Today we’re excited to launch Matala, our newest theme. You might recognize this one — it was once the primary theme for ma.tt, Matt Mullenweg’s blog. Last year, Matala was released to the WordPress.org Themes Directory, and now we’re thrilled to bring it to WordPress.com.
Originally designed by Nicolò Volpato, Matala’s bright colors and dynamic shapes are suggestive of designs seen in Talavera, a pottery tradition common in Puebla, Mexico. Grungy textures, hand-scribbled icons, and whimsically tilting text in the main navigation menu join the colors and shapes to give your blog a bright, playful look.
You can use Matala’s fun design as is, or create a look of your own with a custom background image and custom header image.
Matala comes with three widget-ready areas: the right-hand sidebar and two columns at the bottom of your post content column. In addition, there is a full-width page for single-image pages, an option to display a small “Random Photos” gallery on single-image pages, and support for six post formats — aside, status, quote, video, image and gallery.
Learn more about Matala’s features on the Theme Showcase.
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I really, really like this one. Almost switched until I saw it only supports 2 widgets :(. I figure it was more the funky colourful header that I love more than the layout itself.
Hi there. There are three widget areas in Matala. The first is in the right-hand sidebar (“Default sidebar”). The other two appear as columns at the bottom of the main content area.
Oh, WOW is this gorgeous! I love it! I’m not going to change from Fruit Shake, but oh, how I want to! Maybe after the baby is born and I move on to a different kind of blogging. This is really, really gorgeous.
New themes are streaming in… Beautifully done 😀
Amazing… Like it like it love it!
I love this theme and have switched to it. I envied it when Matt was using it. It is truly a work of art.
Looks great!!!
Gorgeous 🙂 I love the colors!
My, you’re just churning out new themes, aren’t you? Not that I’m complaining, mind! 😀 If I ever decide to switch from my current theme, this one will definitely be a candidate. 🙂
It is soooo pretty!!
I think it’s very colourful and inspiring but it just doesn’t fit at my blog, otherwise i really used it!
NICE!
Whoa, awesome!
i love it…..really nice one!
wow. cant wait to try it now!!!
….Just Another WordPress Weblog? Come on, this is Just a Great Theme!
Very delicate, coherent and takes care of all kinds of posts we like to add, but with its own personal touch. Fantastic work; congratulations.
You have given me quite a task now. I have to make a new blog just to use this theme.
Like! The first theme I actually liked!
Omeegosh! This theme is awesome and beautiful! You all keep them coming and I can’t decide which theme to stick with…Choco, Mystique, now Matala! Thank you!
A typical girls-theme, very nice 😉
Wow its wonderful and enegertic.
I like it.
nice, simply good.
Wonderful! But I’m still waiting for just ONE good photography theme for wordpress.com!
Hi there. We have many more themes coming. 🙂 In the meantime, have you seen the photography-centric themes in our Theme Showcase?
very colorful and inspiring whenever I use it. Thanks much.
Definitely an appealing theme! Unfortunately, not quite my cup of eclectic tea, but nice to see!
it’s so beautiful
Colorful, but its design is hard to fit on many uses.
Wow, the theme is very colorful. It makes me smile. I will change my theme soon for this. I love it! 😀
good, how will i use it?
beautiful theme. very fun and funky and eye-catching! i love it!
like it !!
I like it! It seems to have a cute Vera Bradley-inspired look to it!
Gorgeous!!! Very Striking!!! 🙂
And they just keep coming! Thanks for all the new themes.
Nice Theme, I Like It. 😀
I LOVE all the colours! Great job with this one! And it’s FREE, even better!
Hi, I travel to Mexico a lot and this theme reminds me a lot of what I see along the way. Vibrant, fun, colorful and cool. it looks terrific.
love it
It’s really nice. I like it!
My prayers have been answered! After I so bitterly complained about WP’s zen-heaven purist themes, I finally got my wish of something richer, more colourful and whimsical. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope there are MANY more where this beauty came from! Gonna try it on right away! Well done, I adore it!
I actually like it! 😀
I love the color scheme.
Another nice theme, thanks.
Sold. I love it. 😀
It was love at first sight! Keep up the good work!
Nice colors. Awesome!
This is an absolutely beautiful and vibrant theme. I love it! Tamara 😉
Nice!
i’m i love with this theme!! It fits the needs of my travel adventure-blog very well!!
Thanks from the Czech Republic!
Very pretty! I love using this one!
I love this!!!!
colorful and nice theme i like it.
i like it
where can i get that theme?
You can activate this theme on your blog by going to Appearance → Themes in your Dashboard. Once there, type “Matala” in the search box and you will be able to activate it from there.
Love it Love it. It’s cheerful, its comforting.
God Bless
cool theme i like the page line out nice work 😉
Nice.
I love it !!
This is wonderful. It makes me feel happy just to look at it. When I first changed over to Matala I kept going back to look at it again and again
Pretty colour.
I LOVE this theme! It reminds me a bit of Koi by Nick La, which is the one I use for my main blog. It made me happy that there is one more pretty but not insanely cutesy theme.
This theme is gorgeous! Amazing! Beautiful! Congrats to the designer who created it!
I love it
I love the colors! This is such a bright, happy theme.
Like it
looks like a nice choice!
wow!! Love the colours! Very playful with a funky edge to it!
The theme is too busy.
Gorgeous and vibrant!!! I love it!
Cool:)
Great Theme
Too colourful for me, but i like it.
vivid – will use it – thanks.
That’s fantastic!
cool looking theme! Nice colors
nice theme… can I use it? 😀
Of course you can use it. 🙂
very very nice theme… i like it.
Wow I really love this theme. I’m using it right now on my blog.
Very nice theme. It looks ‘active & vibrant’. Nicely done.
Not too sure about the white headline text against the crazy multicoloured background. It’s a little hard to see. But with a changeable background image it’s a jolly, funky template!