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How to choose a WordPress theme (what to look for)

By Toni Q ·

You have just installed WordPress. The first thing you probably want to do is change how it looks. That means choosing a theme.

A theme controls the appearance of your entire website. It decides your colors, fonts, layout, and where things appear on the page. Changing your theme is like renovating the entire look of your house. Your content stays the same, but the presentation changes completely.

With thousands of themes available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This guide will help you understand what to look for so you can make a confident decision.

What does a WordPress theme do?

A WordPress theme is a collection of files that control how your website looks. When you activate a new theme, your posts, pages, and media stay exactly where they are. Only the design changes.

Themes can include:

Some themes are simple and give you a clean starting point. Others come packed with features and customization options. The right choice depends on what you need.

Traditional themes versus block themes

Before you start browsing, it helps to understand the two main types of themes available today.

Traditional and hybrid themes

Traditional themes like Astra, Blocksy, and OceanWP have been around for years. They use the block editor for writing posts and pages, but they manage their own settings through a separate options panel.

With these themes, you often find settings for:

These themes are flexible and usually well-documented. They work with most page builder plugins and give you a lot of control, but the settings live outside the block editor.

Full Site Editing (FSE) block themes

Block themes are newer and represent where WordPress is heading. With a block theme, the entire website is edited through the block editor. There is no separate theme options panel. You edit your header, footer, templates, and pages all in the same interface.

Greenshift is an example of a block theme. WordPress also ships default block themes each year, like Twenty Twenty-Five.

Block themes tend to be:

The trade-off is that block themes sometimes have fewer pre-built options. You are building more from scratch, which can be empowering or intimidating depending on your comfort level.

Which type should you choose?

If you want maximum control and do not mind a steeper learning curve, a block theme gives you the most flexibility. If you want familiar settings panels, a traditional or hybrid theme might feel more comfortable.

Neither choice is wrong. Both types can produce beautiful websites. I personally use block themes and this is what I will cover on my tutorials.

What to consider when choosing a theme

1. Speed and performance

A fast website matters for two reasons. First, visitors leave slow sites. Second, search engines like Google factor page speed into their rankings.

Some themes are lightweight and load quickly. Others come loaded with features that slow things down. If speed is important to you, look for themes that advertise performance or minimal code.

Block themes tend to be faster because they are built on newer WordPress architecture. Traditional themes vary widely. A heavily featured theme from a few years ago might be bloated compared to a simpler modern theme.

You can test your site speed with free tools like PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. Before committing to a theme, install it and run a quick test.

2. Mobile responsiveness

Almost everyone browses the web on their phone. Your theme must look good on mobile devices.

All reputable themes today are responsive, meaning they adjust their layout for smaller screens. But the quality of that adjustment varies. Some themes look polished on mobile. Others feel like a shrunken desktop.

When you preview a theme, always check how it looks on your phone. Resize your browser window or use your browser developer tools to simulate mobile viewing.

3. Customization options

Think about how much control you want. Some themes offer hundreds of options. Others keep things minimal.

If you want to tweak every detail, look for themes with extensive customizers or block themes. Pay attention to whether the customization feels intuitive or overwhelming.

If you prefer simplicity, choose a theme that looks good out of the box. You can still make changes, but you will not need to spend hours adjusting every spacing value.

4. Browser the theme you want

Wait, browser the theme you want. Typo intended. It highlights an important point: choose a theme that matches the style you want. Do not choose a theme because it has good reviews if you do not like how it looks.

Preview the theme on a real device. Most themes come with a preview option in the dashboard under Appearance, Themes. Use it. Click around. See if the default layouts feel right.

If you have to fight a theme to make it look the way you want, it is probably not the right theme for you.

5. Theme reviews and support

Check the reviews on the WordPress theme directory. Look for recurring complaints. A few negative reviews are normal for any popular theme. Consistent complaints about bugs, speed, or support are red flags.

Check when the theme was last updated. Themes that have not been updated in over a year may have compatibility issues with the latest WordPress version.

See what kind of support is available. Free themes usually rely on community forums. Premium themes often include direct support from the developer. If you think you might need help, factor this in. Many free themes also have Premium versions.

