I’m excited to share that Powder 1.6 is now available. This release is the most feature-rich update in some time, packed with enhancements, fresh patterns, and notable improvements throughout the theme.
Highlights include new theme settings, curated Tailwind CSS-inspired color palettes, and block styles. We’ve also added a sidebar template part, companion templates, and reorganized the theme’s structure with cleaner separation of functions—all designed to improve flexibility.
Theme Settings
A new Theme Settings page has been introduced in Powder 1.6, providing users with greater control over their design experience. From this panel, users can easily enable and disable patterns by color and by category, streamlining what appears in the Block Inserter and Site Editor.
View commit for Theme Settings page on GitHub.
Color Palettes
Powder 1.6 introduces a thoughtfully refined set of 12 curated color palettes, down from the original 22. Still rooted in the spirit of Tailwind CSS, this streamlined collection reduces noise while offering generous, intentional variety—empowering you to craft visually striking and cohesive designs with ease.
View commit for updated Color Palettes on GitHub.
Fade In Up Block Style
Powder 1.6 adds a subtle touch of motion with a new block style called Fade In Up, available for Group blocks. This effect brings elements into view with a smooth upward transition as they enter the viewport, adding polish and visual interest without overwhelming the design. It’s a simple, effective way to guide attention and create a more engaging experience.
View commit for Fade In Up block style on GitHub.
Introducing a Sidebar
Powder 1.6 introduces a new Sidebar template part, expanding layout possibilities for content-rich sites. It’s now available in Template patterns such as Page with sidebar and Post with sidebar, giving greater flexibility to organize information, highlight key content, or add calls to action—all without compromising the clean, modern aesthetic of Powder.
View commit for Sidebar template part on GitHub.
Functions Separation
To improve organization and maintainability, Powder 1.6 restructures the theme’s core functionality by separating key functions into individual files within a new /inc/ directory. This modular approach makes the codebase easier to scan, update, and extend—which should be especially helpful for developers who customize the theme or build on top of it.