New Theme: Matala
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.
The Matala Theme
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.
July 14th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
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.
July 15th, 2011 at 2:25 am
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.
July 14th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
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.
July 14th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
New themes are streaming in… Beautifully done
July 14th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Amazing… Like it like it love it!
July 14th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
I love this theme and have switched to it. I envied it when Matt was using it. It is truly a work of art.
July 14th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Looks great!!!
July 14th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Gorgeous
I love the colors!
July 14th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
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. 
July 15th, 2011 at 3:56 am
It is soooo pretty!!
July 15th, 2011 at 4:19 am
I think it’s very colourful and inspiring but it just doesn’t fit at my blog, otherwise i really used it!
July 15th, 2011 at 5:15 am
NICE!
July 15th, 2011 at 6:28 am
Whoa, awesome!
July 15th, 2011 at 7:43 am
i love it…..really nice one!
July 15th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
wow. cant wait to try it now!!!
July 15th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
….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.
July 16th, 2011 at 1:58 am
Like! The first theme I actually liked!
July 16th, 2011 at 2:50 am
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!
July 16th, 2011 at 8:14 am
A typical girls-theme, very nice
July 16th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Wow its wonderful and enegertic.
July 16th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
I like it.
July 16th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
nice, simply good.
July 16th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Wonderful! But I’m still waiting for just ONE good photography theme for wordpress.com!
July 18th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Hi there. We have many more themes coming.
In the meantime, have you seen the photography-centric themes in our Theme Showcase?
July 16th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
very colorful and inspiring whenever I use it. Thanks much.
July 17th, 2011 at 2:13 am
Definitely an appealing theme! Unfortunately, not quite my cup of eclectic tea, but nice to see!
July 17th, 2011 at 6:55 am
it’s so beautiful
July 17th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Colorful, but its design is hard to fit on many uses.
July 17th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Wow, the theme is very colorful. It makes me smile. I will change my theme soon for this. I love it!
July 17th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
good, how will i use it?
July 17th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
beautiful theme. very fun and funky and eye-catching! i love it!
July 17th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
like it !!
July 17th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
I like it! It seems to have a cute Vera Bradley-inspired look to it!
July 18th, 2011 at 12:26 am
Gorgeous!!! Very Striking!!!
July 18th, 2011 at 1:41 am
And they just keep coming! Thanks for all the new themes.
July 18th, 2011 at 2:37 am
Nice Theme, I Like It.
July 18th, 2011 at 4:35 am
I LOVE all the colours! Great job with this one! And it’s FREE, even better!
July 18th, 2011 at 4:39 am
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.
July 18th, 2011 at 7:42 am
love it
July 18th, 2011 at 8:01 am
It’s really nice. I like it!
July 18th, 2011 at 8:56 am
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!
July 18th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
I actually like it!
July 19th, 2011 at 1:03 am
I love the color scheme.
July 19th, 2011 at 2:24 am
Another nice theme, thanks.
July 19th, 2011 at 2:32 am
Sold. I love it.
July 19th, 2011 at 11:25 am
It was love at first sight! Keep up the good work!
July 19th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Nice colors. Awesome!
July 19th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
This is an absolutely beautiful and vibrant theme. I love it! Tamara
July 19th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Nice!
July 19th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
i’m i love with this theme!! It fits the needs of my travel adventure-blog very well!!
Thanks from the Czech Republic!
July 20th, 2011 at 2:42 am
Very pretty! I love using this one!
July 20th, 2011 at 3:27 am
I love this!!!!
July 20th, 2011 at 7:14 am
colorful and nice theme i like it.
July 20th, 2011 at 10:19 am
i like it
July 20th, 2011 at 10:56 am
where can i get that theme?
July 25th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
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.
July 20th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Love it Love it. It’s cheerful, its comforting.
God Bless
July 20th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
cool theme i like the page line out nice work
July 21st, 2011 at 2:46 am
Nice.
July 21st, 2011 at 7:00 am
I love it !!
July 21st, 2011 at 5:09 pm
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
July 21st, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Pretty colour.
July 21st, 2011 at 10:04 pm
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.
July 21st, 2011 at 10:48 pm
This theme is gorgeous! Amazing! Beautiful! Congrats to the designer who created it!
July 22nd, 2011 at 1:06 am
I love it
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:53 am
I love the colors! This is such a bright, happy theme.
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:09 am
Like it
July 22nd, 2011 at 9:44 am
looks like a nice choice!
July 22nd, 2011 at 10:15 am
wow!! Love the colours! Very playful with a funky edge to it!
July 22nd, 2011 at 12:17 pm
The theme is too busy.
July 23rd, 2011 at 12:17 am
Gorgeous and vibrant!!! I love it!
July 23rd, 2011 at 2:07 am
Cool:)
July 23rd, 2011 at 10:30 am
Great Theme
July 23rd, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Too colourful for me, but i like it.
July 23rd, 2011 at 3:34 pm
vivid – will use it – thanks.
July 24th, 2011 at 12:44 am
That’s fantastic!
July 24th, 2011 at 5:38 am
cool looking theme! Nice colors
July 24th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
nice theme… can I use it?
July 25th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Of course you can use it.
July 25th, 2011 at 4:00 am
very very nice theme… i like it.
July 25th, 2011 at 5:59 am
Wow I really love this theme. I’m using it right now on my blog.
July 25th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Very nice theme. It looks ‘active & vibrant’. Nicely done.
July 25th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
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!