Wordpress is my favorite blogging tool available online. I have tried Blogger.com, wordpress.com, weebly.com and everything else you have seen out there. That’s why a few months ago I finally put a list together about the variety of blog platforms available. There are so many out there! None of them compare to the powerful features of WordPress self-hosting (wordpress.org).
One thing that I have found though is that WordPress is kind of boring behind the scenes. Yes, it offers almost endless upgrades and plug-ins to add features like To-Do lists, Greet Boxes, Polling, and even some basics like Google Sitemaps, but with only the bare bones options in the admin panel I got a little bored! So today I am going to show you how to customize your WordPress blog’s back-end.
Custom WordPress Login
If you are like me you get bored with the same log-in screens and occasionally want to see something new. I have the perfect plug-in for you then and some very easy to follow instructions.
This customization also works very well for blogs with multiple authors or frequent guest posters who you would like establish a stronger brand with. A few minutes (seriously took me like 10-15 minutes) and you will have a branded login page that not only you will enjoy but anyone interested in logging into your blog.
WordPress Login Page Plug-in
Soon Blogussion will be releasing a new theme for Thesis. Its extremely good looking, well designed, and feature rich! We are excited about the release and cannot wait to let all of you Thesis (and future Thesis) theme users get a crack at it. With all the designing going on here on Blogussion by Alex (redesign) I have become caught up into learning and designing too! So a new project of mine will be released soon but here is a peek at what a custom log-in page can look like compared to the old.
Before & After
Steps to Your Own Custom Login
1. Download the WP Plugin: BM Custom Login Plugin
A simple way to customize the login screen on your wordpress install. There are a number of advantages to using this plugin with the most important one being the plugin means the changes you make stay even when you upgrade versions of WordPress 
.
The plugin also inludes a psd (photoshop) template for creating your own login screens so it couldn’t be easier. I made the login screen above in and had it installed in 10 minutes.
2. Create the Login Image
The Login image is perhaps the most fun. Get out your photoshop (or gimp) and start designing. I recommend upgrading to Adobe photoshop which I did recently and man it has rocked my world! Design is so much more fun and exciting now I have all the tools to master it.
First – go to the file you downloaded and unzip it.
Next – Upload `the entire contents of the zip file to your plugin directory ‘/wp-content/plugins/’
Then – Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in your WordPress Admin > Go to the “Image Templates” folder in the plugin and find the psd (photoshop) template
Next - Create a new login background using the handy template provided. Save it as ‘login-bkg-tile.jpg’
Then – Upload the new login background image to the /wp-content/plugins/bm-suctom-login/images/
Now - Bask in the glory of your beautiful new login screen
If you keep working on the image you can even make a very custom design where the input boxes fit within your creative image! After you have made your image let me know where I can find it by leaving a comment so that we all can bask in the glory of your creativity!
Understand customizing your admin area and login screen will not change your SEO, or increase your traffic but will lighten the mood for you and your fellow bloggers/guest posters – Happy Blogging
Now you have a custom login so every time you and your other bloggers and guest posters can see a custom login screen which is one more step to a unique and memorable blog.
Changing WordPress Admin Colors
Now its not new if I told you that wordpress can change its colors in the admin area from gray to blue. If this is new to you then go to “Profile” > Your Profile and adjust the settings between gray and blue themed.
If this is not enough for you and you still want to customize your wordpress admin like I did then be sure to get a spare download of the latest wordpress and get ready to make some custom gradients.
The first thing you do is go into wp-admin and then go to images. After going to images you should see icons, gradients, and buttons. By changing out these images (mostly .png’s) you will have a custom admin area in your blog. You can even put your own logo in the dashboard.
As you can see the colors are custom and the buttons are too! Currently I am working on a plugin that will allow you to make these changes more easily and without any upgrading once you change versions of WordPress. So be aware that there is an awesome tool coming for making everything about your blog custom and your own.
The more ownership you can take in your blog the better it is and the more you will be attached to it. Don’t go overboard but be sure that your blog is something you are very proud of! For more resources check out the recent post on plugins we use here on Blogussion and be prepared for some very cool new things coming out in the next little while!
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?This looks like an interesting idea, to customize the Wordpress Admin.
Another thing that you could do to customize the Wordpress back-end is to add an options page for your theme. It just adds a little bit more to have more fun working with Wordpress!
.-= Eric B.´s last blog ..Creating the Wordpress Comments Section =-.
I just subscribed to your blog! You offer many tips that I will explore and implement. Thanks! As a new blogger,who is not particularly technical, I think your content will be very valuable to making improvements over time. My blog focus is sailing, golf, travel, and cooking. Do you think that is too broad? I would welcome any comments and feedback.
Thanks for Subscribing and we hope to keep seeing you around! Your blog is looking great and your topics can all work together quite well depending on your blogging strategy.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
Your blog is looking pretty good! There are many subjects, but if done right, it can turn out amazing!
.-= Eric B.´s last blog ..Creating the Wordpress Comments Section =-.
