A theme sets type, space and templates. Visitors feel it in a second. You feel it every time you try to change a template without breaking the rest of the site.
Pick for templates
You need a post list, a readable article, a page, and a search. Everything else is optional. Demo sites with 40 layouts usually mean 40 places to break.
Speed and updates
Lightweight beats “multipurpose”. Check the last update date. Abandoned themes become security problems.
Child theme or your own
If the brand is yours, own the templates. Custom CSS on a giant parent is how sites rot.
