Chapters
Build a Personal Portfolio Website in Just 1 Day — Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
📘 Chapter 3: Choosing a Template or Starting From Scratch
🧭 What You’ll Learn
In this chapter, you'll learn:
- The
pros and cons of using a website template vs. building from scratch
- How
to find and evaluate the right template
- How
to edit and personalize templates
- When
starting from scratch is a better choice
- Best
practices for structuring your HTML/CSS files from zero
- Tools
and frameworks that can accelerate your process
🚀 Build vs. Borrow — The
Big Decision
When you decide to create a personal portfolio website,
you’re faced with two main options:
- Use
a pre-built template
- Code
your site from scratch
Both approaches are valid. Your choice should depend on:
- Your
experience level
- Your
timeline
- The
features you need
- Your
comfort with design and code
🥇 Option 1: Using a
Portfolio Template
Templates are pre-designed HTML/CSS files that you can
customize with your own content.
✅ Advantages
- Saves
time — launch in a few hours
- Built-in
responsiveness and layout
- Minimal
to no design skills required
- Can
still be personalized with CSS edits
❌ Limitations
- May
include unnecessary code
- Can
feel "generic" if not customized
- Limited
structure flexibility
- Some
templates may be hard to edit without guidance
🎨 Where to Find Free
Templates
|
Platform |
Website |
Features |
|
HTML5 UP |
Modern, responsive,
MIT licensed |
|
|
BootstrapMade |
Bootstrap-based,
professional look |
|
|
Templatemo |
Clean and simple
HTML/CSS templates |
|
|
Start Bootstrap |
Developer-focused,
good for portfolios |
|
|
GitHub |
Search “portfolio
template” |
Many open-source
personal site templates |
🧪 Template Evaluation
Checklist
Before picking a template, check:
|
Criteria |
Why It Matters |
|
Clean Code |
Easier to edit and
customize |
|
Responsive Design |
Works well on
phones and tablets |
|
Page Sections |
Has About, Projects,
Contact, etc. |
|
License Terms |
Ensure it's
free for personal/commercial use |
|
Minimal
Dependencies |
Avoids bulky JS
libraries |
🔧 How to Customize a
Template
- Download
or clone the template
- Replace
placeholder content:
- Update
index.html with your name, skills, and projects
- Swap
images in /img or /assets
- Edit
styles in style.css or main.css
- Add
your resume, links, and contact form
- Test
on multiple screen sizes
Example HTML Snippet Before:
html
<h1>Hi,
I'm Jane Doe</h1>
<p>Lorem
ipsum dolor sit amet...</p>
After Customizing:
html
<h1>Hi,
I’m Priya.</h1>
<p>Web
Developer specializing in clean design and responsive sites.</p>
🖼️ How Much Should You
Change?
You don’t need to change everything — but aim to make it
yours:
- Use
your colors, fonts, and voice
- Update
all demo content and sample images
- Personalize
navigation, buttons, and project details
🧑💻
Option 2: Starting from Scratch
Starting from scratch means building every file
yourself—HTML, CSS, JavaScript (if needed)—without relying on pre-designed
layouts.
✅ Advantages
- Full
control over every element
- Clean,
minimal code
- Custom
layout structure
- Better
learning experience
❌ Limitations
- Slower
process (8–20 hours depending on scope)
- Requires
HTML/CSS knowledge
- You
must handle responsiveness and cross-browser issues
🧱 Suggested Folder
Structure
bash
portfolio/
├── index.html
├── about.html
├── projects.html
├── contact.html
├── css/
│ └── style.css
├── js/
│ └── script.js
└── images/
├──
profile.jpg
└── project1.png
🔤 Sample HTML Page
(Skeleton)
html
<!DOCTYPE
html>
<html
lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Your Name |
Portfolio</title>
<link rel="stylesheet"
href="css/style.css">
</head>
<body>
<header>
<h1>Your Name</h1>
<nav>
<a
href="about.html">About</a>
<a
href="projects.html">Projects</a>
<a
href="contact.html">Contact</a>
</nav>
</header>
<main>
<section>
<h2>Hi, I’m [Your Name]</h2>
<p>I specialize in front-end
development and accessible UI design.</p>
</section>
</main>
</body>
</html>
🎨 Sample CSS File
css
body
{
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
background: #f9f9f9;
}
header
{
background: #2c3e50;
color: white;
padding: 1em;
}
nav
a {
color: white;
margin: 0 10px;
text-decoration: none;
}
⚖️ Templates vs. From Scratch:
Comparison Table
|
Criteria |
Templates |
From Scratch |
|
Setup Time |
1–3 hours |
8–20 hours |
|
Design Required |
Minimal |
High (you
must plan layout) |
|
Flexibility |
Limited to template
structure |
Fully flexible |
|
Skill Level Needed |
Beginner-friendly |
Intermediate
knowledge recommended |
|
Learning Benefit |
Lower (plug-and-play) |
Higher (hands-on
experience) |
|
Uniqueness |
Low unless
customized |
High (truly
your own) |
🔥 When Should You Use a
Template?
