Theme.fm Weekly Roundup 5: New Themes, Updates, Trends, and More for WordPress Enthusiasts

Introduction

Welcome to the 5th edition of the Theme.fm Weekly Roundup! If you’re a WordPress user, developer, or designer, staying on top of the latest themes, updates, and trends is crucial to building modern, functional, and visually stunning websites. Each week, Theme.fm curates the most noteworthy happenings in the WordPress theme ecosystem, and this roundup is no exception.

In this edition, we’ll dive into 4 standout new themes that cater to diverse niches, explore critical theme updates from top developers, break down emerging design and functionality trends, share actionable tips for choosing the perfect theme, and even tease upcoming releases to keep an eye on. Whether you’re launching a blog, an e-commerce store, a portfolio, or a corporate site, there’s something here for you. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

This week’s roundup highlights four exceptional themes that combine aesthetics, functionality, and performance. From multipurpose powerhouses to niche-focused designs, these themes are built to meet the demands of 2024’s web landscape.

1. Verde Multipurpose: Eco-Friendly Design for Modern Brands

Developer: GreenPixel Studios
Price: $59 (Regular License) | $199 (Extended License)
Niche: Multipurpose (Sustainability, Corporate, Nonprofit)

Verde is a breath of fresh air for brands prioritizing sustainability. Designed with eco-conscious businesses in mind, this theme blends organic aesthetics with robust functionality.

Key Features:

  • Eco-Friendly Color Palettes: Pre-built schemes using earth tones, muted greens, and natural neutrals to align with sustainability branding.
  • Performance-Optimized: Minified code, lazy loading for images, and compatibility with caching plugins (WP Rocket, LiteSpeed) for fast load times.
  • Full-Site Editing (FSE) Ready: Build custom headers, footers, and layouts using the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) without coding.
  • Donation & Impact Tracking: Integrates with Charitable and GiveWP plugins to showcase donation goals and environmental impact metrics (e.g., “This site has saved 500 trees via sustainable hosting”).
  • Responsive Design: Perfectly adapts to mobile, tablet, and desktop—critical for engaging eco-conscious audiences on the go.

Why It Stands Out: Verde goes beyond “greenwashing” by embedding sustainability into its core. Its impact-tracking features help brands build trust, while its lightweight code ensures a low carbon footprint (faster sites use less server energy).

2. Nexus Commerce: AI-Powered E-Commerce for Growing Stores

Developer: TechNex Solutions
Price: $79 (Regular License) | $249 (Developer License)
Niche: E-Commerce (Fashion, Electronics, Home Goods)

Nexus Commerce is redefining online shopping with AI-driven personalization. Built for WooCommerce, this theme helps small to mid-sized stores compete with retail giants by delivering tailored user experiences.

Key Features:

  • AI Product Recommendations: Powered by a built-in recommendation engine that analyzes user behavior (browsing history, cart additions) to suggest relevant products.
  • Dynamic Pricing Rules: Create time-limited sales, bulk discounts, or loyalty rewards with a drag-and-drop rule builder.
  • Immersive Product Galleries: 360° product views, zoom-on-hover, and video integration to reduce purchase hesitation.
  • One-Click Upsells: Post-purchase suggestions to boost average order value (AOV).
  • Mobile Checkout Optimization: Streamlined, one-page checkout with Apple Pay/Google Pay support to reduce cart abandonment.

Why It Stands Out: Unlike generic e-commerce themes, Nexus Commerce leverages AI to automate personalization—saving store owners time while increasing conversions. Early beta testers report a 22% average increase in AOV.

3. Lumina Blog: Minimalist Elegance for Content Creators

Developer: Pen & Pixel Themes
Price: Free (Basic) | $49 (Pro Version)
Niche: Blogging (Lifestyle, Travel, Personal Finance)

Lumina Blog is a love letter to content. Designed for writers who want their words to shine, this minimalist theme strips away distractions while adding subtle design flourishes.

Key Features (Pro Version):

  • Typography Control: Choose from 800+ Google Fonts with custom line height, letter spacing, and font weight adjustments.
  • Reading Progress Indicator: A subtle bar at the top of posts shows readers how far they’ve scrolled—encouraging completion.
  • Dark Mode Toggle: Let readers switch between light/dark themes for comfortable reading day or night.
  • Newsletter Integration: Embed Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Flodesk forms with a single block in Gutenberg.
  • Social Sharing Widgets: Floating or inline buttons for sharing posts on Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn with custom share counts.

Why It Stands Out: Lumina’s focus on readability is unmatched. Its clean layout (whitespace, high contrast) reduces eye strain, while its lightweight code ensures posts load in under 2 seconds—critical for retaining impatient readers.

4. Artisan Portfolio: Showcasing Creativity with Immersive Design

Developer: Creative Canvas Studios
Price: $69 (Regular License)
Niche: Portfolio (Photography, Graphic Design, Architecture)

Artisan Portfolio is built for creatives who want their work to make a statement. This theme transforms portfolios into immersive experiences with full-screen galleries, parallax effects, and interactive elements.

Key Features:

  • Masonry & Grid Galleries: Customizable layouts with drag-and-drop reordering for photos, videos, and 3D models.
  • Client Testimonial Slider: Highlight feedback with animated quotes and client avatars.
  • Project Case Studies: Dedicated templates to showcase process (e.g., “From Sketch to Final Design”) with timelines and behind-the-scenes content.
  • Contact Form with Availability Calendar: Let clients book consultations directly via a synced Google Calendar.
  • Parallax Scrolling: Add depth to pages with background images that move at different speeds as users scroll.

