40+ Free High-Quality Joomla Themes

by Lars on January 19, 2009

In this article we present 40 free high-quality Joomla 1.5 themes. The themes included in this post have all been manually selected, installed and tested over the last weeks with Joomla 1.5.x. All of the themes can be downloaded, customized and used for free in both personal and commercial projects. Where available we have provided links to demo-sites to provide a direct preview of the themes. Today most people are looking Joomla 1.6 themes but already joomla 1.7 has been released.


WooThemes - Made by Designers
WooThemes - Made by Designers

Advertisement

High-quality Joomla themes are always worth investigating. Whether you are looking for some inspiration for your personal blog design or for a professional company website you’re developing for a client, you can learn a lot. You may choose apply them directly or you can use them as foundation for a customized designs where you can save significant amount of time by not starting from scratch.

To help you quickly find the Joomla themes you need the article has been divided into 8 sections:

Section 1: What is a Joomla Template and how to use it

Section 2: Business website themes

Section 3: Simple, Minimalistic Themes

Section 4: Vibrant Themes

Section 5: Romantic Themes

Section 6: Nature Themes

Section 7: Gaming Themes

Section 8: Very basic template customization

Section 9: Sources and Further Resources

Also check out the awesome themes we found for this post: 70 Best Joomla Premium Themes or this mega list: 30 Showcases of Joomla 1.6 Template:


If you are new to Joomla or simply need to read up on some details I recommend you read this book or one of the other good book available on this topic.

joomla a user's guideJoomla! 1.5: A User’s Guide: Building a Successful Joomla! Powered Website (2nd Edition)

If you want to build sophisticated websites that can be easily edited and updated, you need to master Joomla. Now there’s an easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide to Joomla! for every site manager, administrator, and developer. Leading Joomla! consultant Barrie North covers all you need to get results: installation, administration, site organization, template development, content updates, and a whole lot more. You’ll find tips, tricks, and troubleshooting solutions, as well as three start-to-finish case studies.
New to Joomla? No problem! This book starts with the simplest design and system concepts and builds your expertise step-by-step. You’ll rapidly master Joomla!’s power, even if you have no content management, scripting, or CSS expertise. Experienced with Joomla!? You’ll turn to this book constantly for its authoritative, plain-English, example-rich Joomla! 1.5 reference content.

Section 1: What is a Joomla Template and how to use it

The functionality in Joomla that allows web master to upload a zip file containing a new template, module, component or plugin is brilliant. Once uploaded to Joomla the new theme or functionality is just there ready to be configured or used. Templates in Joomla is uploaded using the Administration menu “Extensions”->”Install/Uninstall”. Once uploaded they are awailable for usage in the Administration menu “Extensions”->”Template Manager”. On the Template Manager page the new template can be set as Default and will be used on the next request on the website.

Extensions Menu

Default template

Take a look at the Install guide at docs.joomla.org for more information

Also take a look at the How to switch Templates Guide at docs.joomla.org

Section 2: Business website themes

Team2

Team2 SiteGround

[Demo] [Download] (reqistration needed)

PraiseCorp

PraiseCorp

[Demo] [Download]

Social bug

social bug

[Demo] [Download]

DJ-0013

DJ-0013

[Demo] [Download]

xiubu

xiubu

[Demo] [Download]

Vortex

Vortex

[Demo] [Download]

Colourful World

Colourful World

[Demo] [Download]

Bizcity 2

Bizcity 2

[Demo] [Download]

Real Estate

Real Estate

[Demo] [Download]

Building 1-5

Building 1-5

[Demo] [Download]

Digital Systems

digital systems

[Demo] [Download]

Rise of technology

Rise of technology

[Demo] [Download]

Section 3: Simple, Minimalistic Themes

sg – Joomla 1.5

Siteground Template

[Demo] [Download] (reqistration needed)

kodadesign

kodadesign

[Demo] [Download]

Default

Default

[Demo] [Download] [Toturial]

portal-silver

portal-silver

[Demo] [Download]

seiagul

toba camp

[Demo] [Download]

JA Wezen

JA Wezen

[Demo] (select the template in bottom menu) [Download]

Newave

neweave

[Demo] [Download]

Akotorro

Akotorro

[Demo] [Download]

Dewey Web

dewey web

[Demo] [Download]

Bc_Luminity

bc_luminty

[Demo] [Download]

Section 4: Vibrant Themes

Jamba

Jamba

[Demo] [Download]

