How to Change the Background Color of My Site Header in WordPress: 5 Easy Fixes

How to change the background color of my site header in WordPress—this is one of the first customization steps most site owners want to master. Why? Because your header is more than just a design element. It’s the first thing people see. It tells your visitors who you are, what you offer, and how serious you are about your brand.

If your header is dull, too dark, or mismatched with your brand colors, you’re missing out on a powerful opportunity to make a bold impression. The good news? Whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced developer, this guide gives you 5 perfect solutions to change the background color of your site header in WordPress.

We’ll explore step-by-step instructions, real-world examples, troubleshooting tips, and even advanced tricks to help your header look exactly how you want.

5 Methods to Change Header Background Color

Method	Best For	Ease of Use	Coding Needed
Theme Customizer	Beginners using standard themes	Very Easy	No
Custom CSS	Intermediate users	Medium	Yes
Plugin-based Styling	Non-coders	Easy	No
Child Theme CSS	Developers and advanced users	Harder	Yes
Premium Theme Settings	Premium theme users	Easy	No

1. Use the WordPress Theme Customizer (No Code Needed)

This is the simplest way to change the header background color, especially if you’re using a modern, well-coded theme like Astra, GeneratePress, or Twenty Twenty-Three.

Step-by-Step:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.

2. Navigate to: Appearance > Customize

3. Look for sections like Header, Colors, or Layout (names vary by theme).

4. Use the color picker under header background or primary color.

5. Click Publish when done.

Example: In the Astra theme, go to:
Customize > Header Builder > Primary Header > Background

Why It Works:

• Easy visual changes

• Instant preview

• Works on mobile and desktop
  

2. Add Custom CSS to Target Your Header

For themes that don’t provide color options in the Customizer, you’ll need to use custom CSS. This gives you full styling power.

Basic CSS Example:

css

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.site-header {

    background-color: #1a73e8;

}

How to Add This CSS:

• Go to: Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS

• Paste the code above

• Click Publish
  

Find Your Theme’s Header Class

Right-click your header area > “Inspect” > Look for classes like:

• .site-header

• #masthead

• .main-header

• .header-wrap
  

Change the CSS selector accordingly.

Pro Tip:

Use !important if the change doesn’t reflect:

css

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.site-header {

    background-color: #1a73e8 !important;

}

3. Use Plugins for Visual Control (No Coding)

Some site owners don’t want to touch code at all. That’s okay. WordPress plugins let you make visual changes without coding.

Recommended Plugins:

• Simple CSS – Adds a CSS box to every page/post.

• SiteOrigin CSS – Visual CSS editor with click-and-style interface.

• Elementor Pro – Drag-and-drop site builder with custom header styling.
  

Using SiteOrigin CSS:

1. Install from Plugins > Add New > “SiteOrigin CSS”

2. Go to Appearance > Custom CSS

3. Click “Visual Editor”

4. Click your header, then choose a background color

5. Save changes
   

When to Use Plugins:

• You’re new to WordPress

• Your theme is limited

• You want to avoid child themes
  

4. Create a Child Theme for Long-Term Customization

Want to make deep styling changes that survive theme updates? You’ll need a child theme.

Why Use a Child Theme?

• Keeps your changes safe

• Avoids overwriting during theme updates

• Offers full control
  

Steps:

1. Install the free plugin: Child Theme Configurator

2. Create a child theme of your current theme

3. Navigate to: Appearance > Theme File Editor > style.css

4. Add:
   

css

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.site-header {

    background-color: #202020;

}

1. Save and activate the child theme
   

5. Use Premium Theme Header Controls

Popular premium themes like Divi, OceanWP, and Avada have powerful header customization options.

Divi Example:

1. Go to Divi > Theme Customizer > Header & Navigation > Primary Menu Bar

2. Change the background color

3. Click Save Changes
   

OceanWP Example:

1. Go to Appearance > Customize > Header > General

2. Choose background color
   

Why Premium Themes Rock:

• Built-in design tools

• Live previews

• Often includes responsive settings for mobile headers
  

Advanced Styling: Gradients, Transparency & Images

Once you’ve mastered how to change the background color of my site header in WordPress, take it a step further.

