Guess what? Some kind souls out there have made such simple and clean interface into a blog theme which you can use for your blogs! If you are a fan of 2 columns, white and clean layout, this is a theme that you will definitely suit your taste.

Take a look at this Google Chrome Wordpress theme. Isn’t it just nice and neat?

Common Features

• 2 columns fixed width
• Widgets ready
• Gravatar ready
• Works on Wordpress v2.5 and above
• Tested on IE6/7, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and of course Chrome
• XHTML & CSS Validated

Download Google Chrome for Wordpress.

Not a WordPress user? No worries, Google Chrome is also available in Blogger / blogspot blogs!! It’s pretty much the same like the WordPress version. This is a Blogger template which is available for XML new blogger layout.

Download Google Chrome for Blogger.

Have fun with the Google Chrome theme. All credits go to the original authors.

What is Word Press’d and how does it look like?

Directly quoted from B2L:

Word Press’d aims to give Wordpress users around the world the chance to make their blog look similar to the highly anticipated Wordpress Admin Theme release with version 2.5.

The theme tries to incorporate the best parts of the Admin theme while at the same time add customisability, compatibility and suitable to serve as a blog template while at the same time be visually attractive and have a light quick loading framework.

I really appreciate this theme. It is really similar to the new WordPress 2.5 admin control panel. If you are a WordPress 2.5 fan, you may love to turn your blog into a Word Press’d blog.

According to B2L, they are going to release version 4 soon.  In the upcoming version, they are going to include a Tabbed Sidebar Widget.

The below image is the screencast of Word Press’d v0.3

Word Press’d is fully compatible on WordPress 2.5+

[ Download Word Press'd v0.3 ]

[ Learn more about Word Press'd theme by Blog2Life ]

Please take note that I did not create any of these themes. Credits to all their original authors. All themes are widget-ready.

Books And Imagination

This is a nice theme for those who are into literature or writing.

Column: 3
Download: Books and Imagination Theme

Dark Mood V3

The original theme is not widget-ready. However, I have made this time widget-ready for your using pleasure.

Column: 2
Download: Dark Mood V3 Theme

KayuPress

This is really a splendid theme! I personally love it very much. The theme is designed to work with several WordPress plugins. You can check out the plugins you need to get the best out of this theme.

Column: 3
Download: KayuPress Theme

Mag On Wood

This is a simple and neat 3 column theme.

Column: 3
Download: Mag On Wood Theme

Marcus

If you are a fan of big header image, this theme may suit you. It’s simple and neat as well.

Column: 2
Download: Marcus Theme

Papyrus

This is another splendid theme by SK Design Studio.

Column: 2
Download: Papyrus Theme

Plant-a-Tree

This is another splendid theme originally by Igor Penjivrag, and the theme that I shared here is the one that has been modified by Noktah Hitam. For installation instruction, read this.

Column: 2
Download: Plant-a-Tree Theme

Plasticine World

This is a simple theme featuring a “globe”.

Column: 2
Download: Plasticine World Theme

Wood

A darkwood theme that look similar to Plant-a-Tree theme. Quite a nice theme if you favor dark theme.

Column: 3
Download: Wood Theme

WP WoodBlog

WP WoodBlog theme is a nice theme with paper and wooden texture and some stationery, which is almost alike to Office Theme 1.0.

Column: 2
Download: WP WoodBlog Theme

Hope you like my collection of Wood Theme.

With the green awareness round, there are lots of ways which we can echo the green environmental issue. Literally, we can also make our blog a “green blog” by using nature theme. I found the nature theme soothing for the eye.

Below is a collection of nature theme for WordPress platform. Downloads are available.

Green Grass Theme

This theme very much looks like the default Windows XP Luna Blue theme. Green and blue is always a good color combination.

Column: 2
Download: Green Grass Theme

Eco Blog

This theme gives people a cool refreshing feeling with the watery background.

Column: 2
Download: Eco Blog Theme

Frozen Lotus

This is a soothing blue theme with flower lotus as the main focus. A big RSS button is embeded into the theme.

Column: 2
Download: Frozen Lotus Theme

Funky Lilly

A green theme with lilly as the main focus.

Column: 2
Download: Funky Lilly Theme

Lilicious

Another lilly theme but in icy blue this time. Big RSS button is embeded in this theme.

Column: 2
Download: Lilicious Theme

Sugared Spring

Leafy spring theme gives people a happy feeling. Great color combition of green and orange. Big RSS button is embeded in this theme.

Column: 2
Download: Sugared Spring Theme

Lady Bug

Do you like cute bugs like the red lady bug? Leaves and lady bug theme.

