The default look and feel of Start screen can be customized in a number of ways. We have previously shown you how to pin web pages to Start screen, pin folders to Start screen, add clock tile to Start, and pin any file to Start.

Below are the six must have tools to customize the default look and feel of the Start screen in Windows 8.

OblyTile: OblyTile was one of the first free tools and probably the best free tool released for Windows 8 to add new tiles to the Start screen. With this tiny tool, one can quickly create and add new tiles with custom color and icon to the Start to launch files and programs.

Read full review and Download OblyTile

Décor8: Decor8 is a paid software developed by StarDock. Decor8 enables you set your own custom picture as Start screen background and also lets you adjust the number of tile rows on the Start screen. The tool is a must have for Windows 8 customization lovers.

Download Decor8

Start Screen Customizer: A free alternative to StarDock’s Docor8 tool. Start Screen Customizer not only lets you change Start screen background picture but also set number of rows, Start screen opacity, tiles opacity, and gaussian blur. Ability to rotate Start screen background at specified time interval is another main feature of this tool.

Download Start Screen Customizer

Start Menu Modifier: Now that Start menu has been dropped from Windows 8, users need to switch to the Start screen to launch new programs. Start Menu Modifier lets you configure the Start screen to open within the desktop so that you can view the Start screen and live tiles without leaving the desktop area. Another cool thing about the program is that it also lets you show the Taskbar in the Start screen.

Download Start Menu Modifier

Start Screen Tiles: While programs like Decor8 and Start Screen Customizer lets you adjust the default number of rows on the Start screen, if you’re looking for a no-nonsense tool to change only the default number of rows, download Start Screen Tiles.

Download Start Screen Tiles

Start Screen Animation Tweaker: As the name suggests, this little helps you enable the hidden Start screen animations in a few mouse clicks. You can tweak user name slide animation, user picture slide animation, right-to-left and left-to-right tiles animation. The default animation that you see when you switch to the Start screen can also be disabled with the help of this free tool.

Download Start Screen Animation Tweaker