Credit: Monica J. White / How-To Geek

When I built my current PC in early 2024, I dedicated all my budget (and then some) to better performance. Fancy-looking components always cost more, and I figured I’d rather have a powerful system than a pretty one.

I don’t regret that decision, but PC aesthetics aren’t a “you have it or you don’t” type of thing. In 2026, my goal is to refresh my entire setup on a budget without swapping out any major components. You can do the same, and you might even pick up a little extra performance along the way.

An improvement, not a makeover

We’re not going to reinvent the wheel here

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

The beauty of owning a desktop PC is how easy it is to upgrade over time. You don’t need to rebuild the whole thing to make it look cleaner or more stylish, and small changes can have a big impact. The problem with hardware is that there’s not much choice: you’re typically buying it in black or white. Sure, special editions exist, especially regarding GPUs, but those carry an even bigger premium or are hard to get. A lot of the fun, branded GPUs are only sold in Asia.

Still, white components make for a nice aesthetic. My initial dream was a white build with icy blue accents, which is totally achievable with some RGB tuning. But buying a white GPU, motherboard, RAM, cooler, and PSU can add $200-$300 to the cost, depending on your exact components. You’re often better off spending that on a better graphics card or a monitor that can fully keep up with your PC.

We’ll look at fans, cases, and other things that add a bit of flair without rearranging your whole build.

The case has the biggest impact on aesthetics

Keep it sleek or go wild? It’s up to you

Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek

Unlike most other PC components, manufacturers tend to have some fun with chassis, which is why you’ll find them in all sorts of shapes and colors.

If you’re willing to swap out your case, this is the best place to start your aesthetic overhaul. The case not only needs to physically fit your setup, but it also sets the tone for the rest of your build. Keep in mind that this one is time-consuming. Swapping out your case is not a 10-minute task. Still, the result can be a major improvement.

The thing with cases is that the designs go all the way from elegant, like the Fractal Design North with a walnut wood front panel, to Lian Li’s DK-07X, a motorized standing desk that houses your PC. There’s also all manner of unconventional, colorful cases in between.

Take your pick based on how much of a statement you want your PC to make, but make sure it also functions well beyond just looking cool. If you have the space, it’s not a bad idea to account for room for extra fans, better cable management, or a dedicated PSU shroud. Features like a hidden power supply compartment not only look neat, but they also help improve airflow throughout the system.

Credit: Fractal Design / Amazon

Fractal Design North XL

Motherboard Size (Max.) E-ATX

Graphics Card Size (Max.) 413mm

** CPU Cooler Height (Max.)** 420mm

The Fractal Design North XL is a full tower PC case with a walnut wood front panel. It has an elegant, sleek look that lets you disguise your gaming PC as office decor.

Fans are a blessing for your PC (in more ways than one)

Your components will appreciate slightly lower temperatures

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

Fans are a great, affordable, genuinely useful way to add a bit of pop to your PC build — if you like LED lighting, that is. You can use them to add color or visual movement without much effort. I spend a lot of time in various PC building communities, and know that for every person who loves RGB lighting, there’ll be someone who could really do without it. Wherever you are on that spectrum, I won’t judge. I enjoy some RGB in my builds, although syncing RGB lighting across multiple devices can be a chore.

Chances are that your existing case can support a couple more fans. When you shop, make sure you pick addressable RGB (ARGB) fans instead of plain RGB. The difference is small, but important: ARGB lets you control each individual LED, and RGB can only show one color at a time. ARGB fans let you play with effects, like rainbow waves or gradients, and offer smoother transitions.

Adding more fans can be a performance win as long as you’re thoughtful about it. Plan out which fans will handle intake and which will handle exhaust, and try to keep the airflow direction consistent. As a rule of thumb, you want cool air coming in from the front or bottom of the case and warm air leaving through the top or rear.

LED strips are practically a cheat code

This is an easy way to add more shine to your build

Credit: Nanoleaf

Even if you end up doing nothing else with your build, get a pack of LED strips. They’re the cheapest aesthetic upgrade you can make, but they also have a bigger visual impact than RGB fans. Just one strip can illuminate the entire interior of your build, and the effort-to-impact ratio is pretty great — you just stick them on, plug them in, and enjoy.

You’ll often find these placed along the top or bottom edges of the case interior. This gives some soft ambient lighting and illuminates the components. You can also add them behind the front panel to highlight the fans, or around the motherboard tray to brighten the interior. There are other ways to get creative with it, but you’ll have to be careful about component clearance and cable routing.

Much like with fans, it’s better to buy ARGB LED strips instead of plain RGB if you want that per-LED control for animations. They can usually be daisy-chained for full-case coverage, too.

I also love the idea of using LED strips outside of your PC. They can light up your desk, shelves, or even walls. The only caveat is that you’ll need to buy separate packs of LED strips. The ones used inside your PC connect to the motherboard or an ARGB hub, and those used outside plug into the wall or a USB port.

Credit: Argoo / Amazon

Airgoo ARGB PC LED Strip

$24 $30 Save $6

Size 15.7-inch

Connectivity 12V 4-pin RGB LED header

Airgoo’s LED strips come in a pack of two 15.7-inch strips that can be installed inside the PC case. Each strip has 21 LEDs controlled via the ARGB 3-pin connector on your motherboard.

Don’t be afraid to have some fun with your setup

Make your PC uniquely yours

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

Making your PC look fun is entirely optional, but it can be surprisingly rewarding. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a certain style, and with a few small tweaks, your setup can better match your space. Sometimes, slightly better thermals are a bonus.

There are other ways to make your build uniquely personal, too. Some people stick action figures inside the case. Others apply a decal over the side panels or add lighting to their desk and sync it with their PC. Ultimately, your PC is this big box that always sits in your room — if you can make it look nicer, why not?