Column: 2
Download: Lady Bug Theme

Peaceland

If you like dark theme with 3 columns, this is definitely a good one for you.

Column: 3
Download: Peaceland Theme

Maple Valley

If you like dark theme and prefer something browish, perhaps this maple theme with the autumn feel will suit your taste. Big RSS button is embeded in this theme.

Column: 2
Download: Maple Valley Theme

Organic

Another dark nature theme with watery leaves. Personally love this theme very much.

Column: 3
Download: Organic Theme

How do you like the nature theme? Give your blog a “green” theme today and help spread the green awareness around the blogosphere.

Before listing those templates, I would like to remind you that, please backup a copy of your current Blogger template. Just in case you want to change back to your current template later. And also please bare in mind that once you have upload a new template, all your widgets data configuration might be lost. So do whatever backup that you need to do before upload and try out the new templates.

How to upload a new template? (in XML new Blogger)

1. Download and unzip the template file.
2. Login to your Blogger Dashboard.
3. Go to Layout > Edit HTML.
4. Browse for the XML template file that you have just downloaded and unzipped.
5. Click on the Upload button.
6. Save template and you’re done.

Okay, here is a list of 22 beautiful Blogger template (for XML new Blogger). Hope you enjoy them.

Birdie

Column: 2
Download: Birdie
Review: This is a very neat template with a very cute yellow bird on the left. This template is created by Gis.

Birdie Secret Garden

Column: 3
Download: Birdie Secret Garden
Review: Another birdie template, clean and cute.

Sweet Blog

Column: 2
Download: Sweet Blog
Review: Brown birdie template, neat and cute as well.

Pretty Roses

Column: 2
Download: Pretty Roses
Review: Very girlish template, suitable for girls.

DFire

Column: 2
Download: DFire
Review: Dark theme with light background.

Trees

Column: 2
Download: Trees
Review: Green natural template.

Photoshop

Column: 2
Download: Photoshop
Review: If you are a Photoshop fan, maybe you can make your blog feels like one too.

Pinkstar

Column: 2
Download: Pinkstars
Review: Soothing pink template, suitable for girls.

Dilectio

Column: 3
Download: Dilectio
Review: This is a popular theme in Wordpress. Now, a Blogger version is available too.

Illacrimo

Column: 3
Download: Illacrimo
Review: This is also another popular Wordpress theme. Now available in Blogger.

Darkspark

Column: 2
Download: Darkspark
Review: Blue and black is a very nice color blend.

The Second Thing

Column: 2
Download: The Second Thing
Review: Soothing green is always nice for the eye.

o2

Column: 3
Download: o2
Review: This is the current theme of this blog. However, this is a Blogger version. Inside the zip file, font and psd files are included for customization.

Mosaico

Column: 2
Download: Mosaico
Review: Very artistic.

Happy Spring

Column: 2
Download: Happy Spring
Review: Another soothing green theme. Cute flowers on top.

Simpress

Column: 3
Download: Simpress
Review: I personally like this template very much. It’s very clean and it has 3 columns.

iPlantilla

Column: 2
Download: iPlantilla
Review: This is also a quite popular theme. Feel the Mac.

Glass

Column: 2
Download: Glass
Review: Clean blue template.

Parchment

Column: 2
Download: Parchment
Review: An antique feel template.

Top Secret

Column: 2
Download: Top Secret
Review: A document-like template. Artistic.

Magic Paper

Column: 3
Download: Magic Paper
Review: A mysterious feel template.

Restaurant

Column: 2
Download: Restaurant
Review: If you own a food blog, maybe you would love this.

All these templates were tested in Blogger by myself. They are working well. If you find any broken links, please let me know.

p/s: This is my first port after upgrading to Wordpress 2.5. I still need some time to get use to it. The multi upload function seems a bit laggy. (maybe due to connection problem?)

There are plenty of free themes available for downloads and most themes allow you to modify to suit your own taste, but giving credits back to the creators (at the footer), which is pretty fair.

Here, is a collection of 10 elegant Wordpress themes that you may consider using them.

Olive Theme by Chris Niedojadlo

I personally like this design. It’s a 3 columns design and widget ready. The default colors is well blended into the theme.

[Download Olive Theme]

Danika by Cyberwire LLC

This theme is similar to the previous Olive Theme. 3 columns and widget ready.

[Download Danika]

Office Theme 1.0 by Greg Ponchak

I like the stationery theme and wood texture behind, really looks like on your working desk. 2 columns and widget ready.

[Download Office Theme 1.0]

RedBlue by Themey

This is a 3 columns, widget ready theme. Red and blue blended nicely.

