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Why Your Blog Page Looks Different and How to Fix It

32 threads Sep 16, 2025 Core → Fixing wordpress

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A common frustration for many WordPress users is creating a beautiful, cohesive website, only to find that the blog section looks completely different. The header and footer might change, the layout can shift, or the styling no longer matches the rest of your pages. This design disconnect can make your site feel unprofessional and confusing for visitors.

This issue is not a bug, but rather a fundamental aspect of how WordPress themes and page builders often handle different types of content. Understanding why it happens is the first step to fixing it.

Why Does This Happen?

WordPress uses different templates to display different kinds of content. Your homepage and standard pages are typically built with a page builder like Elementor. However, blog archive pages (which list your posts) and single post pages are often controlled primarily by your theme's templates, not your page builder. This can lead to a styling clash.

As seen in the support threads, users of themes like Astra and page builders like Elementor frequently encounter this. The theme provides the overall structure (header, footer, sidebar), while the page builder designs the content within the page. When you navigate to a blog archive, WordPress may fall back to the theme's default blog template, ignoring the page builder's styling rules.

How to Fix a Mismatched Blog

Here are the most effective solutions to unify your website's design.

1. Use Your Theme's Customizer

Most modern themes, including Astra, offer extensive customization options for blog layouts. Navigate to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. Look for sections labeled "Blog," "Posts," or "Layout." Here, you can often adjust the number of columns, post excerpt length, and other design elements to make your blog archive match the rest of your site.

2. Create a Custom Blog Page with Your Page Builder

Some page builders offer a way to design archive templates. Alternatively, you can often create a standard page with your page builder, populate it with a "Posts" or "Archive" widget that lists your blog posts, and then set that page as your posts page. To do this:

  1. Create a new page in Elementor and design it to match your site.
  2. Add a widget that displays your posts (e.g., "Posts" or "Latest Posts").
  3. Publish the page.
  4. Go to Settings > Reading in your dashboard.
  5. Under "Your homepage displays," select "A static page."
  6. Set the "Posts page" to the new page you just created.

3. Add Custom CSS

For more granular control, you may need to add custom CSS to override the theme's styles on your blog pages. For example, if your blog posts are displaying in multiple columns, you can force them into a single column. You can add code like this in Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS:

@media screen and (min-width: 576px) {
    .grid-sm-col-2 {
        grid-template-columns: none;
    }
}

4. Check for Theme-Specific Settings

If you are using a highly customized theme, the solution might be specific to that theme. The Mesmerize theme, for instance, has its own set of options for blog layout and page widths. For theme-specific issues, the best course of action is to seek help from the theme's dedicated support forum, as its developers know the product best.

Conclusion

A mismatched blog is a solvable problem. The solution usually involves digging into your theme's customization options, creatively using your page builder, or adding a bit of custom CSS. By taking these steps, you can ensure a seamless and professional experience for your visitors across your entire website.

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