Nova

Nova

[Demo] [Download]

Black Bear Pro

Black Bear Pro

[Demo] [Download]

Green Rays

Green Rays

[Demo] [Download]

Feel the Music

Feel the Music

[Demo] [Download]

MyPortfolio

MyPortfolio

[Demo] [Download]

batik_hijau

batik_hijau

[Demo] [Download]

Ski Club

Ski Club

[Download] [Download]

siteground-j15-32

siteground-j15-32

[Demo] [Download]

dmunich

dmunich

[Demo] [Download]

kangaevolution

kengaevolution

[Demo] [Download]

Orange

Orange

[Demo] [Download]

Lichtenart Timeless

Lichtenart Timeless

[Demo] [Download]

Aurora

Aurora

[Demo] [Download]

Section 5: Romantic Themes

Deco Group

Deco Group

[Demo] [Download]

siteground-j15-53

siteground-j15-53

[Demo] [Download]

JA Mercury

JA Mercury

[Demo] (select the template in bottom menu) [Download]

Section 6: Nature Themes

Back to Nature

Back to Nature

[Demo] [Download]

Spirit of Nature

Spirit of Nature

[Demo] [Download]

Agriculture

Agriculture

[Demo] [Download]

Mini Website-Builder

themza_j15_08

[Demo] [Download]

Section 7: Gaming Themes

Go Irresistible

Go Irresistible

[Demo] [Downloads]

WP Zoom Yamidoo MagazineWooThemes - Finally a themes club that is here to stayWP REMIX 2.0WP Zoom Yamidoo Magazine

Support tripwire magazine if you buy a Premium Theme

Section 8: Very basic template customization

Once templates have been uploaded, installed and set to default (see section 1 for details) they change the layout and structure of the website to be exactly as the theme designer prepared it. This may be just what you need but in most situations basic changes are needed fx.:

Basic structure of a Joomla template

In order to be able to customize or to create your own templates, you must understand the basic structure of Joomla templates.

The basic template directory struture for a Joomla Template is:

<Template root>
–| css
–| html
–| images
–| js

Normally template root contains the following files but some may not be included in simple templates:

  • favicon.ico
  • index.php
  • params.ini
  • template_thumbnail.jpg
  • templateDetails.xml

More may also be included in templates for advanced features but this is not covered here. It is unlikely that you need to change any of these files except for the favicon.ico file.

Replacing or adding the favicon image

favicon.ico defines the small icon shown in the url and bookmarkareas in most lates browser versions.
favicon

Creating your own favicon is simple with some online tools. Many tools are available but a few quite useful examples have been shown below:

Once crated the new favicon.ico must be placed in the template root folder in the joomla website.

Replacing the logo image of a Joomla template

The logo in a Joomla template is normally found in the images subfolder and is called logo.jpg. If the template supports more than one color theme this is normally supported by creating subfolders in the images folder for each color theme. If the logo changes for each color theme the logo.jpg will be found in the subfolders.

Updating the Stylesheet (CSS)

Stylesheets are located in the css folder. The main stylesheet file is always: template.css

As a rule of thumb template.css will contain the markup for font types and font size. So if you need to change fonts start looking here.More complex tempaltesmay have a few more css file and some may have many. If a template features multiple color themes there normally will be a seperate css file for each color theme in the css folder or in a subfolder of css.

Tip!:

If you have difficulties finding the css definitions you want to change you should consider trying out the firebug plugin for firefox. This plugin will give you all the information you need by right clicking an element on the page and selecting Inspect element. This tool is extremely useful!

firebug

Get it here: getfirebug.com

Section 9: Sources and Further Resources

If you are new to Joomla or simply need to read up on some details I recommend you read this book or one of the other good book available on this topic.

joomla a user's guide

Joomla! 1.5: A User’s Guide: Building a Successful Joomla! Powered Website (2nd Edition)

If you want to build sophisticated websites that can be easily edited and updated, you need to master Joomla. Now there’s an easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide to Joomla! for every site manager, administrator, and developer. Leading Joomla! consultant Barrie North covers all you need to get results: installation, administration, site organization, template development, content updates, and a whole lot more. You’ll find tips, tricks, and troubleshooting solutions, as well as three start-to-finish case studies.

New to Joomla? No problem! This book starts with the simplest design and system concepts and builds your expertise step-by-step. You’ll rapidly master Joomla!’s power, even if you have no content management, scripting, or CSS expertise. Experienced with Joomla!? You’ll turn to this book constantly for its authoritative, plain-English, example-rich Joomla! 1.5 reference content.

