How to Choose a Good WordPress Theme

With thousands of WordPress themes available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Some are flashy, some are free, and some make big promises — but not all are built to last. Selecting the right theme is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your website’s performance and longevity.

1. Start With Speed and Simplicity

A good theme should be fast, lightweight, and efficient. Extra sliders, animations, or bundled features might look appealing at first, but they can slow your site down — and search engines notice. Choose a theme that uses clean code, minimal dependencies, and optimized assets to ensure a smooth experience across all devices.

At Austin Web & Design, our go-to choice is Astra because it’s one of the fastest, most flexible themes available for WordPress. Astra offers clean, modular code, integrates seamlessly with the Spectra block library, and provides extensive customization options without slowing down your site. Combined with our custom AWD child themes, it delivers the ideal balance of design freedom and performance.

2. Check for Regular Updates and Support

Themes that aren’t regularly updated can quickly fall out of sync with new versions of WordPress or PHP. Before installing, check when the theme was last updated and whether the developer provides active support. A reliable theme should have an engaged developer behind it and clear documentation when you need help.

Astra stands out here as well. It’s actively maintained by a large development team with frequent updates, strong security practices, and full compatibility with the latest versions of WordPress and PHP.

3. Make Sure It’s Responsive and Accessible

Your theme should look great and function properly on every device. True responsiveness means layouts adjust naturally, typography scales cleanly, and buttons or links are easy to interact with on mobile. Accessibility matters too — good themes follow standards for color contrast, keyboard navigation, and proper heading hierarchy.

Astra is built with mobile-first design and accessibility in mind, giving you a strong foundation for a site that performs well for all visitors.

4. Avoid Theme Lock-In

Many commercial themes include proprietary page builders or shortcodes that disappear when you switch themes, creating what’s known as “theme lock-in.” This can make redesigns and updates a nightmare later on.

Astra works natively with WordPress’s built-in block editor and integrates perfectly with Spectra/UAG. That means your content remains editable and portable even if you change your site’s design down the road.

5. Design for Your Brand, Not the Demo

Demo sites always look great, but they rarely match your real content. Instead of choosing a theme based on its demo, focus on your brand’s personality, color palette, and layout needs. A great theme provides flexibility and structure, not just a fixed design.

At Austin Web & Design, we use Astra as a starting framework and then customize every detail through our AWD child themes — from typography to spacing to responsive breakpoints — ensuring each website reflects the client’s unique brand and goals.

6. Security and Clean Code Matter

Code quality directly affects your site’s stability and security. Avoid poorly coded themes from unreliable sources, as they can introduce vulnerabilities or conflicts with plugins. Stick to reputable developers with transparent coding standards and ongoing maintenance.

Astra is known for its lightweight, developer-friendly codebase and strong security record, making it a dependable choice for professional sites.

Why You Should Leave It to a Pro

Even with the right checklist, finding and configuring the perfect WordPress theme takes time and technical know-how. That’s where a professional team comes in.

At Austin Web & Design, we build custom child themes based on Astra to deliver exceptional performance, precise design control, and SEO-friendly architecture. If you want a site that’s fast, reliable, and tailored to your brand, leave it to a pro.

Contact Austin Web & Design and let’s create something built to last.