The pageshell file defines the overall skeleton of your site (e.g., search bar position, column layout).
For a highly customized homepage without intensive coding, developers often use the Widget Manager plugin to build modular layouts. How to create a custom Homepage : Elgg.org Elgg 1.9 Themes
Follow the example of the Aalborg theme by designing for smaller screens first to ensure accessibility. The pageshell file defines the overall skeleton of
This default theme introduced a fresher color palette and a layout designed to work across desktop and mobile screens. Step-by-Step: Creating a Basic Theme Plugin search bar position
For simple color changes, Elgg uses variables like $(anchor-color) which can be modified via CSS hooks.