Best free parallax WordPress themes 2018 offer a compelling way to enhance your website’s visual appeal and user engagement. These themes leverage parallax scrolling, a technique that creates a sense of depth and movement by layering background images and content, providing a more immersive and interactive browsing experience.
This approach can breathe life into your website, transforming it into a captivating visual journey that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression.
The benefits of using parallax themes extend beyond aesthetics. By incorporating engaging visual elements, parallax themes can help to tell a story, guide users through content, and ultimately increase conversions. Whether you’re showcasing a portfolio, presenting a product, or simply sharing your ideas, parallax themes offer a powerful tool for creating a memorable online presence.
Introduction to Parallax WordPress Themes
Parallax scrolling is a website design technique that creates an illusion of depth by making the background move at a slower rate than the foreground elements as the user scrolls down the page. This creates a visually engaging and immersive experience, drawing users deeper into the content.
Parallax themes offer several benefits for website owners, including:
- Enhanced User Engagement:Parallax scrolling creates a dynamic and interactive experience, keeping users engaged and scrolling through the entire website.
- Improved Visual Appeal:The depth and dimension created by parallax effects make websites visually appealing and stand out from the crowd.
- Storytelling Capabilities:Parallax themes allow for creative storytelling by seamlessly transitioning between different sections of the website, showcasing different aspects of the brand or message.
Key features of a parallax theme include:
- Background Images and Videos:Parallax themes often feature high-quality images or videos that act as the background, creating a stunning visual backdrop for the content.
- Animations and Transitions:Smooth animations and transitions between sections enhance the user experience and create a sense of flow.
- Customizable Layouts and Sections:Parallax themes provide flexible layouts and allow for customization of content sections, enabling website owners to create unique designs.
Best Free Parallax WordPress Themes for 2018
Here are five of the best free parallax WordPress themes available in 2018, each offering unique features and strengths:
| Theme Name | Developer | Key Features | Download Link | Demo Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parallax One | Themeisle | Responsive design, customizable homepage sections, parallax scrolling, video background support, WooCommerce integration | https://wordpress.org/themes/parallax-one/ | https://demo.themeisle.com/parallax-one/ |
| Sydney | aThemes | Clean and modern design, parallax scrolling, full-width slider, customizable homepage sections, WooCommerce integration | https://wordpress.org/themes/sydney/ | https://athemes.com/theme-demos/sydney/ |
| Zerif Lite | ThemeIsle | One-page design, parallax scrolling, customizable homepage sections, responsive design, WooCommerce integration | https://wordpress.org/themes/zerif-lite/ | https://demo.themeisle.com/zerif-lite/ |
| Shapely | Themeisle | Minimalist design, parallax scrolling, customizable homepage sections, responsive design, WooCommerce integration | https://wordpress.org/themes/shapely/ | https://demo.themeisle.com/shapely/ |
| Spacious | WordPress.org | Responsive design, customizable homepage sections, parallax scrolling, featured content slider, WooCommerce integration | https://wordpress.org/themes/spacious/ | https://wordpress.org/themes/spacious/screenshots/ |
Parallax One
Parallax One is a popular free parallax theme known for its clean and modern design. It offers a range of customization options, including customizable homepage sections, parallax scrolling, video background support, and WooCommerce integration. This theme is suitable for a wide range of websites, from personal blogs to business websites.
Sydney, Best free parallax wordpress themes 2018
Sydney is another excellent free parallax theme with a clean and modern design. It features parallax scrolling, a full-width slider, customizable homepage sections, and WooCommerce integration. This theme is perfect for businesses and individuals who want a visually appealing and professional website.
Zerif Lite
Zerif Lite is a one-page parallax theme that is ideal for businesses and individuals who want to showcase their services or products in a concise and impactful way. It offers customizable homepage sections, parallax scrolling, responsive design, and WooCommerce integration.
Shapely
Shapely is a minimalist parallax theme that is perfect for businesses and individuals who want a clean and modern website. It features parallax scrolling, customizable homepage sections, responsive design, and WooCommerce integration.
Spacious
Spacious is a responsive parallax theme that is suitable for a wide range of websites, from personal blogs to business websites. It offers customizable homepage sections, parallax scrolling, a featured content slider, and WooCommerce integration.
Setting Up and Customizing Parallax Themes
Installing and activating a parallax WordPress theme is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Download the theme:Download the theme file from the WordPress.org theme directory or the developer’s website.
