apply it. You'll be asked whether to apply styling only, or styling plus a set of starter pages (added as drafts — they won't overwrite any pages you already have).

Applying a template updates your colors and fonts; it never overwrites existing page content.

![The Appearance tab's Site Template section, showing the grid of template cards with color swatches, starter page counts, and the "Preview with my content" button.](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-08/wZOportal-admin-website-settings-appearance-desktop.png)

## Step 3: Fine-tune your colors

1. Scroll down to **Theme & Styling**.
2. Set your **Primary**, **Secondary**, and **Accent** colors using the color pickers or by entering a hex code directly.
3. Check the **Color Preview** card to see how your colors look together on a sample header and button.

![The Appearance tab's Theme & Styling section, showing the primary, secondary, and accent color pickers with live preview swatches and a Color Preview card.](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-08/portal-admin-website-settings-appearance-theme-desktop.png)

## Step 4: Choose your fonts

1. Under **Heading Font** and **Body Font**, choose the typefaces used for titles and paragraph text.
2. Check the **Font Preview** card to see a sample heading and paragraph in your selected fonts.

## Step 5: Save your changes

1. Click **Save Settings** to apply your template, colors, and font choices.

Your updated theme takes effect immediately on your public site.

## Next steps

Now that your site's look is set, add your co-op's logo and branding — see **How to Add Your Co-op's Logo and Branding**.