The Clean And Blue Windows Desktop

Lifehacker reader Sony Samuel Somar’s desktop makes use of good-looking Rainmeter skins for a clean and functional desktop. The fact that the desktop is so minimal is what makes it work so well.

The clock is right in the centre for when you need it, but if you’re working and have windows open, the rest of the widgets are at the sides of the display. Want the same look for your Windows desktop? Here’s what you’ll need:

• A solid blue background. Nothing special about this wallpaper — it’s just a solid colour, and you can set it yourself in Windows’ personalisation settings.
• Rainmeter, a system tweaking and monitoring tool for Windows
• The Enigma suite for Rainmeter for the shortcuts under the time and date and the system monitors on the left.
• The Encoded skin for Rainmeter for the date, time and weather display on the right.
• The Arcs skin for Rainmeter to create the clock in the center

Sometimes, the best desktops are the simplest, and we really like the look of this one. Best of all, if you’re the “why would I have a clock I never see the middle of my desktop while I’m working” type, Arcs is the only one you have to omit to get the benefit of the others.

If you run into trouble setting it all up, check out our guide to Rainmeter.