Best ways to learn openings?

I study game openings alot, but whenever I play I find it hard to use them. I always seem to find that my planned opening quickly changes due to other players moves. I think this could be because I try to complexed ideas. Does anyone have any good suggestions for ways to learn? Also I'm new to chess.com and welcome anyone who wants to be friends, just friend request me.

I rather not use an opening. I find the opening theory for various openings confusing. I play for control of the center. I have studied and mastered several difficult endgames instead. For both black and white i respond with the center pawns or the c pawn usually.

my end game is okay. I also try to gain control of the middle. My problem is I sometimes end up finding myself defending more than i want to. How would you best suggest to bring bishops and knights into game to pose an attacking threat?

i would recommend bringing your knights out first then bishops. It is good to defend more than you should. If you can attack the same piece of your opponent's several times then you will usually win that piece and probably the game too.

I would say your primary focus should be on knowing the basic opening principals: center control, development, king safety, etc. rather then route memorization of specific lines.  Just have an idea of basic ideas to guide your openings, look out for blunders, and focus more on your middle and endgames.

any suggestions to learn about development, king saftey, etc? please don't state the obvious- playing.

Watch games played by strong masters and grandmasters.  Take note of their development and king saftey.

Try reading some books. I've just started reading "how to reassess your chess - 3rd edition" by Jeremy Silman. I'm only about 4 chapters in and I am finding it is helping me to understand chess better. I'm sure there are loads of other books out there too. Also chess.com has a lot of good learning tools: video lessons, tactics trainer,etc. Try making use of these.