Hello Readers!!
While creating a WordPress website, we first need to understand the theme. The theme defines the presentation or look and feel of the website that the user visits. Whether your website can be a blog, a business, or even an e-commerce site, user visits only when it provides a great user experience. So, In this blog let’s find out what is WordPress theme and how to install and customize it according to our needs.
What is a WordPress Theme?
A WordPress theme is a complete package of templates and stylesheets for a better visual appearance of your website. It controls everything like colors and typography from the layout of pages and posts, like painting the entire house.
WordPress themes contain variety of features for user experience, such as:
- Header styles
- Footer configurations
- Sidebar layouts
- Navigation menus
- Widgets and plugin compatibility
Themes are designed to be easily edited by users for their website’s appearance to match their brand or personal preferences.
Types of WordPress Themes
There are two main types of WordPress themes: Free and Premium.
Free Themes:
WordPress offers multiple free themes on its official theme website (https://wordpress.com/themes). For beginners and small websites, this could be a perfect theme with essential limited features and allow you to customize the basic elements of your website.
Pros: Free, easy to install, and beginner-friendly.
Cons: Limited features and customization options, Less support and updates.
Premium Themes
Premium themes are paid themes which has more advanced features, premium customer support, and regular updates. That includes additional customization options, more demo content, and enhanced functionality.
Pros: High-quality design & Layouts with better functionality, Advanced customization features, Regular updates and customer support
Cons: Paid and May be overwhelming for beginners.
How to Install a WordPress Theme
WordPress theme installation process is the easy one. Here's step by step procedure to install a theme from the WordPress repository:
- Login to your WordPress dashboard and go to the "Appearance" section in the sidebar and click on “Themes.”
- Click “Add New.” For the shown WordPress theme repository, you can search based on the category or use the search bar to find a theme that suits your brand.
- Check with the Preview for the website as to how it looks and Click install.
- Once installed, Click the “Activate” Button to make it live.
For premium themes, go to theme websites like Envanto, Themeforest, etc, and pick the theme that you like. Download it and upload the theme file manually in the “Add New” section by choosing “Upload Theme” in your WordPress Dashboard.
Popular WordPress Themes
1. Astra
A lightweight, high-performance and customizable theme that works well with page builders. It’s ideal for blogs, portfolios, and business websites.
2. Divi
A premium theme and page builder combo which is simple. It’s perfect for users who want advanced design control.
3. OceanWP
A lightweight theme that offers responsive design and works well with various page builders. It’s suitable for any type of website.
4. GeneratePress
A fast, lightweight, and multipurpose WordPress theme that focuses on performance. It’s a great option for SEO-conscious users.
5. Twenty Twenty-One
WordPress’s default theme, which is simple, clean, and flexible. It’s a good option for users who start their journey as a beginner.
Conclusion
Picking up and customizing a WordPress theme is one of the most important steps in building your own workspace. There are thousands of themes available, which can be free or premium that match all types of websites. Consider themes that meet your design, performance, and functionality needs. Customize it to match your brand's identity and enhance user experience. By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to start creating a fabulous, user-friendly website that works for your brand.
Happy building!