In general, a theme is a collection of files that determine how our website will look. It is sometimes confused with a template. While a template refers to the layout of a single page (for example, the homepage template), a theme is responsible for the entire website.

Choosing a WordPress theme and its settings

You can select a theme in the Dashboard under the Appearance > Themes section. You can choose one of the default themes, browse the free repository, or upload your own theme (e.g., one purchased from Envato Market).

Additionally, by clicking the Customize button on the active theme, we can access the customization options. In the theme settings, we can define our own:

• colors
• fonts
• layouts, and many other features

The degree of theme customization depends on the type of theme. Some themes allow non-technical users to make extensive changes, while others have a strictly defined scope. When choosing a theme, it’s worth taking a close look at its demo version, reading reviews from others, and familiarizing yourself with the documentation. This should provide answers to the most important questions regarding the features and customization options offered by that particular theme, as well as any additional costs involved. Sometimes, a theme may require the installation of additional plugins that expand its capabilities and are essential for the proper display of options.

Paid or Free – which is better?

This is a question that almost every WordPress user asks themselves. The official WordPress theme repository has thousands of free themes available. Paid themes generally offer broader customization options, but this is not always the case. Therefore, when choosing a theme for yourself, it’s important to pay attention to:

• Appearance – Does it match your preferences? Can it be easily modified?
• Functionality – Does it have the necessary features? Is it tailored to what you want to achieve (for example, if you’re planning a WooCommerce store, it’s worth considering themes specifically designed for e-commerce)?
• User-Friendliness – Can you navigate and manage it without any problems?
• Compatibility with Other Plugins – If you have essential plugins, such as WPML for multilingual versions of the site, it’s advisable to check the documentation or ask support about the theme’s compatibility with those plugins.
• Updates – Is the theme regularly updated and compatible with the latest version of WordPress?

Be smart! Good practices

By default, WordPress includes several themes – Twenty Twenty-Four, Twenty Twenty-Three, and Twenty Twenty-Two. However, we don’t have to use them. Once we choose a theme that we want to use, we should uninstall the unnecessary ones. We can always add them back if needed. If we have multiple themes installed in our WordPress, we should ensure that all of them, including the unused ones, are kept up to date. This helps maintain proper security for our site.