How to choose and install a WordPress theme

A WordPress theme controls how your website looks. It sets the colours, fonts, layout, and overall feel of your site. Choosing the right theme is one of the first decisions you will make when building a new website.

If you used the Web60 Site Builder, your theme is already set up and ready to go. This guide is for anyone starting with a blank WordPress installation who wants to pick and install a theme themselves.

What does a theme actually do?

Think of a theme as the outfit your website wears. Your content (text, images, pages) stays the same no matter which theme you use, but the theme decides how that content is presented to visitors. A good theme makes your site look professional, load quickly, and work well on phones and tablets.

How to browse themes

1. Open your WordPress editor by clicking WP Admin in your Web60 dashboard
2. In the left-hand menu, go to Appearance then Themes
3. Click Add New Theme at the top of the page
4. You will see a library of free themes you can browse

You can use the Feature Filter to narrow your search. For example, you can filter by layout type (one column, two columns), features (custom logo, featured images), or subject (blog, e-commerce, portfolio).

What to look for in a good theme

Not all themes are created equal. Here are a few things to check before you install one:

• Responsive design. The theme should look good on desktops, tablets, and phones. Most modern themes are responsive, but check the preview on different screen sizes.
• Good reviews. Look for themes with a high star rating and plenty of positive reviews.
• Recently updated. A theme that has not been updated in over a year may have compatibility or security issues. Check the "Last updated" date.
• Simple and clean. Especially for a business website, a clean design is usually better than something overly flashy. You want visitors to focus on your content.
• Speed. Some themes are bloated with features you will never use, which can slow your site down. Lighter themes tend to perform better.

Free vs premium themes

The WordPress theme library includes thousands of free themes that are perfectly good for most small business websites. Premium (paid) themes are available from third-party websites and typically offer more design options, dedicated support, and regular updates. For most new websites, a free theme is a great starting point.

How to preview a theme before installing

1. Hover over any theme in the library
2. Click Preview (or Live Preview)
3. You will see a preview of how the theme looks with sample content
4. Use this to get a feel for the layout and style before committing

How to install and activate a theme

1. Find a theme you like in the library
2. Click Install
3. Wait a moment for it to download
4. Click Activate to make it your live theme

Your website will immediately update to use the new theme. Visit your site to see how it looks.

Popular themes for small businesses

Here are some themes that work well for Irish small business websites:

• Starter Templates (Astra). Lightweight and fast, with hundreds of pre-built page designs you can import.
• Kadence. Modern and flexible, with a drag-and-drop header and footer builder.
• GeneratePress. Extremely fast and clean, ideal for businesses that want a simple professional look.
• Twenty Twenty-Five. The latest default WordPress theme. A solid choice if you want something simple and reliable.

After installing your theme

Once your theme is active, you will want to:

• Create your essential pages like Home, About, Services, and Contact
• Set up your navigation menu so visitors can find their way around
• Set your homepage so visitors see the right page when they arrive

Need help?

Not sure which theme is right for your business? Visit our support page and we will help you choose.