{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }

Segmadis January 25, 2009 at 2:37 am

Very nice post thanks for it. I knew about much of them but there are few that I didn’t and they definitely caught my eye :) Thanks again :)

Reply

E.J. Semeijn January 25, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Great templates. Some old, a lot new. If the opportunity comes I will definitely used them as a base for new templates.

Reply

Gelay Jamtsho January 25, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Great list. Thanks.

Reply

Marco January 26, 2009 at 12:32 pm

Wow – Amazing collection, well done. Do you like my [url=http://www.marcofolio.net/joomla/whitesquid_a_beautiful_dark_joomla_1.0.x_template.html]Whitesquid[/url] theme too? Currently only for Joomla! 1.0.x :) .

Thanks for sharing this amazing list!

Reply

Lars January 27, 2009 at 2:49 pm

Hi Marco

Thanks for the great feedback. I know [b]Whitesquid [/b]and I would for sure have added it to the list if it had just supported Joomla 1.5.x.

Reply

Larry Hall March 8, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Thanks nice collection!

Reply

Danh ba web 2.0 March 19, 2009 at 12:16 am

Great post. I will come back to your blog :D

Reply

Jay April 22, 2009 at 3:57 am

wow some great designs here, thanks for the share

Reply

discount coupons April 28, 2009 at 5:16 am

i hope to find a theme to my shopping website.

Reply

webkatalog May 2, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Were did you get your blog design?

Reply

tripwiremag May 3, 2009 at 5:29 am

Regarding tripwire magazine blog design – take a look at this post

Reply

gartox May 4, 2009 at 6:45 am

this material is very good, many elements for a developed a good job.

Reply

sean callahan May 18, 2009 at 5:10 am

excellent…I was looking all over for something like this but it seems like everywhere is just loaded with Wordpress theme’s now a days. Don’t get me wrong, wp is good but it has it’s place in the world. Thanks a lot.

Reply

evening shoes May 19, 2009 at 4:19 pm

I think the theme “siteground-j15-53″ is the choice of my shoes blog! Thanks for sharing!

Reply

The Friend Zone Guide June 1, 2009 at 7:44 am

Wow. There are some really great themes in here! Thanks for the collection — bookmarked!

Reply

Patrick Pieters July 1, 2009 at 2:41 pm

I can’t believe I just found this. Whoever put these up… THANK YOU.

Reply

Chris September 26, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Great website!Excellent themes, tips, guides.thank you

Reply

jennifer November 9, 2009 at 8:19 pm

This site makes really good custom templates for Joomla! and has several good, free templates at http://nodwell.net

Reply

rana December 10, 2009 at 8:47 am

Nice ,collection, i will pickone for min :) .

Reply

Sagive February 9, 2010 at 3:10 am

thanks man.. been looking for this page
(in my favorits now :) )

Reply

lokendra May 2, 2010 at 5:41 am

cool post.

Reply

zamenhof May 2, 2010 at 11:24 am

hey, you got a great website gona explore itt
10x a lot for the gr8 info

Reply

Señor IP v6 May 25, 2010 at 9:57 am

Muchas grácias :)

Reply

fashion May 25, 2010 at 7:32 pm

Great templates man. i love this collection’s online

Reply

louis vuitton June 23, 2010 at 7:14 am

hey, you got a great website gona explore itt
10x a lot for the gr8 info

Reply

Randolph June 27, 2010 at 9:10 am

thanks a lot for the great templates

Reply

Susana July 21, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Incredible information! Not easy to find such a great quality content on internet.

Thank you very much for sharing!!

Reply

Vanni July 30, 2010 at 8:06 pm

These templates are owesome. Thank you very much create more templates…

Reply

Bernardo Diaz October 12, 2010 at 3:58 pm

Muchas gracias por compartir estos templates, son de gran ayuda.

Reply

pumacan November 4, 2010 at 11:29 am

Great list. Thanks.

Reply

Charlotte Benham February 7, 2011 at 4:47 pm

Terrific site, where did you come up with the information in this summary? Im glad I found it though, ill be checking back soon to see what other articles you have.

Reply

gans May 1, 2011 at 4:53 pm

great resources and great list. It is very helpful to me. Thanks a lot!

Reply

Angelo January 2, 2012 at 11:11 pm

Very good job …thanks for all

Reply

Leave a Comment

{ 3 trackbacks }

Next post: