Can You Suggest a Theme?

by carolm
26 replies
I know there are lots of theme threads like this, but I'm looking for a theme with specific options, and I'm confused by choice, and none of the ones I look at seem to give me exactly what I need.

I need a theme I can use with very little knowledge of HTML and CSS (check boxes with options I can handle). And no knowledge of ftp or php yet.

I am looking for:
  1. A clean, classy, white-ish theme (with options to add color to background margins etc)
  2. variable width content areas and sidebars
  3. options for right or left sidebars,
  4. options for divided sidebars
  5. lots of flexible widget areas
  6. I will be using Adsense, an SEO plugin, UltimateTinyMCE plus other plugins.
  7. Lots of options I can choose to activate out of the box - because of my lack of HTML and CSS knowledge.

I'm prepared to pay for a Premium Theme if it fits my requirements, but obviously I'd prefer a free one.

I'm considering Thesis, but am worried I won't be able to run it properly because of my lack of skills - I've been blogging for 9 months so I'm not really a beginner, but I'm also not a geek.

My blogs are Content information blogs: one about blogging and one about addiction.

I don't want to have to spend days/weeks trying to work out how to get any new theme up and running.

Any suggestions?
#suggest #theme
  • Profile picture of the author JohnPeters1983
    I like the Price Writer Theme.
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  • Profile picture of the author Arunabh Singh
    Have you looked at WooThemes? They have some excellent themes that suits the eye. Their functionality is top notch and has a strong backend panel to manage various theme options. I think it might be something you are looking for.
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  • Profile picture of the author stevereh
    I agree

    Woo themes has some terrific clean themes

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Your Weaver Pro Theme already has all of the options you asked about and requires no knowledge of HTML or CSS unless you want to go beyond simple options you indicated. Are you wanting to get away from Weaver or maybe you installed it after you started this discussion?

    Another theme that does almost everything that Weaver Pro does, but it is easier to use is flessqueeze.com and the free version is flexibilitytheme.com. Both are popular with IMers, but do not allow for many of the options that Weaver does.

    One theme that I have been working with a lot lately, because you can create your own theme layout with it is planetstarta.com from Warrior: Kezz whom is a professional developer and an extremely nice person.

    Jeffery 100% :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author carolm
      Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

      Your Weaver Pro Theme already has all of the options you asked about and requires no knowledge of HTML or CSS unless you want to go beyond simple options you indicated. Are you wanting to get away from Weaver or maybe you installed it after you started this discussion?

      Another theme that does almost everything that Weaver Pro does, but it is easier to use is flessqueeze.com and the free version is flexibilitytheme.com. Both are popular with IMers, but do not allow for many of the options that Weaver does.

      One theme that I have been working with a lot lately, because you can create your own theme layout with it is planetstarta.com from Warrior: Kezz whom is a professional developer and an extremely nice person.

      Jeffery 100% :-)
      I've got the free Weaver previous version on one site and that is working fine, and I've been very happy with it.

      I recently updated my other site to Weaver free II HTML5, and have subsequently lost all my images - but not the descriptions which are visible as blue text, and the edit buttons are now all blanked out. This is a pain (to put it mildly) and Weaver says it's probably not a Weaver problem.

      Which means I'm kind of stuck on that one site.

      So I'm thinking of trying something new, although I'd much prefer to be able to fix my images and edit buttons instead.
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  • Profile picture of the author tanveerhabib
    Yes WooThemes are best i am using one of their them
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  • Profile picture of the author JeremiahSay
    Hi there,

    I see that a lot of warriors are suggesting woo-theme.. But personally I've not gotten into it.

    I'm suggesting Thesis or Studiopress (genesis).. Thesis is more advance and not so much for beginner imo. Studiopress on the other hand is much easier to use especially the "prose" theme, check this out: Prose Theme by StudioPress (StudioPress stated: "Its point-and-click design controls allow you to effortlessly change almost any aspect of your site without touching a single line of code.")

    It's up to your preference.
    Jeremiah
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  • Profile picture of the author Evocess
    Hi Carol,

    Maybe you can find some good themes in Premium WordPress Themes, Web Templates, Mobile Themes | ThemeForest and Premium WordPress Themes by StudioPress. Premium themes are limited though. If you want can have some custom theme design using Thesis and Genesis framework.

    Evolve for our Success.
    Justin Durano
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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
    I actually have plenty of theme memberships and thesis is a good one. Everything is going to have some learning curve, the best thing they ever came up with though for us is......

    Youtube.

    Search it for any theme you choose and you will master it in no time. Don't just pick a them cause it is point and click, they are not always and usually are not the right theme for you.

    Studiopress is another good membership to have as well. And no I don't get royalties and i have no links for themes. I just think you need to get past the learning curve is all.

    Good luck in Theme hunting.
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    • Profile picture of the author carolm
      Originally Posted by hustlinsmoke View Post

      I actually have plenty of theme memberships and thesis is a good one. Everything is going to have some learning curve, the best thing they ever came up with though for us is......

      Youtube.

      Search it for any theme you choose and you will master it in no time. Don't just pick a them cause it is point and click, they are not always and usually are not the right theme for you.

      Studiopress is another good membership to have as well. And no I don't get royalties and i have no links for themes. I just think you need to get past the learning curve is all.

      Good luck in Theme hunting.
      Thanks Hustlinsmoke, I'll check out Youtube. I've already spent 2 days trying to fix this plus checking out themes.

