How can I use one of the Templates in a space I've already created?

[E.R. Soares]

Hello! 

I'm very new to Confluence and I went ahead and created a space, leaving the Overview page blank without using any template, as I was unclear as to which one and how best to use the templates. I also figured I would be able to go back and add a template to the Overview page later when I got more comfortable with the platform, and by then any evolutions of the space would also let me have a better idea of what the Overview page should contain and look like.  I went ahead and spent time on the pages populating the space, and by time I mean a lot of time and effort. I do not want to lose those pages. 

So, now I want to create the Overview page for the space, and I want to utilize one of the premade templates. It seems like you can only select a template at inception and not insert one later on, is that true? 

To be clear:  Is it the case that templates can only be selected and used on an Overview or any subsequent pages at the beginning of the space/page making process, and cannot be added after the fact. The only way to include a template for a space/page would be to start all over and choosing a template from the get go. Yes or no? 

I cannot find any clear indication either way from googling this question and forums, and its confounded me to no end. I feel like I must be missing something. 

Thank you so much in advanced, I appreciate the time taken to answering my longwinded question. 

Emily

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Correct, templates are used as a starting point. 

You create a page with one and that's it, the template does nothing else.   If you change a template, new pages you create with it will have the new shape, but it can't affect old ones, it has no link to them and no way to know how to apply the change.

Templates really are what they are named after - a pattern used to get something started, not change its shape later.