Why It Stands Out: Artisan Portfolio balances visual drama with usability. Its galleries load quickly (thanks to WebP image support), and its case study templates help creatives tell compelling stories—turning visitors into clients.

Theme Updates & Enhancements

Staying updated is critical for security, performance, and compatibility. Here are this week’s most impactful theme updates:

Divi 4.22: Performance Boosts and FSE Improvements

Developer: Elegant Themes
Update Highlights:

  • 20% Faster Load Times: Optimized CSS/JS files and reduced render-blocking resources.
  • New FSE Templates: 15+ pre-built full-site layouts for blogs, portfolios, and e-commerce.
  • Divi AI Integration: Write copy, generate images, and optimize SEO directly in the Divi Builder (beta).
  • Bug Fixes: Resolved issues with WooCommerce cart pages and mobile menu responsiveness.

Who Should Update: All Divi users—especially those using FSE or looking to improve site speed.

Astra 4.5: New Starter Templates and WooCommerce Integration

Developer: Brainstorm Force
Update Highlights:

  • 100+ New Starter Templates: Focused on FSE, including templates for podcasts, fitness blogs, and local businesses.
  • WooCommerce Block Improvements: Customize product grids, checkout pages, and order tracking with Astra’s block library.
  • PHP 8.3 Compatibility: Ensures stability with the latest PHP version.
  • Accessibility Upgrades: Improved screen reader support and keyboard navigation for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.

Who Should Update: Astra users running WooCommerce or planning to use FSE.

GeneratePress 3.3: Accessibility and Gutenberg Compatibility

Developer: Tom Usborne
Update Highlights:

  • Enhanced Accessibility: Higher contrast ratios, ARIA labels for interactive elements, and skip-to-content links.
  • Gutenberg Block Styling: Customize padding, margins, and colors for core blocks (Paragraph, Heading, Image) without extra plugins.
  • Lightweight Updates: No bloat—update adds <5KB to the theme’s file size.
  • WP 6.4 Compatibility: Ensures smooth performance with the latest WordPress core.

Who Should Update: All GeneratePress users, especially those prioritizing accessibility and Gutenberg workflow.

Trending Design & Functionality Trends

What’s shaping WordPress themes in 2024? Here are the trends dominating this week:

Dark Mode Support

Users increasingly prefer dark mode for reduced eye strain and battery savings (on OLED screens). Themes like Lumina Blog and Verde now include built-in toggles, letting visitors switch between light/dark modes.

Example: Verde’s dark mode uses warm grays instead of pure black to avoid eye fatigue, paired with neon green accents for sustainability branding.

Micro-Interactions

Small animations (e.g., button hover effects, form submission confirmations) make sites feel responsive and engaging. Nexus Commerce uses micro-interactions to celebrate purchases (e.g., a confetti animation after checkout) and guide users (e.g., a pulsing “Add to Cart” button for abandoned carts).

AI-Driven Personalization

Themes like Nexus Commerce are integrating AI to tailor content. For example, a travel blog using an AI-powered theme might show beach destinations to users in cold climates and mountain getaways to those in warm regions—all based on geolocation and browsing history.

Sustainability-Focused Themes

As brands prioritize ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) goals, themes like Verde are leading the charge. Features include carbon footprint calculators, “green hosting” badges, and energy-efficient code to reduce server usage.

Full-Site Editing (FSE) Readiness

With WordPress 6.4 doubling down on FSE, themes are racing to support block-based site building. Astra’s new starter templates and Divi’s FSE layouts make it easier than ever to design entire sites (headers, footers, archives) with Gutenberg.

5 Tips for Choosing the Right WordPress Theme

With thousands of themes available, selecting the perfect one can be overwhelming. Use these tips to narrow your options:

  1. Prioritize Speed: Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to test theme demos—aim for a score of 90+ (poor speed hurts SEO and user retention).
  2. Check Responsiveness: Test the theme on BrowserStack to ensure it works on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
  3. Verify Support: Choose themes with active support (check the developer’s forums or response times for pre-sale questions).
  4. Avoid Overly Customizable Themes: “Jack of all trades” themes often have bloated code—opt for niche-specific themes (e.g., Artisan Portfolio for creatives) instead.
  5. Look for Accessibility: Ensure the theme meets WCAG 2.1 standards (e.g., high contrast, keyboard navigation) to avoid legal issues and reach more users.

Upcoming Theme Releases to Watch

  • Pulse by ThemeIsle (Launch: November 2024): A community-focused theme with built-in forums, user profiles, and real-time chat—ideal for membership sites and online communities.
  • Voyager by WPExplorer (Launch: December 2024): A travel theme with immersive maps, itinerary builders, and integration with Google Travel and Airbnb.

Conclusion

This week’s Theme.fm roundup showcases the diversity and innovation in the WordPress theme ecosystem. From eco-friendly multipurpose themes to AI-powered e-commerce solutions, there’s a theme for every niche and goal.

Remember: The best theme isn’t just about looks—it’s about performance, support, and alignment with your brand’s needs. Whether you’re launching a new site or updating an existing one, use the trends and tips above to make informed choices.

Stay tuned for next week’s roundup, and happy theming!

References