# Controlling Appearance

There are a number of ways you can customize the look & feel of your **RadPanelBar** control:

## Layout

* Use the **Height** and **Width** properties to limit the dimensions of the panel bar. Note that the Height property does not have an effect unless the **ExpandMode** is "FullExpandedItem".

> note For more information about expand modes, see [Expanding and Collapsing Items](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/radpanelbar-items/expanding-and-collapsing-items).

* Use the **Expanded** property of a **RadPanelItem** object to specify whether it appears expanded.

* Use the **PreventCollapse** property of a **RadPanelItem** object to specify whether it can be collapsed.

* Add [separators](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/appearance-and-styling/separators) to a the items by creating an item with the **IsSeparator** property set to **True**.

* Use the **dir="rtl"** attribute to give the panel bar a [right-to-left orientation](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/appearance-and-styling/rtl-support):

## Look and Feel

* To change the overall look and feel of the panel bar, set the [Skin](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/appearance-and-styling/skins) property.

* To change the way the child panel items appear or disappear, use [Animations](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/appearance-and-styling/animations).

* To change the look of an individual item in the panel bar, including reflecting the item's state, [use a CSS class property](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/appearance-and-styling/setting--the-css-class-of-items).

* Use the item properties to [add images to items](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/appearance-and-styling/adding-images-to-items).

* Use [templates](https://www.telerik.com/products/aspnet-ajax/documentation/controls/panelbar/templates/overview) to add controls to panel items.