      If I can't fix it, I have a short list of possibles:

      StudioPress
      • Genesis Theme $60
      • Prose $85 - but it looks like it doesn't have much in the way of options
      • Focus $80 - looks nice except the green text for links and sidebars. Also looks like limited design options.
      Thesis with Social Triggers skin $164 - ouch! Or $197 for same with unlimited upgrades.

      Thesis basic $87 - with one year free upgrades only.


      Optimize press: only $97 - their words not mine. I can't even find my way around their front landing page - but it does have a very large Cart option prominent there...and everywhere.


      I have found this though:
      Thesis Skins Roundup | The Best Places to Find a Great Thesis Skin
      Nice one Dave....yet again. No no.....thank me later, or just send cash.
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      • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
        Well your comparing apples to oranges though.

        Studiopress and thesis and those are themes,

        Optimize press is a membership theme.

        I have all plus a bunch more like profits theme.

        You need to first concentrate on what your doing, if your not going to build membership sites right now go with like genesis and studio, they will do you the best.

        If you want to start a membership site then optimize is the best.

        Edit, now for sleep. Take care and remember if you pick any of the major brands and plan on staying in the im game then they are all good as long as you get past the learning curve, Good luck to you.
        Originally Posted by carolm View Post

        Thanks Hustlinsmoke, I'll check out Youtube. I've already spent 2 days trying to fix this plus checking out themes.

        If I can't fix it, I have a short list of possibles:

        StudioPress
        • Genesis Theme $60
        • Prose $85 - but it looks like it doesn't have much in the way of options
        • Focus $80 - looks nice except the green text for links and sidebars. Also looks like limited design options.
        Thesis with Social Triggers skin $164 - ouch! Or $197 for same with unlimited upgrades.

        Thesis basic $87 - with one year free upgrades only.


        Optimize press: only $97 - their words not mine. I can't even find my way around their front landing page - but it does have a very large Cart option prominent there...and everywhere.


        I have found this though:
        Thesis Skins Roundup | The Best Places to Find a Great Thesis Skin
        Nice one Dave....yet again. No no.....thank me later, or just send cash.
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  • Profile picture of the author umeedngo
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
      Originally Posted by umeedngo View Post

      i like word-press themes

      What is that. I mean I have many themes and never have seen that theme.
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      • Profile picture of the author carolm
        Originally Posted by hustlinsmoke View Post

        What is that. I mean I have many themes and never have seen that theme.
        I think that might be something called spam.
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        • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
          Yeah I thought so, but I am always up for a new theme so just making sure it wasn;t real lol.
          Originally Posted by carolm View Post

          I think that might be something called spam.
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  • Profile picture of the author carolm
    Thanks Hustlinsmoke, I didn't realize Optimize Press was a membership theme - which I don't want. Optimize Press has been recommended to me by a couple of other bloggers (Affiliates of course, but they als use them themselves). But I could never work out why it was so hard to find out much about them from their website.

    I'd already discounted them because of that anyway.
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    • Profile picture of the author garfield29
      If you'd like to consider, try Elegant Themes. They have plenty of themes that you can choose from. And it's pretty simple to learn.
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  • Profile picture of the author Antonio J.
    Thesis is really easy to use and you could customize it to fit your needs.
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  • Profile picture of the author davegarcia939
    I would recommend you to use Thesis. You can easily customize your blog with the help of Thesis Option Panel without any knowledge of coding.
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  • Profile picture of the author carolm
    Isn't Genesis easier to drive than Thesis?

    An example of my lack of skill is that I cannot begin to work out how to create a child theme, even tho everyone always says, "it's really easy, you just.......etc" . And those are the last words I understand in any explanation.
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    • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
      In that case I would go with Genesis and Studiopress, Then you have your parent and child. circleofmarketers.com is a genesis and studiopress theme.
      Originally Posted by carolm View Post

      Isn't Genesis easier to drive than Thesis?

      An example of my lack of skill is that I cannot begin to work out how to create a child theme, even tho everyone always says, "it's really easy, you just.......etc" . And those are the last words I understand in any explanation.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        My personal recommendation is Elegant Themes ($39) for about 80 themes, several would fit the bill of what you described you wanted. That fee is yearly but you don't have to subscribe beyond the initial year if you don't want to.

        Another great choice is Studio Press built on the Genesis platform which is very flexible. There are several "child themes" that would work for you. I am using the Eleven-Forty theme on my blog which has lots of white space and variable widths available.

        Good luck,

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author aprilm
          I use Genesis by Studiopress. They have lots of child themes and a very responsive support forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author Adamw
    Woo theme do one called complexity - which ironically very easy to use and there are loads of tutorial vids on you tube. Thesis is quite hard to customise if you are not too techy. Elegant themes are good as well you pay once and you get about 40 themes.
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  • Profile picture of the author smkmarketing
    I am using wordpress themes, so far I am liking them and they are working for me somewhat.
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  • Profile picture of the author giljimenez
    Carol, I was in the same position! Goodness, i feel your pain! lol.

    I looked for HOURS on the internet for something to fit what I was lookin' for.

    So, I did it myself. Let me know if you need help with that. Just PM me or skype
    me at gil_jimenez1.

    You can see my theme. Otherwise, I hope you find what you're looking for, Carol.

    To your success!
    Gil
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  • Profile picture of the author Michelle Stevens
    I recommend Canvas it costs $79 and it's by WooThemes.

    I seems to have all the elements that you listed
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