Change Windows 8 Start Screen Background using stardock Decor8
Windows 8 limits your start screen customization options to only 10 provided background images and a few pre-defined color schemes.
Decor8 removes these limitations and provides the freedom to personalize your start screen with your own images and colors.
Enter Decor8. Stardock’s latest Windows 8 customization app removes this limitation by giving users the ability to pick any picture they want, regardless of size or color range, as the Start screen background.
The program is pretty straightforward to use. Upon launching Decor8, you’ll be presented with a set of background images to choose from, including the start screen and desktop background images that Windows 8 ships with and also a set of wallpapers that Stardock ships with the app. You get the usual fill, fit, tile and center options available in the classic desktop, and the program will automatically create a color scheme to match each of your background images -- or you can manually customize the color scheme if you’re so inclined.
Background Images
Choose from more background images to personalize your start screen.
- Add your own photos and images
- Select multiple images to create a custom slideshow
- Randomize background images in timed intervals for a fresh look
- Fade background images against the start screen color for a subtle effect
Color Schemes
Decor8 will automatically create a color scheme to match each of your background images. Or you can customize the color scheme, it's up to you.
Customization
Control how many rows of tiles are available on your start screen.
You can add folders to the program to use your own photos and images as background. There’s also the option to select multiple background images by holding down the Ctrl key, and have them rotate on a set time interval, as well as the option to fade background images against the start screen color for a subtle effect.
Sadly, Decor8 is not free. Stardock offers a free 30-day trial but otherwise asks a modest $4.99 for the app. It’s a little unnerving to pay for such basic functionality but if you wish to customize the Windows 8 Start screen beyond what Microsoft offers this is the easiest-to-use tool we’ve found. It does one thing and it does it well.