Use a pre-made template if:
- You're
on a tight deadline (1–2 days)
- You
have no design experience
- You
want to launch quickly and refine later
- You
care more about functionality than original layout
🧠 When to Start From
Scratch
Start from scratch if:
- You
want to deeply learn web development
- You
need a very unique structure or branding
- You’re
showcasing your dev skills
- You
want to experiment with layout, animations, or frameworks
🚀 Bonus: Use a Hybrid
Approach
You don’t have to choose one or the other.
Example:
- Use
a free template for the base layout
- Customize
the components (color, layout, fonts)
- Add
custom pages or interactive JS features yourself
🧩 Frameworks &
Builders (Optional Tools)
If you want to streamline even further, consider:
|
Tool |
Use Case |
Skill Level |
|
Bootstrap |
Responsive layout grid
+ UI kits |
Beginner–intermediate |
|
Tailwind CSS |
Utility-first
CSS framework |
Intermediate |
|
Carrd |
1-page site builder
(drag/drop) |
Beginner (no code) |
|
Jekyll |
Static site
generator w/ Markdown |
Intermediate |
|
Next.js |
React-based static + dynamic
sites |
Advanced |
📌 Summary
Templates are great for speed and ease. Starting
from scratch gives you freedom and a deeper learning experience. There’s no
wrong choice—only what fits your goals and timeline best.
Before the next chapter, decide:
- Will
you use a template or build from scratch?
- Have
you picked your tools?
- Is
your content ready to go?
In the next chapter, we’ll begin building the core pages
of your portfolio site.
FAQs
❓1. Can I really build a complete portfolio website in just one day?
Answer:
Yes! With the right structure, pre-written content, and a simple template, you
can absolutely build and launch a functional personal portfolio site in 6–8
hours.
❓2. Do I need to know how to code to build a portfolio site?
Answer:
Not necessarily. You can use free HTML templates and just customize the text
and images. But basic knowledge of HTML and CSS will help you make edits and
personalize it further.
❓3. What sections should I include in my portfolio?
Answer:
A simple portfolio should include:
- A
homepage
- About
section
- Skills
or services
- Projects
or work samples
- Contact
info (or a form)
❓4. Where can I find free templates to speed up the process?
Answer:
You can find high-quality templates on sites like HTML5 UP, BootstrapMade,
Templatemo, or search GitHub
for “portfolio template.”
❓5. How do I host my website for free?
Answer:
You can use GitHub Pages—it’s completely free and perfect for static
websites. Simply upload your HTML/CSS files to a public GitHub repository and
enable Pages in the settings.
❓6. Can I use my own domain name with a free portfolio site?
Answer:
Yes! You can register a domain from providers like Namecheap or GoDaddy and
point it to your GitHub Pages site using a CNAME file and DNS settings.
❓7. What tools or software do I need to build the site?
Answer:
At minimum, you’ll need:
- A
text editor (like VS Code)
- A
browser for previewing
- Optional:
GitHub for hosting
You won’t need any paid software.
❓8. Should I include my resume on the portfolio site?
Answer:
Yes, it’s a good idea to include a downloadable PDF version of your resume or
link to it via Google Drive. It makes it easier for recruiters to access.
❓9. How can I make my portfolio stand out visually?
Answer:
Use clean design, modern fonts (like Google Fonts), high-quality images, and
consistent spacing. You don’t need fancy animations—clarity and simplicity win.
❓10. What should I do after my site is live?
Answer:
- Share
it on LinkedIn, Twitter, and in your email signature
- Add
it to your resume
- Keep
updating it with new projects
- Ask
for feedback from peers or mentors
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