If you have decided to build your website using WordPress, you will need to select a theme. Themes control the look and layout of WordPress sites and there are thousands of them available for you to choose from. Most of them are free, but there are also premium themes out there that you have to pay for. If you have a large budget you can also pay a professional designer to create a custom theme for you. Now, let’s take a look at everything you need to consider when choosing a theme.

The Theme’s Appearance

First you need to consider if the theme´s look matches your site’s niche. The fonts, colors and overall design should be appropriate for the type of site you are building. The theme should also look attractive, have a well-designed layout and clear navigation.

Is It Responsive?

Nowadays a lot of people surf the internet using devices like smartphones and tablets. However, most regular websites and blogs are not optimized for mobile devices, which results in a less than ideal surfing experience. This is where responsive themes come in. They will automatically customize the look of your website depending on the device it is viewed on. This is why choosing a responsive theme is very important.

Is It Easy To Customize?

Many WordPress themes enable you to easily customize their look and layout. If you want to have a lot of control over your site’s appearance, you should look at the kind of customization options that come with the theme you are considering.

Is It Free or Premium?

Premium themes are themes that are sold instead of given away for free. They usually have a lot of extra features that are not available with most standard themes. If you can afford to spend some money, buying a premium theme can be worth it, especially if you are want to heavily customize your site.

What Widgets Are Included?

Some themes come with widgets, which are add-ons that make it easy for you to add content and features to your WordPress sidebar and other areas. These can be anything from image galleries, to search boxes to newsletter forms. They can be great for quickly adding lots of additional features to your site.

Is It Compatible With All Browsers?

You need to make sure that your theme will display properly in all browsers, including older versions. If you choose a theme that is only compatible with a limited number of browsers a significant portion of your audience will not be able to access your site.