Theme changes for a custom graphical element are facilitated by providing a mechanism for storing theme specific data for the custom graphical element, providing a software object, independent of the custom graphical element, that monitors theme change events and, in response to a new theme being selected, the software object causing the custom graphical element to be redrawn according to the new theme. The custom graphical element may be graphical portions of a custom control, or a custom control itself. Switching to a new theme for an integrated graphical unit may be provided by marking for redrawing all of the graphical elements of the integrated graphical unit, traversing the elements, and redrawing each element that is marked. There may be provided a directory of theme files and, in each theme file, theme specific information indicating visual appearance of graphical elements.