There are two primary approaches to using website templates for web design: using a website builder with pre-made templates or downloading standalone templates (often HTML/CSS) that you can customize and host yourself. The method you choose depends on your technical skill and the level of control you want over your site.

Method 1: Using a Website Builder (Recommended for Beginners)
Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy offer a vast library of professionally designed templates. This is the simplest way to get a website up and running quickly without any coding knowledge.

Choose a Website Builder: Select a platform that aligns with your needs. Consider factors like e-commerce features, blogging tools, and customer support.

Browse and Select a Template: Go to the builder's template library. You can usually filter by industry (e.g., business, portfolio, restaurant) or style (e.g., modern, minimalist, playful). Most builders offer a "preview" function to see how a template looks and feels.

Start Editing: Once you choose a template, it becomes the foundation of your website. You can then use the builder's drag-and-drop editor to:

Replace placeholder text with your own content.

Upload your own images and videos.

Change colors, fonts, and layouts.

Add or remove pages and sections.

Publish Your Site: When you are happy with the design, you can connect your domain name and publish your website with a few clicks.

Pros:

No coding required: The visual editor makes it easy for anyone to create a professional-looking site.

All-in-one solution: Hosting, security, and a domain name are often included in your subscription.

Fast and efficient: You can launch a website in a matter of hours or days.

Cons:

Limited customization: You are confined to the builder's tools and a limited number of templates.

Vendor lock-in: It can be difficult to move your website to a different host if you decide to leave the platform.

Method 2: Downloading Standalone Templates (For Developers & Designers)
This method gives you full control over your website's code and hosting. These templates are typically provided as a set of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. You'll need to know some coding to customize them.

Find a Template Website: There are many websites that offer free and paid templates.

Free Options: Sites like HTML5 UP, Themezy, and TemplateMo offer a wide selection of free, responsive templates.

Paid Options: Marketplaces like ThemeForest and platforms like Webflow and BootstrapMade have extensive collections of premium templates, which often come with more features and better support.

Download the Template: Browse the templates, and when you find one you like, download the zip file.

Unzip the Files: Extract the contents of the zip file to a folder on your computer. You'll find a collection of files and folders, including index.html (the homepage), CSS files (for styling), and a folder for images.

Customize the Code:

Open the index.html file and the CSS files in a code editor (e.g., VS Code, Sublime Text).

Edit the HTML to change the text and structure.

Modify the CSS to change the colors, fonts, and layout.

Replace the placeholder images with your own.

Host Your Website: Once you've finished customizing the template, you'll need to upload the entire folder of files to a web hosting provider using an FTP client (like FileZilla). This will make your website live on the internet.

Pros:

Full customization: You have complete control over every line of code.

Flexibility: You can host your website anywhere you want.

No recurring fees for the template: Once you buy or download it, it's yours to use.

Cons:

Requires coding skills: You need to be comfortable with HTML, CSS, and sometimes JavaScript.

You're responsible for everything: You have to manage your own hosting, security, and maintenance.

Key Takeaway
For a quick, easy, and all-inclusive solution, a website builder is the best choice. If you are a designer or developer who wants complete control and customization, downloading a standalone template is the way to go.