One of the hardest things in building a WordPress site is picking a theme!  You can spend hours trolling the internet to find the perfect theme.

Although many free WordPress themes are available from WordPress.org’s Theme Directory, I recommend going with a premium (paid) theme from a reputable WordPress theme company.

Why? …..Well, here are some things you should consider before jumping at any free themes:

  • Not many free theme designers provide technical support or active user forums.
  • As WordPress improves, the themes need to stay compatible with it so that you can take advantage of the latest tools and technology that WordPress offers. However, free themes are not maintained as well as premium themes. (for obvious reasons… they are not getting paid)
  • And using a theme that’s not up to the latest technology that changes daily means it might be vulnerable to hackers and malware.

Considering the above, here are five theme companies  I recommend to my Website Creation Workshop students:

 Elegant Themes WordPress Themes*

Known for its simplicity, functionality, and beautiful design, Elegant Themes provides many easy-to-use yet gorgeous-looking themes. You can find them here: http://www.thebestthemes.com/elegantthemes*


StudioPress*

Using the Genesis framework, StudioPress themes are very versatile, and hence, many professional web designers use their themes as the base to create custom themes. (This blog site is running on a StudioPress theme called “Prose.”)
Find them here: http://www.thebestthemes.com/studiopress/*


iThemes*

iThemes themes run on a framework called Builder, which lets you customize the layout by “drag and drop” each design block. A great way to customize it to exactly how you want it! You can find them here: http://www.thebestthemes.com/ithemes*


WooCommerce

WooCommerce is best known for its WooCommerce plugin for creating e-commerce WordPress sites.  They have an open and clean look and an easy way to browse for their themes. You can find them here: http://www.thebestthemes.com/woothemes


Ink Themes*

Finally, there is InkThemes.  They are a company that gives you a great-looking theme without a lot of customization needed.  This company is great for the newbie who does not know WordPress well, as you can get your site looking great in no time at all! You can find them here: http://www.thebestthemes.com/inkthemes*

If you want to see a quick video on picking a theme, check out this article on the 6 things to ask when picking a WordPress theme.

Do you have any favorite WordPress themes? Please share in the comment box below!

 

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. And if clicked and purchased, we may receive a small compensation for the recommendation.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email