Linux’s resourcefulness as a functional operating system can’t be undermined. Its open-source nature and the vast number of distros available make Linux a preferred choice for beginners and advanced users alike.

Nevertheless, most Linux distros offer commendable and transcendental desktop experiences. Each distro might be unique in its offering, but some are highly exceptional, given their layout and graphical interfaces.

If you are a beauty admirer and are looking for some classy, eye-catching, and popular Linux distros, you have to check out these eight distros that offer a visually-appealing interface out-of-the-box.

1. elementary OS

Elementary desktop interface

elementary OS is a beautiful-looking Linux distribution, which promises to appeal to the masses and the classes alike. Jólnir, the latest release of elementary OS, aims at providing intelligent and capable window management, end-to-end stability, a diverse repository comprising top-shelf, open-source, and premium packages.

The distro’s new multitasking view helps you fluidly transition between windows, allowing you to switch workspaces with a swipe. The latest picture-in-picture feature will enable you to wield the desktop like a dashboard of sorts.

elementary OS is one of the best Linux distros for professional creators and developers, who might be looking to gain some extra brownie points with their Linux knowledge.

Related: Reasons Why Experienced Linux Users Would Love elementary OS

The window switcher is optimized in a way to avoid light sensitivity challenges. elementary OS "Jólnir" provides an enticing dark mode theme as an alternative to its default light theme.

The distro’s compatibility with the latest dedicated and hybrid GPU ensembles lets you make the most out of its visual nuances.

Download: elementary OS

2. Zorin OS

Zorin OS desktop interface

Zorin OS is an open-source Windows and macOS alternative. The distro renders an interface that borrows the best visual elements from its immediate competitors.

Zorin OS lets you choose between GNOME and XFCE desktops. Zorin’s automated time-based wallpaper changes, curved windows and menus, animations, and transitions feel more tangible when experienced with touchpads.

Zorin believes in giving you a full reign over its UI and shell customizability. You can change themes for all applications to match the shell design. Alternatively, you can mix and match the individual components for an extravagant effect. To date, Zorin OS is the best Linux distro for Linux newcomers.

Zorin has an endless supply of GTK themes to spruce up your desktop, each of which is available and supported by its active community. On the contrary, Zorin OS Lite delivers the near-same visual affluence as its full version, but on low-end hardware.

Download: Zorin OS

3. MX Linux

MX LINUX KDE desktop interface

MX Linux ships with the XFCE desktop environment and a default mx-comfort theme. The light and breezy desktop enables you to enjoy an aesthetically appealing workspace and enhances your desktop productivity. It packs a series of eye-catching wallpapers and icon packs for efficient use.

Based on Debian, MX Linux allows you to switch to other desktops like Fluxbox and KDE seamlessly. Fluxbox is ideal for you if you want your desktop to feature a dock with fancy macOS-inspired iconography.

Thankfully, MX and KDE complement each other beautifully. KDE brings fancy widgets, icon packs, cursors, among other features, with the help of an active support community.

MX Linux’s customizability extends to its core components, including dainty graphics. Customize settings to optimize your use of existing resources for better performance or turn it up a notch for maximum effect, the choice if yours.

Download: MX Linux

4. Pop!_OS

Pop!OS desktop interface

Pop!_OS is an Ubuntu-based distro catering to the needs of creative professionals. The distro rolls out with its native workflow-centric shell designs, desktop layouts, and workspace environments.

Pop Shell renders an auto-tiled look that automatically organizes your workspaces. The dock and touchpad gesture support offer a neomorphic vibe. Pop!_OS’s gestures, transitions, and workspace navigation accentuate the macOS-style dock that comes with customizable features.

Pop!_OS impresses you with its workspace management, as you can quickly isolate switchable workspaces to segregate different tasks and windows. You can exercise smooth navigational control over these with the distro’s intuitive combinations.

Pop!_OS rolls out with GNOME by default, and ensures maximum customization, with ample themes, extensions, and icon packs to further beautify the desktop interface.

Download: Pop!_OS

5. Garuda Linux

Garuda desktop interface

Garuda Linux is an Arch-based distro for desktop users that combines desktop beautification with a functional user interface. The distribution allows you to pick and choose from KDE, XFCE, GNOME, LXQt, Wayfire, Qtile, bspwm, i3wm, and Sway.

No matter which desktop environment you use, Garuda will grab your attention immediately with its dark mode default theme. Given Garuda’s extensive desktop support, you can use the available native desktop themes for any of these environments, right on top of Garuda’s default UI.

The distro’s shell design and layout maximize the its GUI-driven status. The Linux-zen kernel specializes in utilizing your hardware to deliver top-notch gaming and multimedia tasks performance.

Download: Garuda Linux

6. Solus

Solus OS desktop interface

Solus will please you to bits with its eye-catching desktop and operational customizability. This feature-rich desktop distro with the Budgie desktop environment.

Solus guarantees a user-friendly desktop with a Windows-like sidebar catering to productivity, entertainment, and date/time widgets. Solus is also one of the best Linux distros for programmers and developers.

Budgie themes your desktop with GTK designs for a simple, user-friendly, and elegant environment. The distro's developers suggest using the MATE desktop environment, especially if you intend to run Solus at its visual best, without investing in high-end hardware.

With that said, Solus runs like a charm on high-end systems, and continues to garner attention as a gamer-friendly OS. The widgets and gesture animations on Solus come alive when Budgie's settings are fully turned up.

Download: Solus

7. KDE Neon

KDE Neon desktop interface

KDE Neon is an Ubuntu-based distro with synchronized Ubuntu LTS support. KDE Neon employs the flagship Plasma desktop environment and injects the best aesthetics of Windows and macOS to pave a productive computing experience.

Related: Why KDE Is a Better Linux Desktop Than GNOME

Plasma gives you a Windows-style taskbar with sharply angled windows and a lightweight default theme. Plasma’s KRunner launcher converts your GUI desktop into a command-operated system that gets rid of encumbering menus and multi-folder views.

Like some other distros, Plasma also comes with an alternate dark theme, extending the color scheme to each installed application. Despite its graphically rich feature set, you can easily switch to KDE Neon, as it has low system requirements.

KDE Neon continues to be a strong contender in the list of the best visually appealing and lightweight Linux distros.

Download: KDE Neon

8. Feren OS

Feren OS desktop interface

Feren OS will impress you with its inherent, simple menu that presents you with your favorite apps. The new icon design schemes, six desktop layouts, fading transitions, and animated task-switching, make it an eye-popping experience for the end-users.

There are plenty of prominent features in the Feren OS Classic version, which directly merge the best of Cinnamon desktop's components with KDE Plasma's nativity. However, Feren's customizability allows you to switch back and forth within the Plasma design.

Feren OS lets you do more work by customizing burgeoning desktop elements that clutter your workflow. The Feren community supplies some picturesque GTK themes for your layout, which can be applied using the Global Theme Tool in Plasma.

Download: Feren OS

Choosing the Most Beautiful Linux Distro for Yourself

Each distro in this list is one of the best within the Linux universe. Linux is known to provide a series of multi-faceted distros, and these eight distros continue to appeal to the users' visual senses with their keen sense of style, panache, and color combinations, amongst other things.

So which one are you going to try today?