A screen displaying method and apparatus for displaying screens in a display system are provided. The method includes setting at least one Activation Information Region (AIR) and at least one Deactivation Information Region (DIR) to a screen of the display system, displaying items on at least one set AIR and at least one set DIR, detecting a touch gesture applied to the AIR or the DIR, executing a function corresponding to the touch gesture applied to the AIR, and altering and displaying an image of at least one item in the DIR according to the touch gesture applied to the DIR. Accordingly, items can be displayed on a screen with a high level of visibility for easy recognition.