Bored with the bland look of Microsoft Windows XP but don’t want to switch to Windows Vista yet ? Then it is time to give your Windows XP a new look. The easiest and fastest way to do that is to use a cool new visual style. Its free unlike Stardock WindowBlinds and does not hog system resources too.
So here are 10 beautiful visual styles for Windows XP. Click on the images to get a full size preview of the theme. 
To use any of the themes listed below, you need to download & install the Uxtheme Multi-patcher. You can get it at Softpedia.
Beautiful Visual Styles For Windows XP
One of the best simple visual styles, I have come across. It is the best replacement for the Windows Classic Visual Style. It is simple yet elegant. Comes in two flavours ozeanblau & ergonomisch.
Your best bet if you want to make your Windows XP look like Mac OS X. Ported by the magnificent kol, comes in two colours Blue & Graphite.
3. Luna Element Visual Style 5.0.5
Inspired by the default Luna skin of Windows XP, Luna Element comes in 2 variations Blue & Black. Both substyles are glossy and comfortable to use.
A black visual style with loads of appeal. Great for those who are into minimalistic stuff.
Inspired by kol’s visual styles, this one comes in two colours green and black.
Yet another magnificent visual style by kol.
A port of the GTK theme Mint. Brings the clean super sexy look of GNOME to the Windows environment.
An uber cool Visual Style by the inimitable Bose. Comes in four flavours Subtle (Olive), Skyman (Blue), Cut (Red) and a bonus black theme – Cinder.
An excellent port of the default Orange style found in Ubuntu Linux. Great if you want to have the clean Ubuntu look in Windows XP.
10. Tempura and HmmXP-Tempura Visual Style
Port of a GTK theme for GNOME. Done by the artist who has done Mint VS (featured at slot 7 in this post).
P.S. – All images which are used as previews for the styles, are the ones made by the theme authors. I have tried to list only the visual styles which are usable. Usable in the respect, you should be comfortable working with the theme for long hours.
Thilak
2 Apr 07 at 10:17 am
I love the first one. I’ll leave a trackback on this post soon.
Thilak
2 Apr 07 at 10:18 am
Bookmarked it!
Ashwin
2 Apr 07 at 7:07 pm
in my stupid lappy, this VS are not working without the UXtheme.dll patch. I don’t want to install softwares to do the same.
On top of this frustration, Flickr is banned in the UAE. Sucks. Can’t enjoy a good post like this..
Manas
2 Apr 07 at 8:00 pm
@ Thilak – Thanks. I am also using the first one at present. Really easy on the eyes.
@ Ashwin – They will not work without the patch as they are unsigned visual styles.
Ashwin
2 Apr 07 at 8:31 pm
Hmm.. thanks man. It works like a charm.
I was using XPMC (by kol or bose) in my PC. I checked the other VS. I didn’t like anything but for Klarheit Visual Style 1.0. So it’s a toss btw Klarheit and XPMC. Right now using Klarheit.
Manas
2 Apr 07 at 9:30 pm
Glad to know it works …
Klarheit rocks …
Jocie
11 Apr 08 at 11:57 am
Awesome! Ahahaha! Stop it, you’re killing me! Anyway, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought this is great.
Manas
15 Apr 08 at 5:06 pm
Thanks Jocie….
Abhay
18 Dec 09 at 8:36 pm
Good it works