IntelliJ: How to change background color of Project Folder window?

Question

I am using IntelliJ IDEA 2017.1 (latest at this time) and am using the dark theme ("Darcula"). The editor window background color can be changed from Settings as per your preference. Though I haven't found a way to change the look-&-feel of the Project Window panel on the left of the editor. Even in dark theme the Project Window has a some kind of grey background which blurs the file/folder names (see screenshot).

How can I change the background color of Project Folder window?

Answer 1

Please see my answer here where I show how to use a background image to achieve this, but affecting all other tool panes.

Answer 2

Go to:

Settings->Appearance & Behavior->File colors

On the right side there will be small '+' button. Add All, Project Files etc. Add your custom colour. Apply, Ok, Voila!

If you have more than one File Color enabled, you can drag the colors to reorder them and change their precedence.

Answer 3

In addition to what @CrazyCoder said.

You may use another GUI Theme. There are at least 2 plugins available that will provide different dark themes:

• Afterglow Theme
• Material Theme UI

Since they provided via plugins you will have to disable such plugin if you wish to switch to another GUI Theme.

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As for the Project View panel background:

• That yellowish color can be changed/disabled as per @CrazyCoder's screenshot
• Actual background color might be changed with the help of one of such plugins (sorry, I do not know if they still work -- but used to work in the past -- last update 4 years ago):
  • Color Ide
  • Color Tree

Answer 4

Project view background color depends on the theme selected and cannot be changed:

• IDEA-132299 Allow custom colors for the built-in UI themes (LAFs Darcula and Default)

Certain folders and files will have different colors based on the Scopes.