Last updated in the past 3 – 6 months (compatible with WordPress 5.0+): Keep an eye on it.

Last updated more than 6 months ago: won’t use it (see notes below).

My general rule of thumb is this (revised in July 2019 due to increased frequency of updates to the WordPress core): WordPress itself is updated several times a year, so if a theme hasn’t been updated in the 6 months, there may not be anyone monitoring it for security vulnerabilities and changes to the underlying WordPress core files. Always check the “Last updated” date when choosing a theme. Your comment inspired me to update it in June 2019. Tagged both sides sidebar, free, layout, left and right sidebar, themes, three column, two sidebars, WordPress Post navigation All themes on the list have been updated by their author within the past 6 months. And for tips on selecting a secure, long-lasting and well-supported theme, read Is This Theme Right for Me?Īrticle updated 6/24/19. For other design features to consider, check out 6 Important Design Characteristics of a WordPress Theme. Of course, layout shouldn’t be your only consideration when choosing a theme. The three column layout with white on both sides gives you a narrower content column, without sidebars. If layout selection is graphical, note that the two sidebars option is the one with GRAY sidebars. You can immediately see whether there is more than one sidebar in the widget area list.

If you still don’t see layout options, go to Widgets. If you don’t see one, check General Options and Theme Options for a Layout submenu. If none of these themes work for you, here’s how to check sidebar options on other themes. All of the themes in this list have been updated since the last major update to the WordPress core (4.7):Īdmiral (but right sidebar is hidden in default zoom) Here are some free themes available at that allow you to select a layout with sidebars on both sides. Luckily for you, I’m working on a site that calls for such a theme, so I threshed out the true two-sidebar themes for you. They shouldn’t be tagging “pro” features on the free version, but no one is monitoring that very closely, it seems. Or three content columns and NO sidebar! There will also be a few themes that only offer both-sides sidebars in the premium version.

If you use the “three columns” feature filter, for example, many themes in the resulting list will have two content columns and only one sidebar.

This is partly because it’s a less common layout, and partly due to rampant vagueness in the definitions of WordPress features. It’s a real challenge to find free themes on that offer left AND right sidebars, with the post or page content in a central column.

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