[Download RedBlue]

iTheme Clear Blue

This is a very “Mac” feel theme. I like the smoothing blue theme. 2 columns and widget ready.
[Download iTheme Clear Blue]

PinkLove

This is a very pretty theme which is suitable for girls. 3 columns and widget ready.

[Download PinkLove]

Div Ice

Looks similar to the previous PinkLove theme but in cool ice blue. Suitable for boys, well, of course girls can use it too. 3 columns and widget ready.

[Download Div Ice]

Div Black Theme

If you are a fan of dark theme, this is quite a nice one. 3 columns and widget ready.[Download Div Black Theme]

Notes

This is really a plain white theme with little colors here and there. Looks like using a highlight pen. Yup, it has a notebook layout. A 2 columns theme. The original theme is not widget ready, however, I’ve converted it to a widget ready theme.[Download Notes]

TV 6Th Feeling

A very contract theme, light comfortable background with dark foreground. 2 columns and widget ready.

[Download TV 6Th Feeling]

Hope you enjoy these themes. Happy pimping your blog.

Not enough, hunger for more options? >> Check out TopWPThemes

Extra reading >> Skin Your Blog

Before the widget ready version was released, the Illacrimo theme was not able to support widgets in Wordpress. Who would not love the widget ready version as it makes life much more easier when you want to customize your blog arrangement? However, this theme is not working well with the current Wordpress 2.3 and above version.

The similar common errors that one (Wordpress 2.3 and above user) will encounter are likely to be:

Getting a blank page after every process upon completion. Such as, a blank page occurs after you publish a post, manage or update a post, etc.

Getting an error message of “ERROR: Wordpress requires Cookies but your browser does not support them or they are blocked“, even though all cookies has been enabled in your browser(s).

How can we resist not to use this splendid theme, right? So, a fix is here to solve the problem. Eventually, it’s just a small “bug” that cause this problem. All you need to do is to change a small part in your functions.php of the Illacrimo theme.

Look for the following code and change it accordingly.

Before:
?>

<?php

After: (Solution)
?><?php

Conclusion: REMOVE the space between the 2 lines, and make it appear in one single line (like the one shown in the “After” section). Remember, you should modify this piece of script in functions.php.

After that, just remember to save/update your changes and you’re done. You can now enjoy this wonderful Illacrimo widget ready Wordpress theme.

Psychologically, most readers will pay more attention to a blog with beautiful or simply impressive design. However, you have to make sure the way you customize your blog is almost ‘lag-free’. [Tips: Don't make your blog loaded with too many flash components.]

Normally, your blogging platform will provide several default layouts. You would want to change your blog layout (template, skin or theme) to something different that can brighten up your readers’ eyes. However, to customize your blog layout, you will have to be able to understand codes like CSS, HTML, XML, PHP (Wordpress), etc.. This is a nightmare for beginners!

Instead of going too deep into customization, you can first try to use some ready-made customization done by other designers. There are plenty of resources available for FREE in the world wide web.

For own-hosted Wordpress platform, you can find more themes at:

www.wpthemesfree.com

Note: If you have a blog in Wordpress.com and you want to use themes other than those that are provided, you have to pay.

For Blogger (blogspot) platform, you have to know one thing before you choose your desire blog template.

There are 2 types of template for Blogger:

1. XML Template
2. Classic Template

“What’s the difference?” Some of you may ask.

XML template is also known as template for Blogger Beta or New Blogger. By default, if you create a blog in Blogger, the template is an XML template. This kind of template enable you to use the built-in widgets to add on components to your blog – making it easier for you to add contents to your blog.

Classic template is the template used in Blogger before it was in Beta mode. If you are using classic template, you will not be able to add components to your blog by using the built-in widgets. You will have difficult navigation (link to older post or newer post, this is done automatically in the XML template) around the blog. You will not be able to have a “category” unless you add in manually. However, most impressive template is made for Classic template.

“How to know which template I’m using?”

If you have the trouble of differentiate which template mode you are currently using, there’s a simple way to differentiate it.

Login to your Blogger account and under the “Dashboard“, you can see all your blogs. If you spot the word “Layout” means it is using XML template. Whereas, the word “Template” indicates that your blog is using the Classic template.

Now, you already know what template mode you are using, you can start choosing your beautiful templates.

Here are some good sites for you to get FREE Blogger templates.

freeskins.blogspot.com
blogger-templates.blogspot.com
geckoandfly.com/blogspot-templates/ (Wordpress theme for Blogger)

Tired of your old blog theme? Let’s make a change today!