If you’re one of those people who spends most of their free time tinkering with your mobile phone ringtone or reorganizing your bedroom, then StyleXP could become your new favorite toy.

Style XP works by patching your operating system to accept unassigned styles, scores of which are available for download from the web. Once you've applied a style you can tweak virtually any aspect of the appearance, including the font size, screensaver, colors, menu transparency, or even the boot screen. What’s more, if you're particularly artistically minded you can to create your own elements in a graphics editor and apply them to the skin in Style XP.

Although the developer has made strides towards making the interface as simple as possible, there are so many customization options that it can be a little daunting for new users of Style XP.

There's no doubt that the temptation to make Windows look like OSX or apply a 'Windows Pirate Edition' boot screen is pretty appealing, but pimping your OS in this way does come with a risk. It’s worth bearing in mind that because of the way the Style XP writes files to your system folder you could end up doing damage to your machine, especially if you install a patch or a new service pack.

Having said this, we've experienced no problems yet (touch wood) and also found that Style XP runs pretty smoothly without sucking too much RAM. You can choose to keep Style XP locked in the System Tray, or release it so that it uses no resources, which is a refreshing thing to see from a developer.

With so many themes and customization options available, Style XP is well worth a look if you fancy a change of scenery on your desktop, but keep in mind the risks involved in using a patching program such as this.

Download Style XP 3.19 Men in Softonic

If you'd like to install third-party visual themes on Windows Vista and Windows 7 (like the ones you find on DeviantArt, for example) but don't know exactly how to tweak your system to make them work, Windows Theme Installer is what you need. This simple tool enables you to install themes in a very easy way, and takes care of all the required system file patching and tweaking.

This is how it works: after downloading a visual theme, run Windows Theme Installer and tick the Theme option. Browse the hard drive for the .theme file and then press Install theme. Windows Theme Installer will do the job and then give you the option to apply the theme straight away. It couldn't be easier!

Note that Windows Theme Installer includes options for other possible components in the theme you download. These are optional, but the one you'll always find is the .theme file. Also, remember to create a restoration point beforehand: a stitch in time saves nine.

Windows Theme Installer enables you to install third-party themes on Windows Vista and Windows 7 without all the fuss.

Download Windows Theme Installer 1.1 in Softonic

This is a portable application, which means Universal Theme Patcher doesn't require installation, and also will run from a USB drive. When you run the EXE file, it will first tell you whether you need to apply patches to your system, then a further window opens with three areas, each with Patch and Restore buttons.

These buttons allow you to patch three specific files, which will then allow you to download and use unofficial themes. Each patch Universal Theme Patcher applies will also create a backup so you can return to the original settings whenever you want.

Universal Theme Patcher's interface does have some needless complicated information on display, which may put off beginners, but it's nothing to worry about as it's only the Patch and Restore buttons that are important.

If you want to use unofficial themes for Windows, Universal Theme Patcher is a quick and painless way to make it possible.

Download Universal Theme Patcher 1.5.0.22 in Softonic

MyColors is another product from the Stardock company, which seems to have specialized in customizing software. MyColors features a sleek interface divided into several tabs, from which you can manage your themes, adjust the program's settings and select the wallpaper, among other options.

MyColors includes a few themes and allows you to easily download a few more from the Stardock website. Be aware though that only a few of them are free, while the most attractive ones are only available after paying 20 bucks.

The best thing about MyColors is how easy it is to install new themes. Simply click on the "Apply" button and wait for it to complete the process. Also, going back to Windows standard appearance is as easy as re-installing the Windows standard theme from MyColors.

If you'd like to give Windows a completely new look, you should give MyColors a go, although the theme selection is not precisely very wide.

Download MyColors in Softonic

VistaGlazz is a really simple application that takes you through the process of making the changes necessary so you can use custom themes. When you first run it, there will be two icons with blank shields on the interface. Clicking the monitor icon will patch Vista, and reboot your system with new settings. The Style file icon will apply another patch, which doesn't require a reboot.

Once this process has finished, VistaGlazz has done it's job, and you can apply custom themes to your Vista system, such as a Windows 7 style (link coming). If you change your mind, running VistaGlazz again allows you to restore your original settings just as easily.

The only problem with VistaGlazz is that it gives you no help in actually changing your Vista theme, which can be a little awkward for beginners.

If you want to apply custom changes to themes and Aero in general, VistaGlazz is a quick and incredibly simple way to do it.

Download VistaGlazz 2.4 in Softonic

Instead of having to search for Windows 7 themes on the Web and download them manually, Windows 7 Theme Manager puts a varied collection of dozens of themes right at your fingertips. They’re classified in categories (TV series, movies, animals, celebrities and more) and can be downloaded with a single mouse click.

The themes included in Windows 7 Theme Manager include all sorts of styles and designs, but not all of them are as high-quality as you would expect them. Also, though the one-click installation is really very handy, sometimes Windows 7 Theme Manager is a bit slow and takes a while to respond.

Summing up, Windows 7 Theme Manager is a great app for all those who like to change the look of their computers quite often. The only question that remains here is whether the theme database in Windows 7 Theme Manager will be periodically updated with new additions.

Want to give your desktop a new look? Try Windows 7 Theme Manager and download dozens of Windows 7 themes for free in one click.

Download Windows 7 Theme Manager 1.0 in Softonic

With UXTheme Multi-Patcher you replace a specific system DLL with a tweaked version of the same file, thus enabling Windows to support third-party visual themes. In this way, you'll have a much wider choice of themes when customizing your system.

UXTheme Multi-Patcher is dead simple to use: run the EXE file and the correspondent DLL library will be patched. Bear in mind that you'll get a message warning you about a system element about to be replaced; you'll need to cancel that warning if you want the patcher to do its job.

After patching the DLL file, simply restart Windows and you'll be ready to begin using third-party themes. Also, if at some point you want to go back to the original DLL file, simply run the UXTheme Multi-Patcher again.

UXTheme Multi-Patcher tweaks a specific DLL file on Windows so that you can use third-party visual themes.

Download UXTheme Multi-Patcher 8.0 in Softonic

The application promises to expand the customizability of Windows XP and gives you the power to install new themes that break the mould of the existing XP shell.

Once you’ve applied a style you can tweak virtually any aspect of the appearance, including the font size, screensaver, colours, menu transparency, or even the boot screen.

What’s more, if you’re particularly artistically minded you can create your own elements in a graphics editor and apply them to the skin.

It’s worth bearing in mind that because of the way the application writes files to your System Folder you could end up doing damage to your machine, especially if you install a patch or a new service pack.

You can choose to keep Style XP locked in the System Tray, or release it so that it uses no resources, which is a refreshing thing to see from a developer.

With so many themes and customization options available, Style XP is well worth a look if you fancy a change of scenery on your desktop, but keep in mind the risks involved in using a patching program such as this.

Download Style XP 3.19 Ladies in Softonic