Nawel Tajouri

When I began working on WordPress integration, one of my first real challenges was transforming a static PSD design into a fully functional WordPress website. At first it felt intimidating, but I approached it as a learning opportunity. In this article, I share the journey of that first integration — the challenges I faced, the steps I followed, and the lessons I learned along the way.

Step 1: Understanding the PSD Design

The first step was simply looking at the PSD and breaking it down into sections:

• Header (logo, navigation menu)
• Hero section (big image + call to action)
• Services area (icons, text)
• Blog/news section
• Footer (contact, social links)

Lesson learned: A PSD isn’t just “a picture.” It’s like a puzzle where each piece will eventually become a block of HTML/CSS and then a WordPress element.

Step 2: Writing the HTML and CSS

Before jumping into WordPress, I coded the PSD as a static page using HTML and CSS.

• I exported images from the PSD.
• I set up a grid system with flexbox.
• I matched the fonts and colors from the design.

Lesson learned:Always start simple. Getting the layout right in plain HTML/CSS made the WordPress part much easier.

Step 3: Setting Up WordPress

Once the design was clear, I moved to WordPress and prepared the foundation of the site.

• I installed WordPress
• I chose a starter theme to build on (instead of coding everything from scratch).
• I installed key plugins to cover security, SEO, forms, and performance.
• I set up the basic structure: homepage, menu, and essential pages.

Lesson learned:Choosing the right theme and plugins early on saves time. It’s like laying the foundation of a house — if the base is solid, the rest of the integration becomes smoother.

Step 4: Turning HTML into a Theme

Instead of coding everything from scratch, I started with a block-friendly, builder-ready theme as the base for the site. Using the WordPress block editor (or a builder), I customized the layout to match the sections from the PSD design. To get the visuals closer to the original, I added my own CSS styles to fine-tune details like spacing, typography, and colors.

In addition, I prepared theme options such as logo upload, color palette, and widget areas, so the client could easily adjust content without touching any code.

Lesson learned:Using a solid builder theme combined with my custom CSS allowed me to stay true to the PSD design while keeping the site manageable and flexible for the client.

Step 5: Testing and Fixing

Of course, the site wasn’t perfect on the first try. I encountered several issues that needed attention. Some sections didn’t display correctly on mobile devices, so I had to adjust the layout to ensure responsiveness. I also found small CSS bugs, such as inconsistent margins and paddings, which required fine-tuning to match the PSD design. Additionally, a Google Font link was missing, which affected typography across the site and had to be corrected.

What I Learned From This First Integration

1. Break the project into small steps (don’t jump directly into WordPress).
2. Mistakes = learning. Every error pushed me to research, try again, and improve.

Conclusion

My first PSD-to-WordPress integration wasn’t perfect, but it gave me the confidence to tackle more complex projects. Looking back, the most important thing wasn’t the final site — it was the journey of understanding how design transforms into a living, editable website.

If you’re starting out like me, my advice is simple: be patient, experiment a lot, and enjoy the process.