The right WordPress theme determines how your website looks and works. In this article we help you choose and install the perfect theme.

What is a WordPress theme?

A theme determines the look of your WordPress website: colors, fonts, layout and often extra functionality too. WordPress comes with a default theme, but there are thousands of alternatives available.

Free vs premium themes

Free themes can be found in the official WordPress repository. Advantages:

  • No costs
  • Reviewed by WordPress
  • Basic support through forums

Premium themes are bought from marketplaces such as ThemeForest or directly from developers. Advantages:

  • More features and customization options
  • Professional support
  • Regular updates
  • More unique designs

For most business websites, a premium theme is worth the investment.

What should you look for?

Speed: A slow theme slows down your entire website. Check reviews and test demos. Also read our tips on making WordPress faster.

Responsive design: Your theme must work well on desktop, tablet and mobile.

Updates: Choose themes that are updated regularly for security and compatibility.

Compatibility: Check whether the theme works with popular plugins you want to use.

Support: When problems come up, you want somewhere to turn.

Reviews: Read what other users experience.

Installing a theme through WordPress

  1. Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard
  2. Click Add New
  3. Search by name or filter by features
  4. Click Install on the theme you want
  5. After installation, click Activate

Installing a premium theme

  1. Download the theme as a .zip file
  2. Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New
  3. Click Upload Theme
  4. Select the .zip file
  5. Click Install Now
  6. Activate the theme

Using a child theme

Want to make changes to your theme? Then use a child theme. This prevents your changes from being lost during updates.

General: Astra, GeneratePress, Kadence Page builders: Divi, Avada, Enfold Online stores: Flavflavor, flavor flavor (for WooCommerce) Blogs: flavor flavor flavor flavor

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch themes later? Yes, but some settings and layouts may be lost. Test on a staging environment first.

How much does a premium theme cost? Usually between 40 and 80 euros for a one-time license.

Are free themes safe? Themes from the official WordPress repository are reviewed. Never download themes from untrusted sources.

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