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WordPress Themes

Free WordPress themes! Here you can download my free, open-source shapeSpace starter theme, along with some older themes that once were used here at Perishable Press. For a complete list of themes designed for this site, check out the Alphabet Series Theme Library. All of downloadable themes are open-source (GPL) license and 100% FREE :) — Enjoy!

shapeSpace

[ shapeSpace WordPress Theme Template ]
shapeSpace starter theme

shapeSpace is the starter template that I use for creating my own WordPress themes and WordPress-powered websites. It’s evolved quite a bit along with WordPress over the years, striking what I find to be a good balance between utility, flexibility, and performance. shapeSpace is basically a starter theme that combines a robust set of theme functions with a lightweight set of template files. It’s a “premium” starter template that’s clean, current, and 100% free.

Features

  • Built with the WP API
  • Valid HTML5, CSS3, jQuery
  • Clean, consistent, modular code
  • Responsive default layout
  • Compliant with WordPress Standards
  • Passes all theme-check tests
  • Includes a growing library of custom functions
  • Enabled functions for the most commonly used features
  • Lightweight, flexible, and extensible
  • Blazing fast performance
  • Universal browser support
  • Actively developed and kept current with latest WordPress
  • 100% FREE and open-source via GPL License
Download shapeSpace @ shapespace.io »

Introspection

[ Introspection Theme ]
Introspection

Introspection is a clean, simple theme designed to streamline workflow, optimize content, and inspire productivity.

Features

  • Minimalistic, lightweight, optimized design
  • Supports custom menus, widgets, and featured images
  • HTML5/CSS3 design with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Traditional two-column, fixed-width design
  • Tabbed sidebar menu showing recent, popular, and random posts
  • All-standard, plug-n-play WP theme functionality
Download IntrospectionVersion 20130108 ( 239.89 KB ZIP )

Alphabet Theme Series

In 2005/2006, I started naming the themes designed for Perishable Press in alphabetical order. Most of the alphabet themes primarily were used as alternate themes for Perishable Press, so users could “switch themes” to get a more customized experience. My intention was to release each new alphabet theme to the public, but I’m already well beyond letter V, and have only managed to package around eight of the older themes for public consumption. So with that in mind, here are the nine or so alphabet themes that I’ve managed to make available for download..

Note! All of the downloadable alphabet themes are in dire need of updates. Some of them were originally created over 10 years ago. So have fun and feel free to use whatever, but understand these themes are not recommended for live/production sites ;)

Apathy

[ Apathy Theme ]
“A” is for Apathy

The Apathy theme emulates a virtual newspaper.

Features

  • Minimalistic, lightweight, liquid layout
  • Triple-loop, triple-column triple-threat design
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download Apathy ThemeVersion 2.7 ( 96.28 KB ZIP )

Bananaz

[ Bananaz Theme ]
"B" is for Bananaz

The Bananaz theme is extremely gay!

Features

  • Fresh & fruity design with random image gallery
  • Fixed, centered, single-column with full-width header
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download Bananaz ThemeVersion 2.0 ( 56.73 KB ZIP )

Casket

[ Casket Theme ]
"C" is for Casket

Capture the essence of a proper burial..

Features

  • Titanium shell with plush interiors
  • Fixed-width, centered, single-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download Casket ThemeVersion 2.0 ( 31.06 KB ZIP )

DOS_FX

[ DOS_FX Theme ]
"D" is for DOS

The DOS_FX theme pays homage to the DOS OS.

Features

  • Minimalistic, lightweight design
  • Fluid, centered, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download DOS_FX ThemeVersion 1.0 ( 32.04 KB ZIP )

Entropy

[ Entropy Theme ]
"E" is for Entropy

The Entropy theme inverts the DOS_FX theme.

Features

  • Minimalistic, lightweight design
  • Fluid, centered, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download WP Theme - EntropyVersion 1.0 ( 33.72 KB ZIP )

Finished

[ Finished Theme ]
"F" is for Finished

The Finished theme is finally done.

Features

  • Custom graphics, coldest chills
  • Fixed-width, centered, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download Finished ThemeVersion 1.0 ( 72.69 KB ZIP )

Garbage

[ Garbage Theme ]
"G" is for Garbage

The Garbage theme is a converted B2-Evolution skin.

Features

  • Custom graphics, total garbage
  • Fixed-width, centered, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download Garbage ThemeVersion 1.0 ( 131.75 KB ZIP )

Headline

[ Headline Theme ]
"H" is for Headline

The Headline theme is a streamlined version of Apathy.

Features

  • Minimalistic, lightweight, uniform design
  • Fixed-width, triple-loop, triple-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download Headline ThemeVersion 2.0 ( 131.72 KB ZIP )

Information

[ Information Theme ]
"I" is for Information

Information designed exclusively for multimedia chillers.

Features

  • Pop-open content panels via JavaScript
  • Fixed-width, centered, mixed-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download not available

Jupiter!

[ Jupiter! Theme ]
"J" is for Jupiter!

The Jupiter! theme is for broadband users.

Features

  • sIFR fonts, collapsing data panels, gravatars
  • Fixed-width, centered, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download not available

Killer

[ Killer Theme ]
"K" is for Killer

Totally Killer makeover — now version 2.0!

