Modernize Default MUI Shadows / Add Theme Shadow Options

Summary

The default Material UI box shadows feel dated and don't match the cleaner, flatter aesthetic of modern applications. They often make the UI look heavier than necessary.

I'd like one of the following improvements:

• Update the default MUI shadow system to use more modern, subtle shadows.
• Alternatively, provide an easy way to switch between multiple built-in shadow themes (e.g. Classic, Modern, Flat, Soft, Material 3) through the theme configuration, similar to how color palettes can be customized.

This would make it much easier for developers to achieve a contemporary look without overriding shadows throughout their application.

Examples

Many modern design systems, including Material Design 3, use softer, lower-contrast shadows. Providing built-in shadow presets would allow applications to easily adopt different visual styles without overriding the entire theme.shadows array.

Motivation

Shadows are one of the most noticeable aspects of an application's visual design. While MUI already makes colors, typography, and spacing easy to customize, shadows still require replacing the entire shadow array. Built-in shadow themes or a modern default would improve aesthetics and reduce customization effort.

Search keywords: modern box shadow theme