Every week, we feature customized desktops and home screens submitted by readers that show off beautiful wallpapers and great customization and UI tweaks. Sometimes they're fun, sometimes they're functional, and sometimes they're both, but 2014 was a great year for all of them. Here's a look at the most popular ones.
The Cascading Desktop
Flickr user Profound Grafx has a thing for docks and launchers. This desktop is a testament to that, but it also keeps games, productivity tools, websites, media, and more neatly separated and organized. Here's how it's all set up.
The Minimal Academic Desktop
Reader sgosp3 wanted a desktop that was minimal and helped him focus on the task at hand—his research—so he built this Windows desktop so he has plenty of space to work, and the right tools at the top, just in reach. Here's how he did it.
The Fusion Desktop
Flickr user Alexandru Tropenpflanze's desktop is a great example of what you can do with Rainmeter in Windows, and it's not difficult to set up. Shortcuts, a few well-placed widgets, and some useful information is all it takes. Here's what you'll need to make one of your monitors look this way.
The Clear Skies Desktop
Ami Banerji's Linux desktop is clean, simple, and pretty open. What it gives up in widgets it gets back in simplicity, and what's a good thing. Here's how to get the same look for your computer.
The Skyline Desktop
We've highlighted some of okubax's desktops before, but this Arch Linux desktop is a joy to look at, with or without the wallpaper up. Plus, it's easy to configure. Here's what you'll need.
The Very Yosemite Desktop
Reader joshnroy just upgraded to Yosemite, did just a little tweaking, and submitted this serene desktop of Yosemite National Park running on OS X Yosemite. Here's what he used to set it up.
The Galactic Desktop
Reader ninjacharlie uses GeekTool to keep things like his Twitter feed and the song he's listening to embedded in his wallpaper while he works, so he doesn't need another app to keep track of them. Here's how you can do it too.
The Tiny Tardis Desktop
Reader Karth is a Doctor Who fan, so he put together this Windows desktop to be part expression of his fandom and part set of tools to help him work. We can't really blame him. Here's how he set it all up.
The Simple Text Desktop
We've highlighted some of Okubax's desktops before, but the simplicity of this one called to us. Some simple tools in the center and around the outside, and a solid wallpaper make for a simple but elegant desktop. Here's how he set it all up.
The Foggy Lake Desktop
Sometimes customized widgets are the way to go, and sometimes minimal is the best approach—and we've definitely seen a trend in the minimal direction. Flickr user Imminient Fate submitted this good-looking desktop a while back, but it still caught our eye. Here's how you can set it up too.
The Android L Home Screen
One of the best features of Android L is its slick new interface. Now, courtesy of My Color Screen user empol, you can get it on your home screen right now. No need to wait for an OTA update.
The Space Home Screen
Android: If you've been obsessed with the new Cosmos series, or you're just playing Portal 2 for the jillionth time, a space-themed home screen would not go amiss. My Color Screen user Pedro Gelli has you covered.
The Blurred L Home Screen
Android: While the styles have gotten closer together lately, Android and iOS are pretty distinct. This design bridges the gap, utilizing the frosted, layered themes of iOS, combined with Android's new material approach for a unique look.
The Sliding Vertical Home Screen
Instead of creating a bunch of screens with your most used apps, My Color Screen user Peszek created a simple home screen with four columns that expand to show appsand information.
The Soft Green Home Screen
Android: We feature a lot of bold, if harsh home screens here. This design, courtesy of My Color Screen user Jobe1785 goes for a calmer look, with easy-on-the-eyes translucent panels and lightweight icons.
The Conceptual Home Screen
Android: This home screen from My Color Screen user ogkillergreen uses clean, easy-to read widgets to give you just the essential information you need at a glance while looking pretty great.
The Timeline Home Screen
Your phone can display so much information and let you do so many things, it can be hard to keep track of it all. This home screen puts everything you need on one, easy-to-read home screen.
The Darkside Home Screen
Android: While it's neither tempting Skywalkers nor battling Superman, this Darkside theme is not only attention grabbing, but neat to use. It uses a distinct dial-style interface to place everything in one place.
The Chrome Experience Home Screen
Android: Chrome and Android may go together like a raccoon and a talking tree, but this Chrome OS design for Android home screens might bring the relationship to the next level.
The Glow Home Screen
"Simple with a splash of color" is a pretty common theme in interface design. This look goes down a traditional path with a distinct flair, going for simply outlines and text on bright backgrounds.
There you have it - the most popular home screens and featured desktops of 2013! If you want to see your customized desktop or your phone's home screen in a post or list like this one, here's what to do:
Submit your desktop to our Kinja Desktop Showcase or the Lifehacker Desktop Show and Tell Pool on Flickr, along with a description of how you made it.
Post your super-customized home screen to our Kinja Home Screen Showcase along with a description of how you made it.
You never know, it may be the next one featured on the site!
Want more awesomely customized desktops and home screens? Check out our most popular featured desktops and home screens of 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008.