How to add a sidebar to a one-column theme?

I just downloaded the free theme at blissfulblog.com and I can see this piece in the page.php

<div id="sidebar">
    <ul>
      <?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('Sidebar') ) : ?>
      <?php endif; ?>
     </ul>
</div>

You’ll need to add that to your index.php, but will also need to create a content div for your main content…

Thank you Christine!

Can you please specify on creating the content div for main content?

I think I know what you mean, but I’m not sure how to do it.

Thank you.

Edit: Figured it out.

Hi,

I am having the same problem as thetiff, but I was not able to figure out how to create the content div or make the width of the content smaller….

Would anybody be able to give me step by step how to add in the sidebar please? Very new at this…

Any help is appreciated! Thanks.

Just to clarify, I also am using the blissful blog theme from blissfulblog.com

It’s been a couple of weeks so I’m not sure if I remember everything, but open index.php and add <div id="contentpage"> between div content and div postarea.

Add `<div id=”sidebar”>
<ul>
<?php if ( !function_exists(‘dynamic_sidebar’) || !dynamic_sidebar(‘Sidebar’) ) : ?>
<?php endif; ?>
</ul>
</div>` before php get footer.

If it still looks funny, then you must open your style.css and make the width of your content smaller.

I have just added both <div>, but how do I make the content smaller?
https://altid.tempdom.com/

Hey guys! I desperately need your help!

I am trying to add a sidebar to my currently one-column blog template. I’ve followed the steps given in this post, but when I did that I could not get the width of the actual blog content right so the sidebar would show up at the top and the blog content below with a bunch of white space at the top, so I think I’m close (I hope!)

This is my blog without the side bar
https://www.revivalphotography.com/blog

I am using a Blissful Blog template.

So basically it’s

1. How to I properly add a side bar?
2. How do I adjust the width of the content in the blog to add more white space to the sides and allow me to fit the blog along with the side bar into the width of the white space?

Thanks so much!!
Heather

Heather : May I suggest you to try the “Clear Line 1.0.7 by Ivan Milaev”.

It is a really flexible theme where you have a lot of possibility of side bars (1 left, 2 left, 1 left + 1 right … etc). Just with one clic you can change from one to the other …

I think it is the best I have seen in term of flexibility. I am using it on my pages (here) and it works very well.

If you don”t know a lot on the programming, just try it and you will enjoy. ??

If you download and try it :
In the menu “appearance” (excuse me I have it in French and I am not sure of the good english translation), you select “Lateral bar”.
Here you can select which kind of lateral bar you want (1,2, etc) on which page you want.
Below, there is the sizing of the bars, of the page, etc …

If you decide to use this theme and have some question, do not hesitate to drop me a mail. I am using it since some months now and I know a little bit about it’s possibilities.

PS : Nice pics ! ??

Hi,

May be it would be easier to move to Atahualpa theme as if allows up to 4 sidebars and you can one or two on the right and one or two on the left so your blog can appear to have 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 sidebars. You can adjust the width of the sidebars. I’m using two sidebars with the right side bar broader then the left sidebar. See my blog as an example https://bachutha.com

-peter

Hi,

I just checked your site. If you want to speed up your WordPress you mau want to read of my experience at https://bachutha.com/how-to-speed-up-wordpress-my-experience-with-slow-wordpress/

– peter

How did you make the width of the content smaller so the sidebar would fit?

Hello SwaggeringRascal,
I would suggest to adapt the size of the text using the <h1> <h3> etc, then to resize the sidebar.

Thank you for the information, but I can’t seem to find a theme that will offer me the flexibility I need. If anyone can tell me how I can widen the middle part of my page, and then add a side menu to the right side, I would appreciate it very much!! Thanks!!

https://www.revivalphotography.com/blog

Heather