This document provides guidance on how to choose and install WordPress themes. It explains that themes determine the layout, styling, and formatting of a WordPress site. There are over 1,600 free themes available and also premium themes that offer additional support. When choosing a theme, consider one with active support and customization options without coding. Examples of themes for different types of sites like business, art, and photography are provided. The document demonstrates customizing themes live.

1. WORDPRESS
THEMES
HOW TO CHOOSE AND INSTALL
WORDPRESS THEMES!
Judi Knight
New Tricks

2. HI!

3. I’M JUDI

4. I DESIGN WEBSITES
WordPress Web Design
&
Social Media Marketing
“It’s never too late!”

5. THEMES MAKE IT EASY

6. WHAT IS A THEME?
WP needs a theme in order to work.
WP comes with two default themes:
• Twenty Eleven
• Twenty Twelve

7. WHAT IS A THEME?
Set of files that creates the
Layout
Look and feel
Styling
Format of content
[ Framing ]
of your website.

8. WHAT IS A THEME?
Set of Files that Create a Specific Look with
Headers
Navigation Menus
Sliders
Content - Pages or Posts
Sidebars with Widgets
Footers

9. WHAT IS A THEME?
• Blog Style
• Magazine
• Portfolio
• Business
• Grid
• One Page Scrolling

10. THERE ARE . . .
1,616 Free WordPress Themes
wordpress.org/extend/themes
(includes reviews)
WordPress is Open Source

11. OPEN SOURCE GPL
LICENSE
Open Source:
• Can’t Sell Code
• Can Sell Tutorials / Support
/Upgrades etc.

12. PREMIUM THEMES
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/commercial
You are not buying the theme.
You are buying:
• Service and Support
• Access to Documentation
• Community of Users
• Themes are Kept Up to Date

13. OMG! HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?

14. CHOOSING A THEME
WordPress needs a theme to run.
Comes with two default themes:
• Twenty Eleven
• Twenty Twelve

15. CHOOSING A THEME
You can choose from within
WordPress’s Theme Admin.
Or
http://wordpress.org/extend/theme
s/
Or
http://wordpress.org/extend/theme
s/commercial

16. ACTIVATING A THEME
Live portion of our show!

17. CUSTOMIZING A THEME
Live Portion of our Show
http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/twentytwelve/

18. More on Choosing Themes

19. CHOOSE A THEME WITH:
Active Support & Community

20. CHOOSE A THEME:
with a child theme
or create a child theme
or make changes in a custom CSS
file.
This keeps your customizations from being
overwritten when your theme gets
upgraded.

21. CHOOSE A THEME WITH:
Built-in User Defined Options
without coding
( It is good to get to know a simple theme files structure to learn to
make changed to code yourself. But at first if you don’t know CSS the
theme options to change fonts, colors, type and other things can be
helpful.)

22. CHOOSE A THEME WITH:
Built-in User
Defined Options,
Without Coding
This

23. CHOOSE A THEME WITH:
Changes to
Theme
Made in CSS
Thi
s

24. CHOOSE A THEME:
Canvas: Plain Theme with User Options.
Canvas with magazine style Customized Canvas

25. CHOOSE A THEME WITH:
Design elements you like
a) Corporate looking styling boxy, with gradients
b) Artsy or feminine with rounded corners
c) The sidebar elements with backgrounds or headings
a certain way
d) The posts with backgrounds or boxes or meta data
in a specific style
e) Minimalist, open with cool typography

26. WHERE TO START?
Genesis Going Green Child Themes by StudioPress

27. WHERE TO START?
Customized Genesis Going Green Child Theme
http:cabbagetownchronicles.com

28. CHOOSE A THEME WITH:
The parts you need in all the
right places.
a) front page static or blog-style or combo
b) text logo or header container
c) the navigation above or below header
d) full slider, magazine slider or none
e) the number and configuration of sidebars

29. WHERE TO START?
Genesis Social Eyes Child Themes by StudioPress

30. WHERE TO START?
Customized Genesis Social Eyes Child Themes
http://care4japan.org

31. WHERE TO START?
ELEGANT GRUNGE FREE THEME
Elegant Grunge free theme demo

32. WHERE TO START?
ELEGANT GRUNGE CUSTOMIZED
http://baybottomnews.com

33. WHERE TO START?
ELEGANT GRUNGE BLOG THEME
Elegant Grunge Demo- free theme http://baybottomnews.com

34. WHERE TO START?
BIG FEATURE CUSTOMIZED
http://urbaneats.net

35. WHERE TO START?
BIG FEATURE - GREAT TYPOGRAPHY
Big Feature Theme Demo

36. WHERE TO START?
BIG FEATURE
Big Feature Theme demo http://urbaneats.net

37. WHERE TO START?
ARTIST ?
http://alicefranklinstudio.com
Photocrati Theme

38. WHERE TO START?
PHOTOCRATI THEME

39. WHERE TO START?
ARTIST ?
http://alicefranklinstudion.com
Photocrati Theme

40. WHERE TO START?
BUSINESS?
http://drcrystalbarnwell.com

41. WHERE TO START?
BUSINESS ?
Genesis Serenity Child Theme demo by StudioPress

42. WHERE TO START?
STUDIOPRESS SERENITY THEME
Serenity Child Theme demo

43. WHERE TO START?
ON THE GO THEME - HIGHLY
DESIGNED
http://theindie-pendent.com

44. WHERE TO START?
ON THE GO THEME – HIGHLY DESIGNED
On the Go Theme demo by Elegant Themes

45. WHERE TO START?
DESIGN SKILLS NEEDED
On the Go Theme demo http://theindie-pendent.com

46. CHOOSE A THEME:
3 Plain Themes with Lots of Options
• Canvas by Woo Themes
(has slider options for business)
• Prose Child Theme by Studio Press
( has a nice clean look)

47. CHOOSE A THEME:
Easy Business Themes:
• Agency Child Theme Genesis
• Focus Child Theme Genesis
• Serenity Child Theme Genesis

48. CHOOSE A THEME:
Artists / Photographers/ Architects
• Simplicity by Woo Themes
(a lot of Woo goodies)
• Photocrati
( has a lot of user options for styles)