That is another great way to get more out of your wordpress backend
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
Thank you! I was looking how to customize my dashboard a bit
Well now you know!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
It may seem trivial but is very common if you manage several websites to get mixed in between control panels if you are editing simultaneously. Customizing the back in very, very useful in these cases… great, great post. Congratulations.
.-= Learn Creative Visualization´s last blog ..Focus on it Often =-.
Yes customizing the backend is not only nice for using multiple sites but sets your blog apart as having a few very nice extras. Kind of like the luxury version of your blog.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
Pretty interesting. But isn’t it harmful? i mean we are going to edit the core files here right? and if the plugin goes wrong then probably the blog is dead?
Im really interested in it..
The plugin prevents any harm to your core files by just very simply switching images around! Also by switching images in your wordpress admin you wont break anything! You are not changing core code to make the image changes. Also, the reason why I am trying to get a plugin in put together is so that your admin changes stay after you upgrade.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
there you go.. i got to have this plugin now..
Interesting – I never thought of changing the admin panel. Would this slow down the load speed of your website at all?
.-= Robomaster´s last blog ..The Top 6 Coolest Freeware Sites =-.
It doesn’t change anything because you are only replacing current images/gradients with new ones. As long as your files are similar in size then no changes will be made. In fact you might even be able to speed things up if you can minimize the size of your image files!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
Kinda cool but I seriously have so little time as it is, last thing I want to do is play with the WP backend aesthetics. I’m sure it’ll be fun for some folks though.
.-= Gabe | freebloghelp.com´s last blog ..The 21st century corporate soapbox =-.
Right… this is just a cosmetic change and is not for everyone. It does not improve the functionality of the blog as much as the user experience.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
Good idea.
I’m kind of getting fed up of the original WP back end and want another look and feel. Will be changing it in the coming days.
Thanks for this great post.
.-= Teen Blogger´s last blog ..Why You Should Have An About Me And Contact Me Page =-.
When you change it let us all know so we can check it out!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
The coolest design trick I’ve ever seen this year
this ROCKS!
Well we are glad you like it! I think its awesome too!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Customizing Your Wordpress Back-End =-.
Cool! that makes me think “Maybe it’s time to change my admin panel layout?” Now you answered my question
.-= Blog Tips´s last blog ..Blogging Tips and Techniques =-.
Yeah you now have the option available!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Overcoming the “New Barriers to Entry” with Knowledge and Hustle =-.
I want to bask in my glory too. LOL. I’m gonna try this when I get home. I do get bored with the WP login page and admin page. I am new to WP so I have a lot to learn, as a Blogger user, WP is all new to me, and seems like a lot to learn, but it allows for more options and things to do, which is great!
I’m curious to know more about this Thesis theme, when it comes out. Sooo KMP.
I’ll update you when I update the login on my WP page (which has not quite “launched” yet).
Laters,
Arie
.-= Arie Rich´s last blog ..Black Friday Tips (2009) =-.
Nice to know that you’re doing WP now huh? Nice move buddy. Tell us when you update your WP login page already and we’re happy to see
.-= Blog Tips´s last blog ..Blogging Tips and Techniques =-.
First off, just have to say I’m a huge fan of your blog and wanted to give you guys some props. You guys do a great job of providing valuable insight day in and day out, much appreciated!
Secondly, I read that you’re going to be releasing a new theme for Thesis users – that’s great! When can we expect the release?
Keep up the great work!
Amy
Very soon! We will be releasing the theme in a very short time! We are just finishing the coding and setting up the all the sales pages. Not only can you buy it but you can also sell it as an affiliate!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Overcoming the “New Barriers to Entry” with Knowledge and Hustle =-.
Very cool, thanks for the tip! There is so much to learn with wordpress, I’m still trying to figure out how to replace my blog name with my log, as stupid as that sounds
.-= Basin Blog´s last blog ..You’re feeling warmer!!?? =-.
The good news is that there are hundreds of tutorials out there! So keep trying and good luck.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Overcoming the “New Barriers to Entry” with Knowledge and Hustle =-.
Great tips (and plugin when ready)! Especially for those having guestbloggers, this is of immense value!
.-= Bjorn @ iCan’t Internet´s last blog ..Top 25 Photoshop Tips – Part 2 =-.
If you have guest bloggers it adds a very nice touch to your blog!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Overcoming the “New Barriers to Entry” with Knowledge and Hustle =-.
I think you can also download admin themes and change the way your WP admin interface looks. I confess, I don’t like it when they change it with upgrades – I prefer to keep it simple and unchanging, myself.
.-= Anne @ b6s.net´s last blog ..Lists on Your Blog – Five Things to Consider =-.
I can understand that! I am not talking about the admin interface positions of tools as much as the way it looks! Color scheme, logos, etc.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..Overcoming the “New Barriers to Entry” with Knowledge and Hustle =-.
