Design your way

Many web designers work with WordPress themes to set up all kinds of websites for their clients. However, choosing can be a challenge. No less than 4000 themes are shelved on the marketplace ThemeForest, alone.

Let me make it easier for you. I compiled a set of premium themes to refresh your perspective and get you up-to-date. Some of them are multi-purpose, and some of them aren’t. Yet, they’re all responsive, and based on clean code.

Also, I’ve been very picky when it comes to design quality. You’ll notice that flat design governs most of my dreams, too. So go on, discover 15 useful themes in 2015.

X Theme

The crowned leader has to be X Theme. Looking back, no other premium theme ever got so popular, so fast. In the time space of one year, X Theme has become the primary choice for almost 38K designers. Words of praise came pouring down, especially for the global customer service and exceptionally animated community forum.

But let’s get down to the facts. X Theme caused a lot of commotion with Stacks. Integrity, Renew, Icon, and Ethos are integral designs that make entirely unique websites with a live preview customizer.

Even with the same Stack, there’s no way you’ll get two similar websites. And that’s plain enough to see in the 30+ demos. Themeco said they would update and multiply those demos really soon, and also replace the custom page builder with Visual Composer.

Visual Composer is one of the 15 Extensions that are optimized for high performance with X Theme. Some, like Smooth Scroll, White Label, Video Lock, and Content Dock are custom-made by Themeco.

BeTheme – Responsive Multi-Purpose WordPress Theme

Now, let’s look at another spectacular theme that has loads to offer in terms of flexibility and control. I’m referring to BeTheme from Muffin Group, which was a sought-after theme all through last year, too. The fact that it goes through automatic updates every week makes it a long-standing solution for your WordPress projects, whatever they are.

The last time I checked, BeTheme had 75 demos that were listed for one-click installation. Setting up pages is a breeze with the drag-and-drop Muffin Builder, but you can turn to Visual Composer or shortcodes for that process.

As for plugins, the theme has integration that helps you devise gorgeous forms of all shapes and sizes (via Contact Form 7) and create slides for all sorts of content with Slider Revolution. Also, BeTheme is tested for compatibility with WP Mobile Detect and Spot IM chat plugin.

Qards

Time to announce another major-league player in 2015. Ladies and gents, make way for Qards. A prospective game-changer in the way work gets done this year, Qards from Design Modo stands apart by ingenuity – since it’s not a theme. That’s right, we’re not looking at a theme: we’re looking at a plugin that helps you alter installed themes.

A timeless website is a website that goes through regular and inspired design changes. Those changes can be colossal, or as minor as tweaking to a lighter shade of a certain color. You’ll be the judge of that.

The advantage of using a card system such as Qards is that you are able to perform any sort of redesign, swiftly. No coding, and definitely no need to get another theme.

ROSA – An Exquisite Parallax WordPress Theme

What would you say to a parallax theme that emphasizes images beautifully? I’d say, yes please! If you want to enable OpenTable reservations on a restaurant page, or set up a fabulous online presence with typography animations for a new pub or bakery, Rosa is a great theme to use. And if you want to come up with a photography or portfolio website that spins stories through full-page galleries, Rosa is, again, a top choice.

Brand.ed

Now for a theme to craft amazing portfolios. As you may or may not know, the most important rule to follow when you’re making someone’s portfolio is to be brazen and place your clients’ personal brands front and center with as little artifice as possible.

With Brand.ed you can insert slideshows and tell their story with horizontal parallax. Not only that, but this theme also opens a delightful set of icons.

Divi

The variety of modules from Divi is astounding. It was the very first thing that caught my eye, because we all want to work with themes that don’t constrain our creative freedom – but find new ways for us to express it.

Elegant Themes has recently re-worked Divi, and the 2.0 page builder allows you to create layouts using the no-nonsense foundation of modules, along with their built-in CSS boxes. This theme is great for wedding websites and E-commerce.

Codilight

Our next theme makes a point of keeping up with the latest HTML5 and CSS, because it’s not okay for web designers to stress over the solidity of their theme’s code in 2015.

Fame Themes has also built a light yet comprehensive theme option panel, so Codilight is exceptionally easy to customize. Its word-centric design and native review system are particularly useful when you’re getting ready to launch a technology or product blog or magazine.

Kallyas -Responsive Multi-Purpose WordPress Theme

Honestly, would you use a premium theme whose customer service makes you wait for days before solving your problems, or just redirects you to the documentation? I didn’t think so.

And nothing like that ever happens with Kallyas, which is why I’m filing it under *great-themes-for-2015*. Actually, make that *great-themes-for-2015* when you’re designing portfolios and online stores. You’ll love the smooth page builder that Kallyas prepared for the occasions.

Royal – Multi-Purpose WordPress Theme

Sometimes the inspiration fairy is determined to elude you. Royal Theme helps you catch up with her with over 60 themes. It’s full of ideas, so you’ll know exactly what you want your website to look like in seconds, and get to work.

The Installer from 8theme can help you get fast results in 10 minutes or less, if you wish it. Royal also has a top-notch builder, complete with Slider Revolution, shortcodes and widgets.

SnapShop – Responsive WooCommerce WordPress Theme

In 2015, odds are that mobile shopping will sky-rocket. It’s down to you to reconcile the material products on the shelves with the online experience of a shopper who’s using her/his phone.

SnapShop’s WooMapper is a useful tool, because it allows you to draw a map of pins all over your product image. Therefore, users can make up their minds faster, without having to check a different page for detailed information. Also, they can filter through products easily with the SnapShop Product Filter.

Converio

Your business and web shop projects of this year can benefit from a theme like Converio. It’s the genie of conversions. The theme can help you make custom pages for specific business goals: landing page, selling page, lead page. It has two types of sliders that you can use, a plugin to promote events, and WooCommerce integration which includes Ajax shopping cart.

WooPress

Since flat design is showing no signs of fading away, you should make the best of it and construct your online stores with a sublime and WooCommerce-centered theme like WooPress. 8theme made sure that, if you’re going to base your shop on their theme, you’ll get a swank-looking website every time.

Opus – Multipurpose Business WordPress Theme

Since we’re on the subject of grand designs for business-oriented websites, Opus is definitely worth using this year. It’s immensely popular. With this theme, you get a streamlined way to build your pages, thanks to the live preview function. Also, you can use the full force of parallax to attract website users.

Circle Flip – Responsive WordPress Multipurpose Theme

I found one of the most exemplary uses of flat design, in a far-reaching theme. It’s called Circle Flip, and will help you fashion neat-looking, flat, not to mention responsive websites for any purpose. Besides, I like the fact that you don’t have to make any rash decisions, as Circle Flip offers full demo access.

Engine

As a final suggestion for magazines, use the Engine theme. It’s built on Bootstrap 3, and has wonderful ad management system, plus a post comparison and review system.

You get to choose from multiple post layouts for variety, and assign posts a heat index based on user interest. Besides, this theme allows you create category-based, entirely customized mini-sites within the primary magazine website.

Ending thoughts

Good themes are hard to come by. I hope this 15-long list helps you decide how to best create your WordPress websites in 2015. It’s going to be a busy year, so arm yourself with the most effective tools early on and rule your own. Any thoughts or suggestions? Jot them down in the comment section. Thank you!