WordPress Trends to Look Out for in 2014

WordPress has been around for more than a decade. That it has been around for so long and that too, in a world where tools and technologies come in droves and are rejected outright, speaks volumes about its efficiency and reliability. In fact, it is the most popular content management system (CMS) out there right now, and close to 20 percent of all websites are driven by WordPress. Websites of some of the largest organizations in the world, like NASA and the Ford Motor Company, and about half of the top 100 Technorati blogs run on WordPress. So don't be surprised if your client insists that you build a WordPress site for him. The following WordPress trends will rule roost in 2014, and you should keep these in mind to create the most functionally efficient and visually attractive websites.

Simple and Fast-Loading Sites                                                                

Whether powered by WordPress or not, loading time has always been a performance parameter of websites. So the trend towards building fast-loading WordPress sites is actually one that will continue to dominate in the years to come. In fact, with the increased use of mobile hand-held devices, designers will now be compelled more than ever to build attractive and memorable but simple and fast-loading sites.

Flat Sites

The trend towards simplicity and the mobile revolution have given rise to a preference for flat websites. With the iOS7 and Windows 8 interfaces blazing the trail, more and more designers this year will do away with shadows and gradients, and opt for smart use of solid color blocks to represent the various elements on WordPress sites.

Infinitely Scrollable Sites

The mobile revolution has also seen a preference for single-page layouts or the infinitely scrollable websites amongst designers and website owners. This means that designers this year will not need to try hard and cram content above the fold. This trend will see a rise in the popularity of WordPress themes like One Page, Interion, and Renova that facilitate the infinite scroll layout.

Typography In Place of Images

One effective way to minimize loading time of a website is to go minimal on the multimedia elements contained within a page. And to create impact without gobbling up the viewers' bandwidths, WordPress website designers will rely on custom-made typefaces instead of images. Designers will make use of add-ons like Typekit to build stunning websites with distinctive typography that can create the right mood and reflect a brand's identity.

Large Background Images

Even if they slow down loading times, images will not be ditched altogether. Because images do say a thousand words! So to create the right ambience and to reflect the essence of a corporation, designers will use large, full-width background images on WordPress-driven sites. The trends towards using a high-resolution background image will see more and more designers adopting WordPress themes like Lensa to build websites.

The above-mentioned WordPress trends will dominate the year 2014. Take a stroll around the Web, and you will notice that some visionaries have already put up sites that reflect these trends.