How to Customize Themes and Color Schemes in VS Code
Published: 2024-01-09 09:03:04

---
title: How to Customize Themes and Color Schemes in VS Code
published: true
date: 2023-12-15 03:30:09 UTC
tags: 
canonical_url: https://fanny.hashnode.dev/how-to-customize-themes-and-color-schemes-in-vs-code
---

Creating a personalized coding environment can significantly impact productivity and comfort for developers.

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) offers a plethora of customization options for themes and color schemes, allowing users to tailor their workspace to suit their preferences.

In this guide, we'll explore step-by-step procedures to customize themes and unveil hidden tips and tricks within VS Code.

## Understanding Themes and Color Schemes in VS Code

### Themes

Themes in VS Code dictate the overall appearance of the editor. They include color schemes, font styles, and icon sets, providing a unified look and feel to the workspace.

### Color Schemes

Color schemes, a subset of themes, specifically define the color combinations used for syntax highlighting, making code more readable and visually appealing.

## Getting Started: Accessing the Settings

1. Launch VS Code: Open the editor and navigate to the "Settings" by pressing `Ctrl + ,` on Windows/Linux or `Cmd + ,` on macOS.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267259391/4f23683e-678c-4ac2-9254-ee44230329cc.png)

2. Accessing the Color Theme: In the settings panel, select "Color Theme" from the sidebar to explore the installed themes.

3. Choosing a Theme: Click on a theme to preview it. VS Code offers a range of built-in themes like Dark+, Light+, and Quiet Light. Experiment with different themes to find the one that suits your taste.

## Installing and Managing Themes

### Installing Themes from the Marketplace

1. Open Extensions: Press `Ctrl + Shift + X` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd + Shift + X` (macOS) to access the Extensions view.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267485199/45569984-bddf-4940-bead-ca86ceeaeaad.png)

2. Search for Themes: Type "themes" in the search bar and explore various themes available in the marketplace.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267707587/2f9a09bc-ae9e-47f2-8bf8-bedf7c45758a.png)

3. Install a Theme: Click on the desired theme, then click "Install" to add it to your VS Code.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267746122/45940526-b3b8-44b2-9193-50ac15243b19.png)

### Managing Installed Themes

1. Theme Management: Return to the "Color Theme" settings. Here, you can manage installed themes by enabling, disabling, or removing them.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267777636/88e9c6f2-d856-466e-8e65-0c054dbcd858.png)

2. Customizing Individual Settings: Some themes allow for further customization. Click on "Edit in settings.json" within the theme to tweak specific attributes like font size, line height, or individual color preferences.

## Customizing Color Schemes

### Tweaking Color Scheme Settings

1. Access Settings: Go to the settings panel and search for "workbench.colorCustomizations".

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267853053/9aed5fde-c393-4f98-9a59-da3da632158b.png)

2. Customize Colors: Modify the values under "workbench.colorCustomizations" to personalize specific syntax colors. For instance, changing "editor.background" alters the background color.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267917204/d821fe1d-5da9-480b-b02e-e92c709fc503.png)

### Utilizing Color Picker

1. Using the Color Picker: While editing settings, hover over a color value and click the color preview box to open a color picker. This enables precise selection of colors using RGB, HEX, or HSL values.

2. Live Preview: The color picker offers a live preview of the selected color, ensuring accuracy before finalizing the choice.

## Advanced Customizations

### Customizing File Icons

1. Installing Icon Themes: Search for "icon themes" in the Extensions view and install a desired set of icons to customize file representations in the explorer.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267990553/ca2156c0-076c-400f-86f6-758269bbee5c.png)

2. Managing Icon Themes: In the "File Icon Theme" settings, choose the installed icon theme to apply it instantly.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702268075593/fa24a6a3-0aa8-413c-babe-cdfbefba6dde.png)

### Modifying Workbench Settings

1. Tweaking UI Elements: Explore "workbench.colorCustomizations" and "workbench.iconTheme" settings to personalize various UI elements and icon appearances.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702268150581/41d7e9c3-2971-4845-98ae-6fd07c209b01.png)

2. Editing settings.json: For advanced modifications, directly edit the settings.json file by adding specific configurations for fonts, borders, gutter icons, and more.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702267917204/d821fe1d-5da9-480b-b02e-e92c709fc503.png)

## Hidden Tips and Tricks

### Using Command Palette Shortcuts

1. Accessing Command Palette: Press `Ctrl + Shift + P` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd + Shift + P` (macOS) to open the Command Palette.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702268285779/7b9b8a6c-01e8-402d-821a-78ae59d94c78.png)

2. Theme-Related Commands: Type "theme" in the Command Palette to access various theme-related commands.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702268377133/e69596da-7916-4149-9899-2601d8bc5bd9.png)

Such as changing color themes or installing new ones without navigating through settings.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702268500927/5c4e0479-1cdf-4c64-a1b0-3bf8581cdc4a.png)

Choose a theme for example when we choose "Monokai" Here is how our theme changes

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1702268594006/fabb857a-5905-4908-acd4-32bbac3cb3e2.png)

### Customizing Workspace-Specific Themes

1. Creating Workspace Settings: Create a `.vscode` folder in your project and add a `settings.json` file. Customize theme-related settings specifically for that workspace.

2. Workspace-Level Themes: Adjust color themes or icon sets only for the current project, maintaining consistency within the project environment.

## Conclusion

Customizing themes and color schemes in Visual Studio Code will empower you as a developer to create a workspace that resonates with your preferences and enhances coding experiences.

By exploring the multitude of available themes, managing extensions, and diving into advanced settings, VS Code users can craft a personalized coding environment that fosters productivity and enjoyment in their development journey.

Try out the flexibility of VS Code and tailor it to match your unique style and needs.

**_Happy Coding!_**