2012 has seen some interesting trends in web design, not least of which is the grid-style gallery layout, which no doubt gained popularity with a lot of thanks to the huge success of Pinterest.

Another trend that is, without doubt, here to stay, is responsive design. With the number of internet users connecting via mobile devices growing daily, responsive design is not so much a trend as a new standard. The increasing use of HTML5 and CSS3 is also affecting website design. So here we are bringing you a selection of some of the best premium WordPress themes that have been released at the end of 2012.

Newest Premium WordPress Themes

Ink

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• Set custom background image for individual pages
• Filterable portfolio template
• Set your own colors

Price $49 (Buy one get one free)

Opulence

Features include:

• Responsive layout for all devices
• Featured products on slideshow
• Featured product categories on homepage
• Brand viewer with sliding effect

Price $59

Persona

Features include:

• Responsive layout for all devices
• Integrated with many social networks
• Awesome hover effect and photo details
• Facebook comment plugin

Price $69

Letters

Features include:

• Responsive layout for all devices
• Gallery and portfolio page templates
• Custom color scheme
• Comprehensive SEO management system

Price $59

Alternate

Features include:

• Minimal responsive portfolio theme
• Filterable portfolio on the front page
• Custom background
• Custom shortcodes

Price $45

BlogBeast

Features include:

• Fully responsive and adaptive design
• Featured posts section
• Sticky navigation and fading in next/previous navigation
• WordPress 3.5+ ready

Price $69.95

Hartee

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• 5 unique color schemes
• 2 different layouts

Price: Join and get all themes for $39

x2

Features include:

• 3 slideshows, fully customizable and showing your posts
• Page templates
• Based on Twitter Bootstrap 1.1

Price $79

Elastik

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• Easy customization
• Featured slideshow
• Post formats

Price $69

Venture

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• Full-width slideshow
• Built in portfolio
• 12 unique widgets

Price $69

Libra

Features include:

• 1170 pixel layout: wide, responsive and strong
• Boxed/stretched layout
• Unlimited sliders with 9 slider types
• Numerous page templates

Price $50

Urban News

Features include:

• Responsive layout option
• Unlimited galleries
• Unlimited color schemes
• Auto scrolling news ticker

Price $45

Higher

Features include:

• Responsive design
• Custom backgrounds and unlimited colors
• Fully customizable
• Portfolio management

Price $45

Iconik

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• Fullscreen slidesho with Vimeo, YouTube and HTML5 support
• Blog post formats
• Many shortcodes with shortcode generator

Price $45

Hypershot

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• Alternative homepage templates
• 2 color versions: light or dark
• Masonry albums, gallery and blog

Price $45

Expression

Features include:

• Responsive layout for all devices
• WordPress 3.4 compatible
• Built on HTML5 and CSS3

Price $49

Pinshop

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• WooCommerce
• Customizable shop pages
• 10 theme skins

Price $39 (or get all Themify themes for $69)

Nimble

Features include:

• Five color schemes
• Responsive design
• Large collection of shortcodes
• Page templates

Price Buy all 79 Elegant Themes for $39 or $89 (Personal or Developer Membership)

Cherry

Features include:

• Responsive magazine, news and blog template
• HTML5 and CSS3 tableless design
• Feature slider
• 2 layout options (full width and fixed width)

Price $45

Secundo

Features include:

• Responsive HTML5/CSS3 Portfolio design
• 53 custom shortcodes
• Built with Bootstrap 2.2.1
• Contains all psd sources

Price $40

Skeu

Features include:

• Unique skeumorphic design
• Fully responsive layout
• Retina display support
• Responsive sliders

Price $40

Fallen Angel

Features include:

• Fullscreen, responsive design
• 4 portfolio styles
• Slider and custom backgrounds
• 80+ icons

Price $40

Gridz

Features include:

• Responsive, retina ready design
• Unlimited colors and backgrounds
• Flexible header and footer
• Unlimited portfolio pages

Price $45

Athena

Features include:

• Responsive design
• 10 default skins
• 2D and 3D slider support
• 12 different portfolio page styles

Price $45

Radiance

Features include:

• Responsive design framework
• Featured Posts and Featured Pages sliders
• Automatic post thumbnails and featured post images

Price $59

Photocrati

Features include:

• 60 different styles
• Built-in gallery system
• Customize everything easily

Price $89

Newsroom

Features include:

• Responsive layout
• Header newsflash
• Left or right sidebar
• Flexible base styles

Price $45

Blogphix

Features include:

• Responsive/Adaptive design
• 45+ preset background patterns
• Optional slider and custom posts
• Infinite scrolling layout

Price $40

Conclusion

This selection has included some of the trends and new standards that have graced our screens in 2012 and that we think will continue to do so.

If you feel you need some help with these disciplines in your designs, or you simply don’t have the time to create your own blog from scratch, we are fortunate that there are designers and developers who spend the time to bring us these themes at relatively low cost.

Please share your thoughts and opinions about using premium WordPress themes with us in the comments section below.