Apparently, even horror websites need to get dressed.

For Fright Attendant, I wanted something that looked appropriately out of place without making visitors feel like they’d accidentally stumbled onto an ancient website from 2004. The plan was simple, dark colors, dramatic typography, easy navigation, and enough customization to make the site feel serviceable without taking up another 40 hours of the week alongside my job.

After comparing three WordPress themes, I settled on Astra!

Where Do Themes Come From?

WordPress makes finding themes fairly painless. You can browse thousands through the official WordPress.org Theme Directory, purchase premium themes from marketplaces like ThemeForest, download them directly from developers, or even build your own if you’re feeling particularly ambitious.

Personally, I’d stick with more reputable sources. Free themes from the official directory undergo a review process andpremium themes might offer additional customization and support. Regardless of where they come from, checking compatibility, update frequency, security, licensing, and developer reputation is important. Nobody wants their website haunted by outdated software or any of that nonsense.

Now We Get Into the Really Boring Stuff

Underneath all those pretty layouts are the files that actually make WordPress themes work.

A traditional WordPress theme needs two essential files:

• style.css: Identifies the theme and controls its visual styling.
• index.php: Acts as the fallback template when WordPress needs to display content.

Additional files commonly include:

• functions.php: Adds functionality and loads scripts and styles.
• header.php: Handles the site’s header.
• footer.php: Handles the footer.
• single.php: Controls individual blog posts.
• page.php: Controls static pages.
• archive.php: Displays collections of posts.
• comments.php: Handles comment displays.
• screenshot.png: Provides the preview image shown in the theme selector.

Modern block themes work a little differently, requiring style.css and templates/index.html, and often using theme.json for global design settings.

Exciting stuff, I know I know, thanks. Still, understanding these files makes troubleshooting and customization considerably less mysterious.

The Theme Showdown

I compared three candidates using a weighted decision matrix:

• Astra: 4.90/5
• Kadence: 4.70/5
• GeneratePress: 4.30/5

My criteria were ease of use (30%), readability (25%), customization (20%), mobile responsiveness (15%), and visual aesthetics (10%).

Readability matters because Fright Attendant will feature articles about horror, storytelling, and psychology. Customization and visual aesthetics help create the appropriate atmosphere, while responsive design ensures visitors can actually read the content on their phones.

I weighted ease of use highest because I’d prefer spending my time writing horror stories rather than fighting with my website. Astra won because its interface felt intuitive without sacrificing the features I wanted.

Putting Astra to Work

Installation was (refreshingly) uneventful. I went through Appearance → Themes → Add Theme in the WordPress dashboard, searched for Astra, installed it, and activated it. No manual downloads, FTP transfers, additional purchases, or elaborate rituals required.

From there, I selected a dark color palette, chose Playfair Display for dramatic headings, and used Inter for readable body text. I also checked the mobile preview to make sure everything displayed properly on smaller screens.

Ultimately, Astra gives Fright Attendant a solid foundation. It’s flexible enough to evolve with the website, straightforward enough to maintain, and atmospheric enough to complement the content.

Now I just need to write something terrifying enough to deserve it.