- Upload the theme:Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard and click “Add New.” Then, click “Upload Theme” and select the theme file you downloaded.
- Activate the theme:Once the theme is uploaded, click “Activate” to make it live on your website.
Once the theme is activated, you can customize it to your liking. Common customization options include:
- Changing color schemes and fonts:Most parallax themes allow you to change the color scheme and fonts to match your brand identity.
- Adding custom content sections:You can add custom content sections to showcase your products, services, or testimonials.
- Adjusting parallax effects and animations:You can adjust the speed and intensity of parallax effects and animations to create the desired visual impact.
To enhance functionality, you can integrate parallax themes with popular plugins, such as:
- Visual Composer:A drag-and-drop page builder that allows you to easily create custom layouts and sections.
- Slider Revolution:A powerful slider plugin that enables you to create stunning slideshows with parallax effects.
- Contact Form 7:A popular plugin for creating contact forms, which can be integrated with parallax themes for lead generation.
Tips for Designing Effective Parallax Websites: Best Free Parallax WordPress Themes 2018
Here are some best practices for using parallax scrolling effectively:
- Choose high-quality images and videos:Use high-resolution images and videos that are optimized for web use. This ensures that the parallax effects are smooth and visually appealing.
- Maintain visual hierarchy and readability:Ensure that the text and other important elements are easily readable against the background. Use contrasting colors and appropriate font sizes to maintain readability.
- Balance parallax effects with user experience:Don’t overdo it with parallax effects. Too much scrolling can be disorienting and make the website difficult to navigate.
- Optimize website performance for smooth scrolling:Ensure that your website loads quickly and smoothly, especially on mobile devices. Use optimized images and videos to prevent lag and ensure a seamless scrolling experience.
Example Parallax Website Layout
| Section Name | Content Type | Parallax Effect | Visual Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Section | Large background image, headline, call to action | Slow background scrolling | The background image slowly scrolls behind the headline and call to action, creating a sense of depth and drawing attention to the main message. |
| About Us Section | Text, images, video | Moderate background scrolling | The background image scrolls at a moderate pace behind the text and images, creating a subtle depth effect and enhancing the visual flow of the section. |
| Services Section | Text, icons, call to action | Fast background scrolling | The background image scrolls quickly behind the text and icons, creating a dynamic and engaging effect that highlights the services offered. |
| Testimonials Section | Quotes, customer images | Slow background scrolling | The background image slowly scrolls behind the quotes and customer images, creating a sense of authenticity and trust. |
| Contact Section | Contact form, address, social media links | Static background | The background image remains static, providing a clean and focused backdrop for the contact information. |
Real-World Examples of Parallax WordPress Websites
Here are some real-world examples of websites that utilize parallax scrolling effectively:
- Apple:Apple’s website is a classic example of parallax scrolling used to create a visually engaging and immersive experience. The website uses parallax effects to highlight key products and features, drawing users deeper into the content.
- Airbnb:Airbnb’s website utilizes parallax scrolling to showcase stunning travel destinations and create a sense of adventure. The website uses parallax effects to transition between different sections, creating a smooth and engaging user experience.
- Nike:Nike’s website uses parallax scrolling to showcase its latest products and campaigns. The website uses parallax effects to create a sense of movement and energy, reflecting the brand’s athletic spirit.
Parallax scrolling is an effective design technique for various industries and website purposes. It can be used to create visually appealing websites that engage users and convey brand messages effectively. When used thoughtfully and strategically, parallax scrolling can enhance the user experience and make websites stand out from the crowd.
Final Wrap-Up
In conclusion, best free parallax WordPress themes 2018 provide a fantastic opportunity to elevate your website’s design and enhance the user experience. By choosing a theme that aligns with your brand and goals, you can create a website that is visually stunning, engaging, and effective in achieving your online objectives.
The right parallax theme can be the key to transforming your website into a captivating digital experience that resonates with your audience.
General Inquiries
What are the key features of parallax themes?
Parallax themes typically include features like background images, animations, smooth transitions, and layered content to create the parallax effect.
How do I customize a parallax theme?
Most parallax themes offer customization options like changing colors, fonts, adding content sections, and adjusting parallax effects. You can also use plugins to enhance functionality.
Are parallax themes responsive?
Yes, many free parallax themes are responsive, meaning they adjust to different screen sizes for optimal viewing on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.