# Essential, a simple theme for Discourse 🎨

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/essential-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/180750
**Category:** Theme
**Created:** [February 22, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/essential-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/180750 "2021-02-22T14:46:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![meghna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/meghna/32/453356_2.png) [@meghna](https://meta.discourse.org/u/meghna)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/essential-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/180750/1 "2021-02-22T14:46:07Z")

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This theme is a variation of [Elementary theme](https://meta.discourse.org/t/elementary-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/177159). The homepage layout (topic list) is changed to show just the essential information in two columns.

🎨 🌈 💬

Homepage:

 ![Screenshot 2021-02-22 at 8.05.09 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/e/6/e635f9764efc6876d6cefeacaa97bbb162786e75.jpeg)

Full page search:

 ![Screenshot 2021-02-22 at 8.05.49 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/c/7/c7c1c99a392ef6267c2eab43ae98b508fa2c9787.png)

Suggested Topics under topic details:

 ![Screenshot 2021-02-22 at 8.06.34 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/a/3/a3b6b0c8ffea634905473b2ee0e5ace2574cba3b.jpeg)

Let me know how this theme can be further improved. Enjoy! 🙂

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 🕶 | **Preview** | [Preview on theme creator](https://theme-creator.discourse.org/theme/meghna/essential) |
| 🔗 | **Github Repo** | [discourse-essential-theme](https://github.com/meghnaAJ/discourse-essential-theme) |
| 🛠 | **Install Guide** | [How to install a theme or theme component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-i-install-a-theme-or-theme-component/63682) |

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/codinghorror/32/110067_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/essential-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/180750/2 "2021-02-23T03:41:58Z")

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One thing that is a bit confusing is the two dates.. I suggest for a simple theme, one date is preferable?

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/b/0/b078c9cc38e8ffc93248e1303b3f5bce0fc2a742.jpeg)

Also, did you decide to remove any elements from the topic page itself? There are no screenshots of a topic.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![meghna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/meghna/32/453356_2.png) [@meghna](https://meta.discourse.org/u/meghna)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2021, 3:56am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/essential-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/180750/3 "2021-02-23T03:56:58Z")

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This theme is a minor variation of the [Elementary theme](https://meta.discourse.org/t/elementary-a-simple-theme-for-discourse/177159) which was originally inspired from [Sam’s simple theme](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sams-personal-minimal-topic-list-design/23552). There are no changes in topic page layout.

Just to clarify: the date under topic title is topic created date, and the date in activity column is last posted date.

I am currently working on a new theme which will be very minimal and will remove elements from topic page that may be confusing for beginners.

Thank you for the feedback!