The central theses
- Personalize your desktop, taskbar and cursor with Windows themes and customize your wallpaper and screen saver for a unique PC ambience.
- The default glow-and-dark themes shine brightly; explore world parks, color explosions, and holiday themes for themed Windows fun.
- Immerse yourself in stargazing with Stars at Night, admire the views of the French Riviera, or immerse yourself in the wildlife with Autumn Vibes on your Windows PC.
The best thing about getting a new PC or laptop is that you can start from scratch and customize and personalize your computer to suit your taste and style. After changing your wallpaper and screen saver, you might think there’s not much left to do. Believe it or not, there are many more customization options you can take advantage of on Windows.
You can still personalize your desktop taskbar, customize your mouse cursor, and of course, add a great theme to your Windows 11 operating system. While these few customization options may be overlooked, they offer a lot in terms of personalization and can help give your workstation or gaming rig a completely different look.
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What are Windows 11 themes?
A Windows theme is a collection of user interface modifications that change the overall appearance of the Windows operating system. This can range from the overall look of the PC to the file system or the settings menu. Most themes usually focus on a set of wallpapers coordinated with accent colors for your desktop.
Windows themes can include new desktop/folder icons, custom wallpapers and screen savers, Settings menu customizations, color schemes, new mouse pointers, screen animations, and new desktop styles, among other things. Most Windows themes are free for the general public to download from the Microsoft Store, but as with everything in life, you have to pay for the best themes. Read on to see some beautiful Windows themes that will make you feel good on your PC without having to pay extra.
10 The Windows Glow design
The best default theme for Windows
There are 9 default themes available on Windows, so you have those options to choose from without having to browse the Microsoft Store or download anything. The default themes are definitely an improvement over previous versions of Windows, but they lack variety.
Each of these contains several images that are used as wallpaper and screensaver. The best theme here is arguably the Glow theme. It has a colorful wallpaper and is the only one that drastically changes the taskbar. Plus, it has an eye-catching wallpaper that can really take advantage of a good display.
9 The dark Windows design
The best dark theme for Windows
Another default Windows theme that made it here is the default Windows dark theme. Many people use dark themes for their phone browsers and settings menus because they look better and are easier on the battery, so there’s no doubt that this would be a fan favorite theme.
The system’s dark theme offers a simple color palette of black and gray for the standard Windows theme. This theme is ideal for night owls who don’t want to be blinded by the white light of the standard Windows theme.
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8th The topic “National Parks of the World”
The best nature theme for Windows
This theme is not new to Windows. Some of the images in this theme pack even appear on wallpapers and screensavers in Windows 8 and 10. This theme pack includes over 18 images of national parks around the world, each showcasing unique biomes and landscapes. This theme pack offers many variations and also has the added benefit of teaching you about natural wonders around the world.
7 The color explosion theme
The best color theme for Windows
If you liked the iPhone 5 and 6 wallpapers, you’ll love this next theme. The Color Explosion theme is a series of high-resolution images of paint splatters against a black background.
This Windows theme looks even better if you’re using a UHD or 4K monitor, where the colors and hues really pop. If you want to add some sparkle to your PC, download this theme now.
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6 The holiday splendor and New Year-themed fireworks
The best holiday themes for Windows
Of course, we can’t forget the holiday themes for the festive season. For these themes, you’re either old enough to have them all memorized already, or young enough to be preparing them for someone in your family. Either way, it’s good to have these themes on hand.
You will need to download all of these themes individually as they are not included in the package, but they cover most of the major holidays and will bring a festive spirit to your workplace all year round. There are multiple versions of each holiday theme, so just choose the ones that work for you.
Here are some honorable mentions to download and install: Chicks and Bunnies (Easter), Pumpkin Season (Halloween), Holiday Glow (Christmas), New Year Fireworks and Festival of Lights (Diwali).
5 The stars at night and the solar eclipse
The best space themes for Windows
If you like both the stars and the planets of our solar system, you should try the Stars at Night theme and the Solar Eclipse theme. The Stars at Night theme has some great wallpapers for stargazers, although you’ll also see the default Windows 10 wallpaper here.
The theme focuses on the stars in the night sky over picturesque backdrops. The Solar Eclipse is a newer theme pack that includes over 15 professional images of the total solar eclipse that occurred over North America on April 8, 2024.
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4 The theme of the French Riviera
The best European theme for Windows
Whether you’re dreaming of a trip to Europe or just returned from there, this theme will make you feel like you’re floating on a riverboat under the Mediterranean sun. This collection of wallpapers and screensavers is all about, you guessed it, the French Riviera.
The wallpaper collection includes images of famous canals, grottos, the picturesque European countryside and small river boats parked side by side next to the piers. This theme will make you feel like you are sitting on the river in France while working on your desktop.
3 The topic “Animals in Autumn”
The best animal theme for Windows
The Animals in Autumn theme includes over 16 stunning images of various animals in an autumnal setting. Some of these images include a dog with a ball, a squirrel eating a berry, a male deer in the bushes, and a kitten surrounded by autumn leaves.
This Windows theme is a great addition to your library to use every fall, or to alternate with other animal and nature themes on your desktop. If fall is coming and you love animals, this theme is definitely worth downloading.
2 The themes “Windows Nostalgia” and “MacOS Monterey”
The best alternative operating system themes for Windows
If you want to spice up your Windows 11 display, why not try a theme from another operating system or platform? If you want, you can turn your Windows PC into something that looks like a Mac or Linux system. If you’re feeling really retro and want to experience some operating system nostalgia, you can even download and install themes from older versions of Windows.
There are hundreds of operating system re-skins and themes that you can add to your PC. Some popular themes in this category are the macOS Monterey SkinPack, Windows Nostalgia Bliss or Ubuntu Light SkinPack.
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1 The spring art theme
The best art theme for Windows
The Springtime Art theme is one of the best free themes on the Microsoft Store. The theme uses a low-poly art style and features Mount Fuji surrounded by sakura trees, a forest river, or an open plain by the sea.
This theme is very relaxing and definitely deserves its place at the top of this list. If you want a theme that is both creative and beautiful on your Windows PC, try the Springtime Art theme.
A theme for every mood
By now you could have a theme for every day of the week if you wanted one. Lists like this are always subjective, so your favorite theme might not be my first choice, but hopefully after reading this article you’ll have a better looking PC with a new theme.