6. WordPress version compatibility

Make sure the theme supports the version of WordPress you are running. The WordPress theme directory shows the minimum required version on each theme page.

WordPress 6.9 is the current version as of this writing. Most modern themes support it. If you are on an older version of WordPress for some reason, check compatibility before installing a new theme.

7. WooCommerce compatibility

If you plan to sell products or services, check if the theme works well with WooCommerce.

Some themes are built specifically for e-commerce. Others handle it as an afterthought. Look for themes that mention WooCommerce in their description or feature list.

Blocksy and Grenshift, for example, both advertise advanced WooCommerce support. If e-commerce is in your plans, this kind of detail matters.

8. Translation and RTL support

If you plan to use WordPress in a language other than English, or if you need right-to-left language support for languages like Arabic or Hebrew, check that the theme supports it.

Most popular themes are translation-ready and include RTL stylesheets. You can find this in the theme features list on the WordPress theme directory.

9. Accessibility

Accessibility means your website can be used by people with disabilities, including those who use screen readers or keyboard navigation.

Look for themes tagged “Accessibility ready” in the WordPress theme directory. This does not guarantee perfect accessibility, but it is a good sign the developer considered these issues.

10. The cost

Most themes on the WordPress directory are free. Some developers also sell premium versions with extra features. Before paying for a premium theme, make sure the free version does what you need.

Premium themes can be worth it if they include features you would otherwise need to recreate yourself. Just do your research first. A expensive theme is not automatically better than a free one. I personally use Greenshift’s free theme and it works very well for all kinds of websites, from brochure sites to complex e-commerce or membership sites. It also has a companion plugin which I recommend to install alongside the theme. The plugin has both free and premium versions. First check the free version, chances are it does what you need and then more.

How to install and preview a theme safely

Before activating a theme permanently, preview it using the Live Preview option in your dashboard under Appearance, Themes.

Live Preview lets you see how your content looks with the new theme without visitors seeing it. You can experiment safely and activate the theme only when you are ready.

When you activate a new theme:

  1. Your content stays intact
  2. Your widgets may move or disappear
  3. Your customizer settings may reset

Keep a backup of your site before switching themes. Most hosting providers offer automatic backups, or you can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus.

Here are some well-regarded themes available today to give you a starting point:

Astra — A lightweight, customizable theme with over a million active installations. Works well for blogs, business sites, and e-commerce. Has both free and premium versions.

Blocksy — A modern hybrid theme with extensive customization options and strong WooCommerce support. Fast and developer-friendly. Free with optional paid upgrades.

Greenshift — A Full Site Editing block theme focused on performance. Works best paired with the Greenshift plugin for animations and page building. Good choice if you want a modern block-based workflow.

Kadence — A block theme with some hybrid features. Lightweight, fast, and popular among users who want block editor power without giving up familiar controls.

OceanWP — A feature-rich theme with deep WooCommerce integration. Has been popular for years and has a large community.

Hello Elementor — A minimal theme designed specifically for use with the Elementor page builder. If you plan to use Elementor, this is a natural pairing.

Twenty Twenty-Five — The default WordPress theme for 2025. A block theme designed to work well out of the box, especially for bloggers and writers.

Red flags to avoid

Not every theme is worth your attention. Watch out for:

Stick to themes from established developers with a track record. The WordPress theme directory filters out most bad actors, but it still pays to do your homework.

Once you have chosen your theme

After activating your theme, take time to explore its settings. Most themes have:

Read the theme documentation if one is available. Good themes come with setup guides or video tutorials.

Do not rush the setup. A well-configured theme with good content looks better than a poorly configured one with great content.

Wrapping up

Choosing a WordPress theme is a personal decision. There is no single right answer. The best theme is the one that matches your style, meets your technical needs, and does not slow you down.

Before committing, do your research. Preview the theme on your actual content. Test it on mobile. Check the reviews. Make sure it is compatible with the features you need.

And remember, you can always change your theme later. Your content stays safe. It is a reversible decision, so do not feel paralyzed by the choice.

Still have questions? Send me an email and let’s discuss.

Get in Touch

send an email to tquinonero.web@gmail.com