Where to find free WordPress themes
If you'd like to download free WordPress themes, start here. I link to thousands of them, with an emphasis on magazine-style themes such as Branford Magazine.
You don't need to know HTML to use and maintain a great looking website. Follow our advice: Start with a good, flexible, free WordPress theme.
You don't need to know HTML to use and maintain a great looking website. Follow our advice: Start with a good, flexible, free WordPress theme.
Sites that Soar: News about magazine-style themes
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWhere to find free WordPress themes
Links to some of the largest sites
- WordPress.net Theme Viewer
- The motherlode, tested and official.
- Wordpress Themes
- Wordpress Themes - large collection.
- Download free WordPress themes - Free WP Themes
- 99+ free WordPress themes.
- BGThemes.com: Free Wordpress Themes - Blog Themes
- Directory and collection of free blog themes for Wordpress and other blogging platforms.
- Free WordPress templates, plugins
- Even more free WordPress themes, including some that are a little different.
- Free Wordpress Themes - Kate’s Theme Viewer
- Download free themes for your Wordpress blog or upload your own themes!
- Free Professional themes for Wordpress 2.5, 2.3 and 2.1
- FREE Wordpress themes at SiteGround.com. New themes every week!
- Search Engine Optimized Free Wordpress Theme | TheWeblogZone
- Search Engine Optimized Free Wordpress Themes designed by Chris Pearson guaranteed to improve your blog's traffic from search engine and rank on search engine result page.
Favorite free magazine-style themes
- BranfordMagazine download
- Download BranfordMagazine. The theme is ready for localization and contains a language pack.
- Mimbo
- Darren Hoyt, one of the original developers of magazine-style themes, provides Mimbo, a versatile WordPress theme.
- Wynton Magazine download
- Michael Oeser's second WordPress magazine style theme, WyntonMagazine.
- (More) WordPress Magazine Themes - Theme Playground
- Reviews of even more WordPress magazine-style themes.
- Best Free Magazine Style WordPress Themes
- Another great review site, with screenshots.
- Top 10 Wordpress Magazine Style Themes
- And another review site, featuring just the top 10 magazine-style themes.
- Sites that Soar!
- Help for the technically challenged: An ebook with step-by-step instructions and lots of screenshots for installing and tweaking magazine-style themes.
How to install free WordPress themes
Most WordPress themes install easily:1. Download the theme from the host website.
2. Unzip the theme using WinZip or any free unzipping program. (Here's one resource.)
3. Use FTP to upload the theme folder into your website's WordPress folder, wp-content > themes.
(Most computers and browsers include a free FTP program. For example, the Firefox browser has a free plugin called Fire FTP. Other people like free FTP programs such as CoffeeCup Free FTP.)
4. Go to your WordPress dashboard, and select Design > Themes.
(If you're using an older WordPress version such as 2.3.x or earlier, go to Presentation > Themes.)
5. Choose the theme that you'd like to use. Click on its title, and it should move to the top location in your Themes panel.
That's all there is to it!
Most themes are ready to use, as is, but...
6. Optional: Tweak the theme as necessary. Generally, this means working with the CSS file/s, and perhaps the PHP file.
Some are easier to tweak than others. Some themes include comments in the code, to indicate what you can change.
Most changes can be figured out with trial-and-error, even if you have little or no HTML experience.
(If you're using a magazine-style theme such as Branford Magazine or Mimbo, you can find step-by-step help and screenshots in the ebook, Sites that Soar!)
Related Squidoo Lenses
If you like WordPress themes, visit these lenses, too!
- Branford Magazine
- More information and helpful links for the popular Branford Magazine WordPress theme.
- Best WordPress Themes
- Great lens with useful links and tips for WordPress enthusiasts.
- AdSense-ready WordPress themes
- If prominent AdSense placement is an important part of your website, these themes are worth considering.
- Free Blog Template
- More than just WordPress, this lens focuses on women and blogging, too.
Helpful WordPress books
WordPress For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Still the classic, and the best place to start if you're overwhelmed by WordPress.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009) 
The IT Girl's Guide to Blogging with Moxie
Flippant guide to blogging, including WordPress tips.
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/11/2009)
WordPress Complete: A comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to set up, customize, and market your blog using WordPress
For the WP enthusiast who just can't get enough tutorials online.
Amazon Price: $33.90 (as of 12/11/2009)
Blogger posts about WordPress Themes
- 100 Excellent Free WordPress Themes - Smashing Magazine
- High-quality WordPress themes always come in handy. Whether you are looking for some design inspiration or professional coding solutions ? in both cases you can learn a lot, you can apply them and you can build customized designs upon ...
- Principle WordPress Theme
- Last month I gave you all a preview our latest free wordpress theme. I am pleased to announce that the ...
- Enhance Your WordPress Themes With Shortcodes | Devlounge
- Shortcodes have become a regularly used feature by designers and can help to reduce the number of plugins used. In this post we look at some shortcodes you can implement and use to enhance your WordPress themes. ...
- Visoko | New WordPress Themes
- Visoko is a free premium WordPress theme with featured content option. Suitable for any niche. Theme Options at admin panel. Features: Options Page.
Pros & cons of free WordPress themes
Free WordPress themes have clear pros and cons.They're free. That's a big plus.
They're easy to install (see my summary, above).
However, most aren't supported -- after all, they're free -- so if you're not sure how to customize them, you could meet considerable frustration trying to get your site to look "just so."
On the other hand, there are books to help you, such as Sites that Soar, and WordPress for Dummies, etc., so you're not without resources.
Or, you could hire someone through eLance, etc., to tweak your free WordPress theme for you.
Or, you could ask a friend.
The point is, you can start with a free WordPress theme. Even better, it can look just as good as (or better than) a price-y custom theme.
The best resource for free WP themes is the official WordPress site. They're the first resource in my links list, below.
Most themes are safe to use, but -- if you're worried -- use a site such as the WordPress official site, where themes are double-checked for security.
by ElizabethBennet
WordPress enthusiast with far too many websites... most using WordPress with the free Branford Magazine theme.
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