Add a Gradient:

css

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.site-header {

    background: linear-gradient(to right, #ff7e5f, #feb47b);

}

Add a Transparent Header (Great for Hero Sections):

css

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.site-header {

    background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);

}

Use a Background Image:

css

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.site-header {

    background: url(‘your-image-url.jpg’) no-repeat center center;

    background-size: cover;

}

How to Make Header Colors Responsive

Most themes handle this automatically, but if not, use media queries.

Example CSS:

css

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@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {

    .site-header {

        background-color: #ffcc00;

    }

}

This lets your mobile header have a different background color for better contrast or branding.

Troubleshooting Header Background Color Issues

Changes Not Showing?

• Clear your browser cache

• Clear WordPress plugin cache (e.g., W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed)

• Use a private/incognito browser window to test
  

Header Class Not Working?

• Use browser inspect tools

• Try different selectors (#masthead, .header-main, .page-header)
  

Changes Revert After Theme Update?

• You’re not using a child theme

• Your theme’s style resets—move custom code to child theme
  

Real-Life Scenario: Sarah’s Blog Makeover

Sarah launched a food blog on WordPress using the free Astra theme. But her default header was dull grey and didn’t match her warm-toned brand.

She asked herself, “how do I change the background color of my site header in WordPress without coding?”

Sarah followed these steps:

1. Went to Appearance > Customize

2. Used the color picker in Header Builder

3. Picked a soft beige tone #f5f2eb to match her recipe images

4. Hit Publish
   

Her site now looks warmer, friendlier, and much more engaging. Her bounce rate dropped by 12% in two weeks.

Accessibility Tips for Header Colors

• Ensure high contrast between background and menu text.

• Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker

• Avoid too light or too dark colors that strain the eyes

• Use rem or em units for scalable text
  

Checklist: Perfect Your WordPress Header Styling

• Chosen a header background that matches your brand

• Ensured your header is mobile-responsive

• Maintained accessibility and contrast

• Saved changes in a child theme or plugin

• Cleared caches and double-checked visuals

Conclusion:

Now you’re fully equipped. You know how to change the background color of your site header in WordPress—and how to do it your way. Whether you’re using a beginner-friendly plugin, dropping in a few lines of CSS, or working with powerful premium tools, your WordPress site now reflects your personality, your brand, and your professionalism. Your header is no longer just a strip at the top of your site—it’s a statement.

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FAQs:

1. Can I change my WordPress header background color without using code?
   Yes. Most modern themes offer this through the WordPress Customizer. Go to Appearance > Customize, then look for Header or Colors settings.
2. Why don’t I see the header color option in my theme?
   Some free themes don’t support full styling. You can either switch to a more flexible theme or use custom CSS or plugins to change header colors.
3. What’s the easiest way for beginners to change the header background?
   Using the Customizer or a visual CSS plugin like SiteOrigin CSS is the easiest way with no coding involved.
4. Will my changes disappear when I update my theme?
   Yes, if you edit the theme’s original files. To keep changes permanent, use a child theme or insert CSS using the Customizer or plugin.
5. How do I find the CSS class for my header?
   Right-click the header area on your website and choose “Inspect” to view the HTML and CSS structure. Look for classes like .site-header or #masthead.
6. Can I make my header background transparent or use a gradient?
   Absolutely. Use rgba() for transparency or linear-gradient() in CSS to create gradients. These advanced styles can make your site stand out.
7. Do header background colors affect mobile view?
   They can. Always test your header on different screen sizes. Use responsive CSS or your theme’s mobile settings to ensure consistency.
8. Which plugin is best for styling my WordPress header?
   For styling without code, use SiteOrigin CSS, Elementor Pro, or Simple CSS. These let you visually edit parts of your site, including the header.
9. Is it possible to use an image instead of a solid background color?
   Yes. Use CSS like this:

css

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.site-header {

  background: url(‘your-image.jpg’) no-repeat center center;

  background-size: cover;

}

10. What color should I choose for my site header?
Use a color that matches your brand and offers good contrast with text. Tools like Coolors help generate color schemes.