You don't have to pull out a complex new theme like Deadpool to bring a breath of fresh air to your home screen. A new wallpaper can do wonders, just ask your iPhone-carrying friends. Launchers like Action Launcher can re-theme your entire launcher around a good wallpaper. In our effort to help brighten your device — and maybe your day — we're compiling some wallpapers for you to try out.
If you've got a wallpaper you use everywhere, share it in the comments below! We're always looking for something new. Now, hit the break and get your wallpaper picker ready.
Barcelona Beauty
Our crack team has been bringing you everything from Mobile World Congress this week, but not all of the sights and sounds of Barcelona have made it onto the site. Luckily, if you've been following our editors on Instagram, they've been sharing these beauties throughout the week. This lovely shot was taken by our editor-in-chief Phil Nickinson, of the nightlife in the fair city. This shot works well and plays well with most home screen styles and icon packs, but may I recommend a color variant of Glim, such as the Android Green, which helps the greenery in this wallpaper pop.
Barcelona Backalley
This shot comes from Mark Guim at our sister site Windows Central, showing the team en route through the city, luggage in tow. This canted shot and the distant framing almost give the guys an Ocean's Eleven feel, and it makes for a great wallpaper. Light icons work well with this wallpaper, but so do more vintage or papery icons like Retro Icons.
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond was the first Batman show I regularly watched as a kid. He'll always hold a special place in the Batcave of my heart. And this background of Terry McGinnis in the darkness of Gotham, only visible by his bright red bat symbol and two white, dangerous eyes makes me wanna curl up on the couch and watch a few seasons. This wallpaper works best with minimal setups, and Whicons help apps stand out against the darkness. There's even a Batman symbol in the pack to set as your app drawer icon. As a bonus, this mostly black wallpaper will be slightly energy efficient for those of you on AMOLED screens.
Batman Beyond{.cta .large}
Planet Express
Futurama may be dead, again, for now, but nothing says a show has to be on the air right now to be on your home screen. This wallpaper from TheDeletedUser on DeviantArt is simple, understated, and makes me want to yank out my Netflix app and watch The Farnsworth Parabox again. ("Help! Satan! You owe me!") This wall works with minimal and mixed homescreens where you can play around that beautiful logo. For icons, you could use any round pack, but Veno's unique color palette pairs exceptionally well.
Planet Express by TheDeletedUser
Monotone Mermaid
I'm a Little Mermaid fan. I admit it. And when I went looking for a new wallpaper to replace the Ariel one we featured a few weeks ago, I didn't know what I was expecting to find, but it definitely wasn't this lovely little number. The monotone take on the classic Ariel poster fills me with nostalgia, but it's not too bright or too busy.
This wallpaper just needs a white icon pack like Whicons, or if you're feeling a little more colorful, the Teal variants in Glim, and it's good to go with any white widget you've got. Or a color-matched widget like the Material Music Kompnent we showed off in our KWGT explainer last week. For an added pop of color in your dock, consider using Google's Trident emoji.
This design is also available as a case for the Galaxy S4, S5, and S6, or a canvas print, if you're looking to have your physical wall match your phone.
Monotone Mermaid{.cta .large}
