Icon Themes

Introduction

Customizing the look and feel of your Linux desktop is one of its most appealing features. Icon themes and desktop themes can dramatically change your user interface, making it more aesthetically pleasing and personalized. This guide will walk you through installing and applying some popular icon and desktop themes, specifically focusing on the Papirus Icon Theme and Arc KDE Theme, to enhance your Linux experience.

Recommended Icon Themes

We recommend the Papirus Icon Theme for its modern design and extensive coverage.

Installation via PPA

Papirus Icon Theme is best installed via its official PPA (Personal Package Archive). A PPA is a software repository that allows you to install and update software not available in the default Ubuntu repositories.

1. Add the Papirus PPA:
   TERMINAL // BASH COPY

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:papirus/papirus ``` This command adds the Papirus PPA to your system’s software sources.

2. Update Package Lists:
   TERMINAL // BASH COPY

sudo apt-get update ``` This command refreshes your package list to include software from the newly added PPA.

3. Install Papirus Icon Themes:
   TERMINAL // BASH COPY

sudo apt-get install papirus-icon-theme # Installs Papirus, Papirus-Dark, and Papirus-Light variants. sudo apt-get install epapirus-icon-theme # Installs ePapirus and ePapirus-Dark, specifically for elementaryOS. ```

*   **Papirus PPA Link:** [https://launchpad.net/~papirus/+archive/ubuntu/papirus](https://launchpad.net/~papirus/+archive/ubuntu/papirus)

Applying Icon Themes

After installation, you need to apply the icon theme through your desktop environment’s settings.

• KDE Plasma: Go to System Settings > Appearance > Icons. Select your preferred Papirus variant (e.g., Papirus, Papirus-Dark).
• GNOME: Use the GNOME Tweaks tool (install with sudo apt install gnome-tweaks). Go to Appearance > Icons.
• Other Desktop Environments: Look for “Appearance,” “Themes,” or “Icons” in your system settings.

Recommended Desktop Themes

For desktop themes, the Arc KDE theme is a popular choice known for its clean and modern design.

Installation

1. Add the Papirus PPA (if not already added): The Arc KDE theme is often available through the same Papirus PPA or official repositories. If you haven’t added the Papirus PPA yet, do so:
   TERMINAL // BASH COPY

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:papirus/papirus ```

2. Update Package Lists (if not already updated):
   TERMINAL // BASH COPY

sudo apt-get update ```

3. Install Arc KDE Theme:
   TERMINAL // BASH COPY

sudo apt-get install –install-recommends arc-kde ``` * --install-recommends: This option ensures that recommended packages (often necessary for full theme functionality) are also installed.

Applying Desktop Themes

After installation, you need to apply the desktop theme through your desktop environment’s settings.

• KDE Plasma: Go to System Settings > Appearance > Global Theme or Application Style. Select “Arc” or a variant (e.g., Arc Dark). You might also need to adjust Plasma Style, Window Decorations, and Color Scheme separately.
• GNOME: Use the GNOME Tweaks tool. Go to Appearance > Applications (for GTK theme) and Shell (for GNOME Shell theme).
• Other Desktop Environments: Look for “Appearance,” “Themes,” or “Style” in your system settings.

Conclusion

Customizing your Linux desktop with icon and desktop themes is a fantastic way to personalize your computing experience and make it truly your own. By following this guide, you’ve learned how to install and apply popular themes like Papirus and Arc KDE, transforming the look and feel of your system. The Linux community offers a vast array of themes and customization options, so don’t hesitate to explore further and make your desktop reflect your unique style.