I have to admit: before I came to Stardock, I'd never given much thought to desktop customization.

Don't get me wrong! I changed my screensaver to slideshows of my college years and updated the background on my desktop as much as anyone else. But, I had no idea about the depth of customization I'd been missing out on, or the kind of community that existed out there in the world of the Internet. 

Whether I want to completely change the look of Windows or just add some minimal changes, I have tons of options for customizing my PC just the way I want to. 

WindowBlinds
Did you know that there are thousands of custom skins available on WinCustomize that can change the entire look and feel of the Windows interface?

No? Well, now you do!

Once you've chosen a skin, you can customize it further by changing the color, transparency, and texture. The practical side of me prefers more minimally designed skins that are easy to work with on a daily basis, but the less practical side of me (which tends to dominate, if I'm honest) is all about wild and unique and fun. The good news is that there are so many choices available that there's something for everyone!

Learn more about WindowBlinds here.

DeskScapes
My desktop backgrounds have always been something unique to me. Once I got my own PC for college, that is. Until that time, I shared a computer with my family, and my dad was always of a very minimalist mindset - he didn't much care for the wildly colored anime backgrounds (hey, don't judge me) I used to throw on there during my high school days.

Suffice to say, I don't think he'd love the super cool animated backgrounds that DeskScapes lets you add to your desktop. Some of them can be pretty busy, but there are tons with very subtle animation that isn't at all distracting. It all depends on your preference! In addition to the backgrounds themselves, DeskScapes has over 40 special effects that can be applied to them in order to take your customization even further.

WinCustomize, which I mentioned above, has many more animated backgrounds available in a wide variety of styles. Make sure to go browse them!

Learn more about DeskScapes here.

IconPackager   
Way back in the day, I remember downloading themes and things for my desktop that would change my icons. I hadn't done that in years (mostly out of laziness), and then I came here and discovered IconPackager.

The app uses an entire package of icons to change nearly all of them at the click of a button. You can also change the icons individually, but there are thousands of icon packs available that can apply a matching set across your entire PC. If you enjoy uniformity, this is a great option for you! Me? I'm a little more chaotic than that. The bundled packs of custom icons, by the way, can also be customized and recolored from within IconPackager.

Learn more about IconPackager here.

Start10
I'm normally a person who enjoys change in most areas of my life. I like greeting new challenges or experiences with excitement and taking them on with gusto!

That said, when Windows 8 debuted I dug my heels in, put on my whining pants, and said "NO."

I wish I had discovered Start8 years ago. I clung to Windows 7 as long as possible, but when I got an updated laptop I mourned my lost user interface. I muddled through both Windows 8 and Windows 10, reminiscing about the glory days (or something else equally dramatic). When I came to Stardock, I found my solution to my problem: Start10. 

Start10 brings your Windows 10 Start Menu back to the days of Windows 7, but it also offers more than that through customization. You can change the Start menu button to an image of your choice (many of which you can also find on WinCustomize). You can also apply colors, textures, and transparency to the taskbar and Start Menu. Sometimes, joy is in the smaller details!

Learn more about Start10 here.

I never used to think much about desktop customization, but I'm a changed woman now - like Scrooge on Christmas morning! ...Okay, maybe not that dramatic. Still, the aforementioned apps are only a scratch on the surface of the kinds of things I can do to make my PC experience more streamlined and unique for myself. The next time I write, we'll explore some of the other options.

If you want to learn more about the apps above, plus see what else Stardock has to offer in our award-winning desktop customization suite, visit the Object Desktop site.