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# 19 Beautiful Themes to Get a Better Visual Experience With VS Code
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/vs-code-themes/
- Published: 2025-08-29T03:43:22.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-07T10:29:49.000Z
- Description: Your code may be ugly, but at least make them look good with these themes for the VS Code editor.
- Author: Abhishek Kumar
- Tags: VS Code, #toc-only-till-h2

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing wrong with the default Visual Studio Code theme. It’s clean, it works, and I actually used it for quite a while. 

That is… until one day I stumbled upon a YouTube tutorial where the developer’s editor looked incredible. Sleek colors, stylish syntax highlighting, suddenly, my good ol’ default theme felt a little boring.

That rabbit hole led me to explore the wonderful world of VS Code themes. Since then, I’ve tried a bunch, curated some favorites, and even picked out a few that are massively popular among developers. 

This article is my personal roundup to help you get started. It’s not a definitive list, there are hundreds out there but if you’re new to custom VS Code themes, this is a great place to begin.

## 1\. **Dracula Official**

Dracula is a dark, high-contrast theme that has gained a cult following for good reason. It's stylish without being over-the-top, and it helps reduce eye strain during long coding marathons.

![dracula theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/dracula-theme-1.png)

### Key Features

✅ Dark, moody aesthetic perfect for low-light environments  
✅ Excellent contrast between code elements  
✅ Seamless integration across VS Code UI  
✅ Used by many developers and YouTubers for its readability

[Dracula Official](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=dracula-theme.theme-dracula&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 2\. **One Dark Pro**

One Dark Pro brings Atom’s beloved “One Dark” theme to VS Code, and it’s just as sharp and modern as ever. If you want a professional and polished look, this is a reliable pick. 

![one dark pro theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/one-dark-pro-theme.png)

### Key Features

✅ Inspired by Atom’s One Dark theme  
✅ High readability with strong contrast  
✅ Regularly updated and maintained  
✅ Works great across many programming languages

[One Dark Pro](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=zhuangtongfa.Material-theme&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 3\. Ayu

Ayu is minimal, calm, and pleasing to the eyes. It comes in three flavors - Light, Mirage, and Dark, so you can match your coding mood with your environment.

![ayu theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/ayu-theme-1.png)

### Key Features

✅ Minimalist design with soft color tones  
✅ Three versions: Ayu Light, Ayu Mirage, and Ayu Dark  
✅ Low distraction, easy-to-read syntax coloring  
✅ Favored by course creators like [CodeWithMosh](https://codewithmosh.com/?ref=itsfoss.com)

[Ayu](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=teabyii.ayu&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 4\. Tokyo Night

Inspired by the neon lights of Tokyo, this theme is a stylish blend of cool blues and subtle purples. It's perfect if you want something modern yet easy on the eyes.

![tokyo night theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/tokyo_night.png)

### Key Features

✅ Visually rich, inspired by Tokyo’s nightscape  
✅ Low-contrast UI with clear syntax highlights  
✅ Semantic highlighting for better code clarity  
✅ Available for other editors like Vim and iTerm

[Tokyo Night](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=enkia.tokyo-night&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 5\. GitHub Theme

Want your VS Code to look like GitHub? This official theme does exactly that. It’s familiar, balanced, and comes with modes for different lighting preferences.

![github themes](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/github-themes.png)

### Key Features

✅ Light, dark, and colorblind-friendly modes  
✅ Clean and familiar GitHub look  
✅ Open-source and customizable  
✅ Great for developers already using GitHub extensively

[GitHub Theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.github-vscode-theme&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 6\. Noctis

Noctis is a modern theme that comes in multiple variations - light and dark, to suit any mood. It’s especially great if you want a lighter theme without blinding brightness.

![noctis theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/noctisAzureus-1.png)

### Key Features

✅ Comes in multiple light and dark variations  
✅ Elegant design with smart syntax color choices  
✅ Clean UI that doesn’t distract from code  
✅ Over a million installs and counting

[Noctis](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=liviuschera.noctis&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 7\. **Shades of Purple**

If you’re into vibrant colors and want your editor to stand out, Shades of Purple might be your new favorite. Created by developer Ahmad Awais, it’s bold and beautiful.

![shades of purple theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/shades-of-purple.jpg)

### Key Features

✅ Unique purple-toned color palette  
✅ Great readability with striking contrast  
✅ Open-source and easy to tweak  
✅ Adds flair without sacrificing usability

[Shades of Purple](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ahmadawais.shades-of-purple&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 8\. Night Owl / Light Owl

Night Owl is designed specifically for night-time coders, with high contrast that’s easy on the eyes. Prefer a brighter option? Light Owl is the lighter counterpart.

![night owl theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/night-own-theme-1.jpg)

### Key Features

✅ Designed for readability in low-light settings  
✅ Strong contrast without harsh brightness  
✅ Light and dark versions available  
✅ Cross-platform availability (Hyper, Vim, etc.)

[Night Owl / Light Owl](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=sdras.night-owl&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 9\. Monokai Pro

Monokai Pro adds a polished twist to the classic Monokai theme. With balanced color filters, beautiful syntax highlighting, and pixel-perfect design, this theme feels professional and productive.

![monokai pro](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/monokai-pro.png)

### Key Features

✅ Polished version of the original Monokai  
✅ Customizable filters and UI tweaks  
✅ Eye-friendly for long sessions  
✅ Available as part of a paid package (with free trial)

[Monokai Pro](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=monokai.theme-monokai-pro-vscode&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 10\. Cobalt2

Created by Wes Bos, Cobalt2 is bold and playful without sacrificing usability. Its distinctive blue and yellow color combo stands out and is great if you want something different.