Features

  • holistic data presentation
  • Fluid-width, three-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download not available

Lithium

[ Lithium Theme ]
"L" is for Lithium

The Lithium theme is a stripped-down version of Jupiter!

Features

  • Highly customized design
  • Fixed-width, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download not available

minimalist

[ minimalist Theme ]
"M" is for minimalist

The minimalist theme is as "minimal" as we get around here.

Features

  • minimalistic, lightweight design
  • Fluid-width, two-column layout
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Designed for Fx1+, NN7+, Op8+, and IE6+
  • Complete notes and images in .zip download
Download minimalist ThemeVersion 1.2 ( 25.71 KB ZIP )

Optimized

[ Optimized Theme ]
"O" is for Optimized

The Optimized theme is an SEO-optimized version of Lithium.

Features

  • Super-tight, streamlined markup
  • Stripped-down, lightweight design
  • Integration of key accessibility features
  • Optimized for SEO: no duplicate content, etc.
  • XHTML Strict with browser-safe colors and fonts
  • Completely valid, 100% hack-free CSS
  • Designed to work great in all modern browsers
Download not available

P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, …

Updating this post again in July of 2018, currently I’m up to “W” in the alphabet theme series. Here is a list of themes named for the letters “P” thru “W”.

  • Perishable – Favorite dark theme with built-in “light” theme switcher
  • Quintessential – Fractal background with transparent content boxes
  • Requiem – Minimalist theme with tight design and Helvetica font stack
  • Serious – Golden brown theme with lots of bells and whistles
  • Tether – Light brown theme with boxed content areas and lots of extras
  • Unicorner – Wildly colorful with bold fonts and lots of graphics
  • Volume – Hearty, down-to-earth precursor to the Wire theme
  • Wire – The longest running theme at Perishable Press.
  • X – Throwback to the good ol’ days on teh Web.
  • Yes – You are here.

You can learn more about any of these themes on the Alphabet Themes page. I hope that, before it’s all said and done, I have time to go all the way thru letter “Z”. Only one more to go…

About the Author
Jeff Starr = Creative thinker. Passionate about free and open Web.
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13 responses to “WordPress Themes”

  1. The Minimalist theme looks promising and I’m looking forward to the release date. Hopefully not much longer to wait now ;)

  2. Perishable 2006/11/04 9:28 pm

    I guess now I am out of excuses! I will work on finishing it this Monday (11/6).. — it should be available either then or by Tuesday (for sure!)..

  3. Perishable 2006/11/08 5:45 pm

    Well, okay, so I miscalculated the release date. However, I now have the minimalist theme installed on the perishablepress.com test site and have been working on "generalizing" it into a distributable WordPress theme. Currently it is far too customized with plugins and whatnot and would surely break on a different site. Anyway, I am working on it so stay tuned..

  4. Cool beans and thanks for the update on that. No worries, though, Perishable. I know how ‘other stuff’ can creep up on one :) It’ll come when its ready and I’ll peek in to see :)

    Ciao

  5. Perishable 2006/11/14 7:26 pm

    Yep, it’s finished! (– and only a week late :)

    The minimalist theme is one of my favorites — it would be the default theme for perishablepress.com if I could find the time to trick it out with all the bells and whistles currently featured in the default theme (i.e., Lithium).

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! ..If you have any questions or concerns please post here.

    Cheers!

  6. Woo hoo! I followed your zip note and it’s running perfectly on XAMPP here – many thanks for your hard work, Perishable :)
    I’m currently in the middle of putting together my photoblog (oh, what drama :) but when I have a moment, I’ll replace my other blog theme with this one.

    Ciao and cheers backatcha!

  7. Xen Namgyal 2007/02/27 10:17 am

    I really like your Headline theme. Great Job.

    I would like to know how to articleimg images? That is getting the text to wrap around an image.

    Your help would be very much appreciated.

    Thanx,
    Xen

  8. Xen Namgyal 2007/02/27 10:33 am

    On the static pages the images are wrapping around the text. But in Posts it is not doing it.

    Thanx
    Xen

  9. Xen Namgyal 2007/02/27 2:27 pm

    I have fixed the problems!

    I was wondering how you run “Apathy” but it it not the full width of the screen. It looks as though it is the same width as “Headline”. How can I do this?? The full width is too full and would like to narrow it down a little.

    Thanx
    Xen

  10. Perishable 2007/03/01 7:05 pm

    Xen,
    I am glad to hear that you have resolved the image/text issue. I will address your other concerns via email..
    Jeff

  11. I love your site and what you have here.

    Any estimate on when the theme “Lithium” will be finished? I hope I can try it out soon, it’s a beautiful theme.

  12. Perishable 2007/06/23 6:11 pm

    Shelly,
    Thank you for the generous comment. I am very glad you like the site. ;) As for the Lithium theme, I am hoping to find the time to work on it soon. If only I had about two more of me.. Although I won’t make any promises, I will try to spend some time and hopefully finish it within the next few weeks.
    Thanks for the push!

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Perishable Press is operated by Jeff Starr, a professional web developer and book author with two decades of experience. Here you will find posts about web development, WordPress, security, and more »
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