What is the easiest way to style/design the search box in SP2010?

Question

I think we have three options, correct me if wrong:

1. Implement a feature
2. Override the search classes in my style.css (.s4-search table, .s4-search input, .s4-search .ms-searchimage)
3. Implement a new custom search box control.

What's the easiest among these and appoint me to others if there's any?

Answer 1

You should make it a feature, whatever way you choose. Then you could inject a delegate control with a tag unless you prefer creating a master page with a custom CSS.

Answer 2

Check this link out - I just wrote up how I normally go about styling the search box in sp2010 (MOSS) Restyle a Sharepoint 2010 Search Box - Labs.steveottenad.com - This works for an out of the box install without having to do any masterpage editing. Editing the CSS is miles easier than trying to implement a custom feature or altering the master page to include a new control. However, if you do want to go that route, check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc806230.aspx (it says 2007, but i can verify it works on sp2010).

Answer 3

Another writeup, this time using the advanced search control. Style the OOB SharePoint advanced search control - Hope this helps as well.