In my previous blog post, I explained how to install Plank Dock in Linux Mint and shared why I prefer it over the default panel for launching applications.
👉 If you haven't installed Plank yet, I recommend reading that guide first.
After using Plank for a few days, I discovered something interesting—you can also install custom themes for it.
That was a pleasant surprise!
I tried a few different themes, and after spending some time with them, I finally decided to keep the BigSur theme. In this article, I'll show you how to install Plank themes and share a few themes that are worth trying.
Where Plank Stores Themes
Plank looks for themes inside a folder called themes.
For your own user account, the location is:
~/.local/share/plank/themes
Don't worry if that path looks confusing. You don't have to remember it. I'll show you an easy way to reach it.
Method 1: Install a Theme Using the File Manager (Recommended)
If you're new to Linux, this is probably the easiest method.
Step 1
Open Files (the default file manager in Linux Mint).
Step 2
Press Ctrl + H.
This shows hidden folders. You should now see a folder named .local.
Step 3
Open the folders one by one:
.local
└── share
└── plank
└── themes
If the themes folder doesn't exist, simply create a new folder and name it:
themes
That's it.
Method 2: Create the Folder Using Terminal
If you are comfortable using the terminal, run this command:
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/plank/themes
The command creates the folder automatically if it doesn't already exist.
Download a Plank Theme
There are many free Plank themes available online.
Some good places to download them are:
Most themes are downloaded as a ZIP file.
Extract the ZIP file, and you'll get a folder with the theme files inside.
For example:
- BigSur
- Material
- Fluent
- TokyoNight
Install the Theme
Simply copy the extracted theme folder into:
~/.local/share/plank/themes
For example:
themes
├── BigSur
├── Material
├── Fluent
└── TokyoNight
That's all you need to do.
Apply the Theme
Now it's time to use your new theme.
- Hold Ctrl and Right-click on an empty area of the Plank dock.
- Select Preferences.
- Open the Appearance tab.
- From the Theme dropdown, choose your newly installed theme.
The dock will change immediately.
No restart is required.
Themes I Tried
I experimented with a few different themes before deciding which one to keep.
BigSur ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This became my favorite.
It has a clean floating design inspired by macOS, rounded corners, and looks modern without being distracting.
This is the theme I finally decided to keep.
Fluent
A nice theme inspired by Windows 11.
Very clean and minimal.
Material
A simple theme based on Google's Material Design.
Good if you prefer a flat design.
Tokyo Night
A beautiful dark theme that looks great with dark wallpapers.
Transparent
This theme makes the dock almost disappear, allowing your wallpaper to stand out.
Why I Chose BigSur
After trying several themes, I always found myself coming back to BigSur.
Here are a few reasons:
- It looks clean and modern.
- It blends nicely with Linux Mint.
- The floating dock gives the desktop a premium feel.
- Icons stand out clearly.
- It works well with both light and dark wallpapers.
Sometimes the simplest design is the best one, and BigSur feels just right for my desktop.
My Tip
Don't install every theme you find.
Download three or four themes, try each one for a day or two, and then choose the one you enjoy using the most.
A beautiful desktop is nice, but a comfortable desktop is even better.
Final Thoughts
One of the things I'm enjoying most after switching from Windows to Linux Mint is how much freedom it gives me to customize my desktop.
Installing Plank was already a big improvement for my workflow, but discovering custom themes made it even better.
For now, BigSur has become my permanent choice, and I don't think I'll be changing it anytime soon.
If you're using Plank, I definitely recommend trying a few themes. You might be surprised how much a small visual change can improve your overall desktop experience.
Have you found a Plank theme that you love? I'd be happy to hear your recommendation in the comments!
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