![cobalt2 theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/cobalt2-theme.png)

### Key Features

✅ Designed by a popular web developer  
✅ Unique color palette with good contrast  
✅ Works across editors and terminals  
✅ Open-source and customizable

[Cobalt2](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=wesbos.theme-cobalt2&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 11\. Bluloco Light

Bluloco Light offers a clean and airy look with thoughtful design choices. It’s ideal for developers who work in bright environments and want a professional, minimal style.

💡

Bluloco is also available in a Dark variant: [Bluloco Dark](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=uloco.theme-bluloco-dark&ref=itsfoss.com)

![bluloco light theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/bluloco-theme-1.png)

### Key Features

✅ Light theme with a refined, minimal aesthetic  
✅ Consistent syntax coloring  
✅ Balanced, readable contrast  
✅ A great option if you prefer clean and modern

[Bluloco Light](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=uloco.theme-bluloco-light&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 12\. SynthWave '84

SynthWave '84 is a retro-futuristic theme inspired by the 1980s, featuring neon colors and even an optional **glow effect** for extra flair. If you want something bold and eye-catching, this one’s for you.

![synthwave 84 theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/synthwave-84-theme-1.jpg)

### Key Features

✅ Neon vibes and cyberpunk aesthetic  
✅ Optional glow effect (via extension)  
✅ Highly popular among front-end developers  
✅ Supports syntax across major languages

[SynthWave '84](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=RobbOwen.synthwave-vscode&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 13\. Horizon Theme

Horizon is a warm, reddish-orange tinted dark theme. It’s subtle, modern, and carefully designed for comfort over long coding sessions.

![horizon theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/horizon-theme.png)

### Key Features

✅ Warm, earthy color tones  
✅ Balanced contrast for daily use  
✅ Available in both dark and bright variants  
✅ Great for front-end and full-stack development

[Horizon Theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=alexandernanberg.horizon-theme-vscode&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 14\. Panda Theme

Panda is a soft, minimal dark theme with pastel accents. It's built for readability and calm, avoiding harsh contrasts without sacrificing clarity.

![panda theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/panda-theme.jpg)

### Key Features

✅ Soft pastel syntax coloring  
✅ Minimal and distraction-free  
✅ Excellent for late-night coding  
✅ Available for terminals and editors

[Panda Theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=tinkertrain.theme-panda&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 15\. Andromeda

Andromeda is a high-contrast dark theme with bold, saturated colors. It’s sharp, vibrant, and particularly suited to developers who like strong visual distinctions in their code.

![andromeda theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/andromeda-theme.png)

### Key Features

✅ Vibrant colors with high contrast  
✅ Great for distinguishing syntax elements  
✅ Maintains a clean, focused interface  
✅ Works well with dark desktop environments

[Andromeda](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EliverLara.andromeda&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 16\. Winter is Coming

Winter is Coming offers **light**, **dark**, and **dark with no italics** variants. It’s crisp, elegant, and excellent if you want clarity without visual clutter.

![winter is coming theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/winter-is-coming.png)

### Key Features

✅ Clean, cool-toned color palette  
✅ Multiple variants (including no italics)  
✅ High readability across languages  
✅ Ideal for clean, professional setups

[Winter is Coming](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=johnpapa.winteriscoming&ref=itsfoss.com)

## **17\. NightFox**

NightFox is part of the "Fox" theme family (includes NightFox, DayFox, DawnFox, etc.). It's a soothing dark theme with carefully curated contrast for better accessibility.

![nightfox theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/nightfox-theme.png)

### Key Features

✅ Carefully calibrated color palette  
✅ Designed with accessibility in mind  
✅ Multiple variants available  
✅ Consistent UI and terminal look

[NightFox](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=keifererikson.nightfox&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 18\. Palenight

Palenight is a calm, visually appealing theme with a palette of soft purples, blues, and pinks. It’s stylish without being overwhelming.

![palenight theme](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/05/palenight-theme.png)

### ✅ Key Features

✅ Soothing colors and modern aesthetic  
✅ Strong readability for long hours  
✅ Easy on the eyes with subtle contrast  
✅ Works well across many languages

[Palenight](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=whizkydee.material-palenight-theme&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 19\. Catppuccin 

Catppuccin has become the hot favorite among savvy computer users. The soothing, pastel colors have a different charm and it is available for so many applications. From VS Code to Xfce terminal, it is [available for more than 300 applications](https://github.com/orgs/catppuccin/repositories?type=all&ref=itsfoss.com). And that makes it an ideal choice for people who would like the uniform look across various apps.

The Catppuccin theme comes in four variants: Latte, Frappé, Macchiato and Mocha. Except Latte, all of them are dark themed.

![Catppuccin theme for VS Code](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/08/macchiato-vscode.webp)

### ✅ Key Features

✅ Soothing pastel colors  
✅ Dark and light shades  
✅ Highly popular among developers  
✅ Available for a huge number of other applications

[Catppuccin](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Catppuccin.catppuccin-vsc-pack&ref=itsfoss.com)

## Wrapping Up

At the end of the day, themes are a very personal part of your coding experience. 

As a web developer, I’ve experimented with a wide range of VS Code themes over the years and while I appreciate a good dark theme like Dracula or One Dark Pro, I’ll admit something that might be a bit controversial: I actually prefer light mode or even high contrast themes!

For me, coding in daylight or bright environments feels more natural with a lighter background. But that’s just my preference, and that’s the beauty of themes: there’s something for everyone.

Have a favorite theme I didn’t mention? Or do you swear by dark mode no matter what? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear what themes power your VS Code setup!