So, I’ve decided that my current website look, while totally sufficient, needs some updating. That being said, the first order of business is to find Themes worth installing. This may seem like an easy place to start, but I would wager that 99% of WordPress Themes are absolutely dreadful, or based on the superb work of Michael Helleman’s Kubrick theme.
I will use this post to track all the very best themes in one place, so I don’t have to start from scratch each time I want to plan a relaunch.
Themes
Here is an update of the original Kubrick theme, but with more bells a whistles than I feel necessary. Unfortunately this theme is beyond my understanding to hack, but it is a great place to find out what is possible with a brain the size of a planet. Includes an aside feature.
Fauna
This is a lovely theme and the first I have found which might destabilize the era of Kubrick. It is clean, sensible and very easy to modify. It includes an asides, noteworthy, sidebar categories, supports widgets, and has a preference pane.
Hemingway
Clean and very clear, although it makes the front page show only 2 entries. It is far better for the occasional blogger and not an everyday writer, but handsome none the less.
Emire
A very smart business like theme which has a very serviceable template structure. Although unrelated it has similarities to kottke.org look without being demonstrative.
This one of my new favorites in terms of sensible themes with great look and feel. It makes me smile just looking at it. It’s fun, carefree, and has a totally different feel than most themes. Includes an aside feature.
“Is a theme for themers. It has the ability to be easily skinned, so beginners will feel comfortable styling it since they only need to know CSS.” I have to say that this theme is a great framework to begin creating themes. It’s got “semantic classes” which allows for very sophisticated Interface and interactive design.
This theme looks promising, although I am not a fan of the dashed style for the links. Also the site lacks good clear screenshots of the theme, but the framework looks good and this might become a contender in the future.
Comments
4 responses to “The Best WordPress Themes (An ongoing list)”
Go with Hemingway. Maybe just lighten the colors more like now. The layout there is amazing. I love it. Keep up the good work.
Hey Benny! You guides are so funny! Your rounded thing reminds me of riding my mustang bike circa 1968 on a summer morning with all the flower symbolism of the era and the innocence thereof. I am happy you would even consider such a mushy thenthitive theme… Dont pay me no mind please I am sober and I guess that makes me edgy at 2 in the morning. Nah man whatever thou chooseth will be fine with your faithful. Keep posting more stuff and have a well-rounded hippy day and remember one day you will come around to your daddy's tastes in music and enjoy Steely Dan. Like me. Muzak made a cover of most their stuff so your granny can shop and enjoy them too! I'm tired so, G'night Westside Benny!
I found this: http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/06/how_much_shou… the other day. I don't know how I feel about it. It might generate some ideas, but paying that much for a theme is well, I would feel like I was married to it for life. I think I'm bored with all the themes I've seen, including my hack of Kubrick, so it doesn't really matter. Good luck!
Ben, thank you for choosing my theme as your "new favourite", it's a pleasure to read such a good review.
Ghyslain.