Seth,
What a great idea changing colors on the admin panel. More than once I have had two WP blog admin panels open as I compare settings, or copy template changes from one blog to another and have made the changes to the wrong blog. By changing the dashboard color scheme to match that of each blog, I can keep from making that mistake
.-= Mike @ Page Rotator´s last blog ..URL Rotator Version 2.0 =-.
It is very helpful. I sometimes have 3-4 admin panels open and its nice to have them color coded and styled so I instantly know where I am
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Very cool. So, if your site was a membership site, the members would also see this? It’s really cool. Looks much more professional.
Any time someone logs in to your admin area your login appears however you customized it. I am not sure about what membership site idea you are referencing (within wp, wp theme, etc.) but it is very professional for multi-author sites.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Wow, Thesis theme getting hot. Everybody is talking about Thesis theme right now on blogosphere. Should I use one?
.-= Reza Winandar@Blogging Guide´s last blog ..100 Adsense Tips – Part 3 =-.
Reza you definitely should use it! Its a great theme and offers a lot to you and your readers.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
I had never thought about designing my wordpress login page, but it’s a good idea especially if you make a login easily available to readers. As you suggest this would be very good for wordpress as a CMS, which I am very interested in finding more about.
Yes if your wordpress is a CMS its a great idea and if you offer writing opportunities like many blogs do then its a great idea.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Definitely a cool way to living things up on the user end. Thanks for the heads up!
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..10 Quick Alexa Reviews for my Blog Buddies =-.
Sure! We are all about helping you find your happiest blogging!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Interesting plugin. What happens to the custom login screen when Wordpress itself upgrades? We Kilted-Dudes usually mod the CSS of the admin folder to the same effect (+ a BG image or color behind the login box) which does indeed give our clients a warm fuzzy feeling – the upside of modding the CSS, it’s 1 less plugin – downside – you have to backup the admin panel you create and update that along with the WP core
We’ll certainly check this out though – if the plugin works better it might be time to switch to this approach.
BTW – nice Thesis Mod you’re rocking!
Its true it adds a plugin to your site.. but its very small and also when you upgrade your wordpress version nothing is messed up. If you mess with the css of the core wp files though then you will have to change the log in page every upgrade which is a hassle.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Even though this tutorial was very good and interesting, personally I’m not going to be using this plugin because I try to keep the amount of plugins that I use down to a very small number. I have encountered so many issues when lots of plugins are installed that I am frankly insecure about about adding plugins.
I only do that when it’s absolutely necessary. But this was a great tutorial and if it weren’t for my insecurity factor I would definitely use this and make the backend of my Wordpress all pink – LOL.
All the best,
Eren
.-= Eren Mckay´s last blog ..Free Online Alphabetical Order Games Abc Internet Activities =-.
I can definitely understand that! We are trying to minimize the amount of plugins we are using on wordpress to speed up our blog too! This plugin is a pretty small file though if you are interested.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Dear Seth
Thanks for suggesting the idea that we can change inner colors of Wordpress themes.
Wish there were Wordpress backend themes like Joomla has.
Its true wp has no backend themes, but you can always be the first to design some!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Honestly speaking I do not think that Wordpress admin panel is boring one. This one is simple and highly professional look.
Yes this plugin is making it more weird and ugly.
No offence just my true thoughts with straight words
.-= ZK @ Web Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Get $30 Discount on Wordpress Wizard 2.0 – Wordpress Coaching Program =-.
No problem man.. That’s why design is so awesome. Every person has a right to their own opinions of what looks good. The main purpose of the article is to show you that you can do whatever you want to with the login page if you want to. For those that are interested.
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
Interesting! You are right! Sometimes i really feeling bored to look at the same style of login page. I will try this plugin. Thanks for sharing!
Great let us know how it goes and what it looks like!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..What has our Perception of “Quality Content” been turned into? =-.
And here I thought you didn’t have much free time!
Question – what about the other 99% that have a mini stroke at the mere mention of Photoshop?
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Are You Thankful For Your Blogging Community? =-.
Without Photoshop it is difficult to make adjustments to your wordpress login and admin panels. There is a free program called GIMP which is not as good by any means but the closest free software available to Photoshop.
I agree with you Seth! bloging is looking great. this would be great wordpress as a CMS, very interest!
Wow, ..
I already know about custom login pages but I’m surely going to try new colors for the back end admin panel..
Great tip for me, cheers seth !
.-= Enk.´s last blog ..How to Generate Sitemap for Wordpress ? =-.
very good, l like this article because very usefull, l need to change my blog now
.-= Ali´s last blog ..How Secure is Your Wordpress Blog? =-.
thank for the great post
Can you give me the full url to get into my files
hello. im very new on wordpress blog. i use webs.com before switching to wordpress. wordpress kinda interesting with thousand plugin available on the net. changing backend login form is very interesting and blogussion is the first website i found when i was googlING the tutoial.
thanks man.
I know about this custom wordpress login but didn’t implement on my blog because my blog is not a multi-authored blog
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