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Whether you’re a web developer whose clients need a great look and feel for their blogs, or just someone eager to bring a fresh new look to your own web site, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of free WordPress themes out there to consider. A number of those themes have been built by professional designers and talented amateurs, and are as easy on the eyes as they are easy on the wallet.

Whether you need a great photoblog layout, personal lifestream, or more business-oriented design, there’s almost surely an existing theme out there worth checking out for your next blog or blog upgrade. And if you’re already a developer or are willing to acquire a small set of template editing skills, you can always modify an existing theme to taste.

Have a look at some of our picks for great themes to either drop in as is or use as a starting point for your own tweaking and twiddling. Keep in mind this is only the tip of the iceberg — be sure to let us know about your other favorite themes in the comments!

1. Irresistible

For a unique personal blog look and feel, check out the free Irresistible theme from the folks at Woo Themes. It features dedicated spots for your photos, videos, and events lifestream along with your typical blog content. Featuring a nice, clean layout, this theme offers something a bit different from your typical 3-column blog design.

2. Demet

For a more magazine-style theme, check out the free premium Demet theme. This 3-column layout is fixed width and banner-ready for 125×125 and 468×60 pixel ad units.

3. P2

The P2 theme was inspired by Twitter, and was designed around allowing a group of bloggers to post short updates. It’s a great option for a cohesive group blog as well as for sites that do frequent liveblogging. Featuring dynamic page updates, threaded comment display, live tag suggestion, real-time notifications, and in-line editing for posts and comments, P2 is a powerhouse for blogs where real-time updates are critical.

4. WPESP Portfolio

WPESP Portfolio is a minimalist theme designed primarily for artists, photographers, designers, and others who need more of a portfolio showcase for their work. It combines the benefits of easy and frequent updates with the layout and user interface conducive to browsing visual works.

5. DarkHive

For an alternative magazine-esque style in two columns, have a look at DarkHive from the folks at MagPress. It sports a featured content slider for up front promotion of hot stories, auto-generated thumbnails for front page display, an Adsense ready loop between posts and on individual post pages, a 125×125-ready block in the sidebar and more.

6. Google Chrome

Here’s an interesting lightweight theme great for a geek-oriented blog, or a site that just wants a nice and clean two column look and feel. Inspired by the browser of the same name, Google Chrome is widget and gravatar ready plus XHTML and CSS validated.

7. Gallery

The showcase-style WordPress theme Gallery is built on the Thematic framework and was designed specifically for Smashing Magazine readers. Another great theme for a portfolio or other visual showcase, Gallery is a highly flexible and customizable theme that supports widescreen video embedding with the installation of a free plug-in.

8. Selecta

Another very visually-oriented theme, Selecta is great for videoblogs or other sites where video needs to be prominent. With a featured post slider carousel up top to promote your best content, threaded comments, and interest jQuery effects on board, Selecta also comes with six different color schemes to choose from.

9. BlackPower

A widget ready theme from the folks at SkinPress, the BlackPower theme features prominent Twitter integration, with your latest tweet appearing in the header. The two column theme also features easy on the eyes typography and a pastel color scheme with black wood effect on a translucent background.

10. Scarlett

The Scarlett theme features another great featured content carousel area up top and a real-time scrolling update area in the right-hand sidebar. It also includes a built-in javascript navigation menu, Adsense ready units, threaded comments display and more.

11. Freemium

The Freemium theme is a slickly-designed “premium” theme being given away for free thanks to the folks at FreebiesDock. Featuring two widget ready sidebars, a jQuery-based menu, 125×125 ad ready area and more, Freemium is a compelling design at a great “price.”

12. iBusiness

A great theme or starting point for a more professional business presence, iBusiness is a modern theme designed to showcase the About section right up front with a prominent image and company blurb or motto. This two column layout is widget ready, SEO optimized and 125×125 banner ready.

13. Meganews

Another great option for a magazine or news site, Meganews features a clean story-lead display in four columns plus a right-hand sidebar. It also supports an animated tag cloud and featured content slideshow.

14. Snapshot

A great theme for shutterbugs and photoblogs, Snapshot from Woo Themes can also be put to use as a portfolio or design gallery. It also comes with three unique color schemes to choose from as well as options for switching between photoblog and portfolio use.

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More WordPress Resources from Mashable:

-10 WordPress Plugins to Help Build Community
– HOW TO: Build a More Beautiful Blog
– Top 10 WordPress Plugins to Promote Your Social Media Profiles
– Top 10 Tips for WordPress Plugin Developers
– Embeddable Waves: The Google Wave WordPress Plugin

Tags: blogging, BLOGS, design, free, Lists, Web Development, web development series, Wordpress, wordpress themes

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