Robert Birming

Bear Blog header styles

The default Bear Blog theme keeps the header simple, just a title and a nav list. That leaves a lot of room to experiment, and I love experimenting.

This page collects small CSS tweaks and variations for styling that header area. Each one works out of the box, but they're just as much meant as a starting point. Mix and match, tweak the values, or use them to learn more about theme styling.

Last updated 1 hour, 55 minutes ago.

Tighter spacing

Tighter title and nav spacing

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
}

Centered

Centered header

header {
    text-align: center;
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 8px;
    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
}

Inline

Inline header

header {
    display: flex;
    align-items: baseline;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 8px 16px;
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 8px;
    margin-block-start: 0;
}

Inline split

Inline split header

header {
    display: flex;
    align-items: baseline;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 8px 16px;
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav {
    margin-inline-start: auto;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 8px;
    margin-block-start: 0;
}

Bottom border

Bottom border header

header {
    padding-block-end: 1rem;
    border-block-end: 1px solid;
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
}

Pill nav links

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 3px;
    margin-block-start: 0.5em;
    font-size: 0.85em;
}

header nav a {
    padding: 2px 10px;
    border: 1px solid;
    border-radius: 999px;
    text-decoration: none;
}

Uppercase nav links

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 12px;
    margin-block-start: 0.5em;
}

header nav a {
    font-size: 0.8em;
    letter-spacing: 0.06em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    text-decoration: none;
}

Dot marker nav links

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 12px;
    margin-block-start: 0.5em;
}

header nav a {
    text-decoration: none;
}

header nav a::before {
    content: "•";
    margin-inline-end: 4px;
    color: var(--link-color);
}

Stacked nav links

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    gap: 4px;
    margin-block-start: 0.5em;
}

Thick underline nav links

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 16px;
    margin-block-start: 0.5em;
}

header nav a {
    text-decoration: underline;
    text-decoration-thickness: 2px;
    text-underline-offset: 5px;
}

Boxed nav

Boxed nav

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 12px;
    margin-block-start: 0.5em;
    padding: 6px 12px;
    border: 1px solid;
    width: fit-content;
}

header nav a {
    text-decoration: none;
}

Dashed border

Dashed border header

header {
    padding: 0.2rem 1.5rem;
    border: 3px dashed;
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
}

Accent border

Accent border header

header {
    padding-inline-start: 1.1rem;
    border-inline-start: 2px solid var(--link-color);
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
}

Avatar

Avatar header

:root {
    --avatar-url: url("https://example.com/your-avatar.jpg");
    --avatar-size: 3rem;
    --avatar-radius: 50%; /* Change to 5px e.g. for square */
}

header {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: auto 1fr;
    align-items: center;
    column-gap: 1rem;
}

header::before {
    content: "";
    grid-column: 1;
    grid-row: 1 / 3;
    width: var(--avatar-size);
    aspect-ratio: 1;
    background: var(--avatar-url) center / cover no-repeat;
    border-radius: var(--avatar-radius);
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
}

Card

Card header with border

header {
    padding-block: 1rem;
    padding-inline: 1.2rem;
    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-color) 6%, var(--background-color));
    border-radius: 8px;
    text-align: center;
}

header .title h1 {
    margin-block-end: 0;
}

header nav p {
    margin-block-start: 0.7rem;
    padding-block-start: 0.5rem;
    border-block-start: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-color) 20%, transparent);
}