Picking a WordPress theme can feel like a mix of excitement and overwhelm. With thousands of options out there, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of free and premium designs. How do you know which one is right for your website?
Here’s the good news: choosing a theme doesn’t have to be complicated. With a bit of focus on what you need (and what you don’t), you can find a theme that looks great, works perfectly, and fits your site’s goals. Let’s go through it together.
Start with your website’s purpose
Before you dive into the WordPress theme library, ask yourself: What’s my site for? Knowing your site’s purpose will help you narrow down the right design.
- If you’re starting a blog, look for clean, simple themes that focus on readability.
- For portfolios, you’ll want a theme with gallery layouts that showcase your work.
- Business websites should feel professional and include things like contact forms and service sections.
- Planning an online store? Go for a theme that works with WooCommerce.
The clearer you are about what your site needs, the easier it’ll be to spot the right theme.
Make sure it’s mobile-friendly
Most people will visit your site from their phone or tablet, so your theme needs to look great on every screen size. This is called “responsive design,” and it’s non-negotiable.
When you find a theme you like, check the demo on both your computer and your phone. Does everything adjust properly? Are the text and buttons easy to read and use?
A responsive theme will often say so in the description, but it’s always worth double-checking.
Keep it simple
It’s tempting to pick a theme packed with flashy features—sliders, animations, widgets everywhere—but more isn’t always better. These extras can slow down your site and distract visitors.
Start with a theme that’s simple and functional. It should highlight your content, not compete with it. If you need extra features later, you can always add them with plugins.
Check for customisation options
You want a theme that you can tweak to match your style. Look for ones that let you change colours, fonts, and layouts easily. Many themes work seamlessly with the WordPress Customiser, which allows you to make edits and preview them in real-time.
If you’re willing to go a step further, themes that work with page builders like Elementor or Divi give you even more control over your site’s design.
Make sure it’s plugin-friendly
Plugins are what take your WordPress site to the next level, so your theme should play nicely with the plugins you need.
At the very least, it should work with popular plugins like:
- Yoast SEO for search engine optimisation
- WooCommerce for eCommerce sites
- WPForms for adding contact forms
- Elementor for drag-and-drop page building
Most themes will list plugin compatibility in their description. If there’s a plugin you absolutely need, double-check before committing.
Read the reviews
Before you hit that download or purchase button, take a quick look at the reviews. Other users can tell you a lot about a theme’s quality, like whether it’s easy to use, well-maintained, and supported by the developer.
For free themes, you can find reviews in the WordPress theme directory. For premium themes, check places like ThemeForest or the theme developer’s website. Pay attention to mentions of speed, bugs, or support—those can be dealbreakers.
Check for updates and support
A good theme will be updated regularly to keep up with WordPress changes and security fixes. Check when the theme was last updated—it should be recent. If you’re new to WordPress, consider choosing a premium theme that offers reliable customer support in case you need help.
Test the theme demo
Most themes come with a live demo that lets you see how it works in action. Spend a few minutes clicking around to see if it fits your vision.
Ask yourself:
- Does it feel right for my site?
- Is it easy to navigate?
- Does it have the features I need?
If you’re still unsure, you can always test the theme on a staging site or in a local WordPress setup before making a final decision.
