How to Use Elegant Themes (Divi): A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to use Elegant Themes (Divi) with this beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to build professional WordPress websites using the Divi theme and visual page builder.

By TechScaleMedia Editorial · Updated July 2026 · 11 min read

---

Creating a professional WordPress website doesn’t have to require coding. Elegant Themes is best known for Divi, a drag-and-drop visual page builder that lets you design custom websites using pre-built layouts, flexible design tools, and responsive editing features. Whether you’re building a business website, portfolio, blog, or online store, Divi simplifies the design process while giving you complete control over your site’s appearance.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Elegant Themes and Divi step by step, from installing the theme to building pages, customizing your design, optimizing your website for different devices, and publishing your site.
Ready to create a custom WordPress website with Divi? Let’s get started.

How Do You Use Elegant Themes (Divi)?

Quick Answer

Using Elegant Themes and Divi is simple:

• Purchase an Elegant Themes membership.
• Install and activate Divi.
• Choose a layout or start from scratch.
• Build pages with the Visual Builder.
• Customize your website.
• Create global templates with Theme Builder.
• Optimize your pages for mobile devices.
• Use Divi AI (if available).
• Publish and maintain your website.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, you’ll need:

• An Elegant Themes membership
• A self-hosted WordPress website
• Web hosting and a domain name
• Administrator access to WordPress
• Your logo and branding assets
• Website content
• Products or services (if building an online store)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to install, customize, and launch your first Divi-powered website with Elegant Themes, even if you’re completely new to WordPress.

Step 1: Purchase an Elegant Themes Membership

Purchase an Elegant Themes membership to access:

• Divi Theme
• Divi Builder plugin
• Extra Theme
• Bloom email opt-in plugin
• Monarch social sharing plugin
• Premium updates
• Customer support

After purchasing, download the Divi files from your Elegant Themes account.

Step 2: Install and Activate Divi

Install Divi through your WordPress dashboard.

To install the Divi Theme

• Go to Appearance > Themes
• Click Add New
• Upload the Divi ZIP file
• Activate the theme

To use Divi with another theme

Install the Divi Builder plugin through Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, then activate it.

Step 3: Choose a Starting Layout

Create a new page and launch the Divi Builder.

You can:

• Start with a blank page
• Choose a pre-built layout pack
• Import a saved layout from the Divi Library

Selecting a layout that matches your website’s purpose can save significant design time.

Step 4: Build Your Pages with the Visual Builder

Use Divi’s front-end Visual Builder to create your page by adding sections, rows, columns, and modules.

Common modules include:

• Text
• Images
• Buttons
• Videos
• Forms
• Galleries
• Testimonials
• Pricing tables

Drag and arrange these elements to create the layout you want without writing code.

Step 5: Customize Your Website Design

Use Divi’s design settings to personalize your website.

Customize:

• Fonts
• Colors
• Spacing
• Backgrounds
• Buttons

These settings help you create a consistent design that reflects your brand.

Step 6: Create Global Templates with Theme Builder

Use the Divi Theme Builder to create reusable templates that apply across your website.

You can design:

• Headers
• Footers
• Blog post templates
• Product page templates
• Archive pages

You can also display dynamic content such as post titles, featured images, custom fields, and product information, allowing templates to update automatically as your content changes.

Step 7: Optimize for Mobile Devices

Use Divi’s responsive editing tools to adjust your design for different screen sizes.

You can customize:

• Font sizes
• Spacing
• Layout alignment
• Module visibility

Review your pages on desktop, tablet, and mobile to ensure a consistent user experience.

Step 8: Use Divi AI (Optional)

If your plan includes Divi AI, you can use it to generate layouts, content, and images to speed up the website creation process.
Always review AI-generated content before publishing to ensure it matches your brand and goals.

Step 9: Publish and Maintain Your Website

Once your website is ready, review your pages, publish your site, and keep WordPress, Divi, and installed plugins updated to maintain security, compatibility, and performance.

Tips

Get the most out of Divi by using pre-made layouts, saving reusable templates, optimizing images, and previewing changes before publishing your website.

• Start with a layout pack that closely matches your website goals.
• Save reusable sections and templates to speed up future projects.
• Keep your branding consistent across all pages.
• Optimize images to improve page loading speed.

Common Mistakes

• Installing plugins that conflict with Divi.
• Ignoring mobile optimization during the design process.
• Adding too many animations or visual effects.
• Publishing pages without testing navigation and forms.
• Forgetting to save reusable templates for future use.

Troubleshooting

Divi Builder Isn’t Loading

Check:

• WordPress and Divi are updated.
• Plugin conflicts.
• PHP memory limits.
• Browser cache.

Layout Looks Different on Mobile

Review:

• Responsive settings
• Font sizes
• Spacing
• Hidden modules

Website Changes Don’t Appear

Check:

• Browser cache.
• WordPress caching plugins.
• CDN cache (if applicable).
• Whether your changes were saved and published.

Best Practices

• Plan your website structure before creating pages.
• Use global templates to maintain consistent branding.
• Back up your website before major updates.
• Keep WordPress, Divi, and plugins updated.
• Test your website across multiple browsers and devices.
• Review website performance regularly and update content as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Elegant Themes?

Elegant Themes is a WordPress company that develops Divi, Extra, Bloom, Monarch, and other tools for building and managing WordPress websites.

Can I use Divi with another WordPress theme?

Yes. You can install the Divi Builder plugin and use its visual editor with many compatible WordPress themes.

Does Divi require coding?

No. Divi is designed for users who want to create custom WordPress websites using a visual drag-and-drop editor without writing code.

What is Divi AI?

Divi AI is an optional feature that helps generate layouts, images, and website content directly inside the Divi Builder.

Can I change my website layout after publishing?

Yes. Divi allows you to switch layouts, edit templates, and customize pages at any time. After making significant changes, review your website to ensure everything displays correctly.

Is an Elegant Themes membership worth it?

If you build or manage multiple WordPress websites, an Elegant Themes membership provides good value by including Divi, premium plugins, ongoing updates, and customer support in a single subscription.

Conclusion

Elegant Themes gives WordPress users an easy way to build professional websites with Divi’s visual editor and flexible design tools. Whether you’re creating a blog, business website, portfolio, or online store, you can customize your site without coding and easily manage it as your website grows.
By following this guide, you can install Divi, create custom pages, build reusable templates, and launch a responsive WordPress website with confidence.