diff --git a/ntfysh_client/MainForm.cs b/ntfysh_client/MainForm.cs
index cc2cdfa..10198ea 100644
--- a/ntfysh_client/MainForm.cs
+++ b/ntfysh_client/MainForm.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
         private readonly NotificationListener _notificationListener;
         private bool _startInTray;
         private bool _trueExit;
+        private NotificationDialog _notificationDialog;
 
         public MainForm(NotificationListener notificationListener, bool startInTray = false)
         {
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
         {
             LoadSettings();
             LoadTopics();
+
+            _notificationDialog = new NotificationDialog();
         }
 
         protected override void SetVisibleCore(bool value)
@@ -69,8 +72,24 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             };
 
             string finalTitle = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(e.Title) ? $"{e.Sender.TopicId}@{e.Sender.ServerUrl}" : e.Title;
-            
-            notifyIcon.ShowBalloonTip((int)TimeSpan.FromSeconds((double)Program.Settings.Timeout).TotalMilliseconds, finalTitle, e.Message, priorityIcon);
+
+            if (Program.Settings.NotificationsMethod == SettingsModel.NotificationsType.NativeWindows)
+            {
+                notifyIcon.ShowBalloonTip((int)TimeSpan.FromSeconds((double)Program.Settings.Timeout).TotalMilliseconds, finalTitle, e.Message, priorityIcon);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+
+                _notificationDialog.ShowNotification(
+                    title: finalTitle,
+                    message: e.Message,
+                    timeoutSeconds: (int)Program.Settings.Timeout,
+                    icon: priorityIcon,
+                    showTimeOutBar: Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar,
+                    showInDarkMode: Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode,
+                    playNotificationSound: Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound
+                );
+            }
         }
 
         private void OnConnectionMultiAttemptFailure(NotificationListener sender, SubscribedTopic topic)
@@ -132,10 +151,15 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             using SettingsDialog dialog = new();
 
             //Load current settings into dialog
-            dialog.Timeout = Program.Settings.Timeout;
             dialog.ReconnectAttempts = Program.Settings.ReconnectAttempts;
             dialog.ReconnectAttemptDelay = Program.Settings.ReconnectAttemptDelay;
-            
+            dialog.UseNativeWindowsNotifications = Program.Settings.NotificationsMethod == SettingsModel.NotificationsType.NativeWindows;
+            dialog.UseCustomTrayNotifications = Program.Settings.NotificationsMethod == SettingsModel.NotificationsType.CustomTray;
+            dialog.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar = Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar;
+            dialog.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode = Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode;
+            dialog.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound = Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound;
+            dialog.Timeout = Program.Settings.Timeout; // set timeout last so bounds are setup before setting value
+
             //Show dialog
             DialogResult result = dialog.ShowDialog();
 
@@ -146,7 +170,11 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             Program.Settings.Timeout = dialog.Timeout;
             Program.Settings.ReconnectAttempts = dialog.ReconnectAttempts;
             Program.Settings.ReconnectAttemptDelay = dialog.ReconnectAttemptDelay;
-            
+            Program.Settings.NotificationsMethod = (dialog.UseNativeWindowsNotifications)? SettingsModel.NotificationsType.NativeWindows : SettingsModel.NotificationsType.CustomTray;
+            Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar = dialog.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar;
+            Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode = dialog.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode;
+            Program.Settings.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound = dialog.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound;
+
             //Save new settings persistently
             SaveSettingsToFile();
         }
@@ -298,10 +326,14 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
 
         private SettingsModel GetDefaultSettings() => new()
         {
-            Revision = 1,
+            Revision = 2,
             Timeout = 5,
             ReconnectAttempts = 10,
-            ReconnectAttemptDelay = 3
+            ReconnectAttemptDelay = 3,
+            NotificationsMethod = SettingsModel.NotificationsType.NativeWindows,
+            CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar = true,
+            CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode = false,
+            CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound = true,
         };
         
         private void MergeSettingsRevisions(SettingsModel older, SettingsModel newer)
@@ -313,6 +345,15 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
                 older.ReconnectAttemptDelay = newer.ReconnectAttemptDelay;
             }
 
+            //Apply settings introduced in Revision 2 (Native vs custom notifications)
+            if (older.Revision < 2)
+            {
+                older.NotificationsMethod = newer.NotificationsMethod;
+                older.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar = newer.CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar;
+                older.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode = newer.CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode;
+                older.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound = newer.CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound;
+            }
+
             //Update the revision
             older.Revision = newer.Revision;
         }
@@ -361,7 +402,7 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             Program.Settings = settings;
             
             //Check the settings revision. If it is older than the current latest revision, apply the settings defaults missing from previous revision
-            if (Program.Settings.Revision < defaultSettings.ReconnectAttempts)
+            if (Program.Settings.Revision < defaultSettings.Revision)
             {
                 MergeSettingsRevisions(Program.Settings, defaultSettings);
                 SaveSettingsToFile();
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.Designer.cs b/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.Designer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40b8faa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.Designer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+namespace ntfysh_client
+{
+    partial class NotificationDialog
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Required designer variable.
+        /// </summary>
+        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Clean up any resources being used.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="disposing">true if managed resources should be disposed; otherwise, false.</param>
+        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
+        {
+            if (disposing && (components != null))
+            {
+                components.Dispose();
+            }
+            base.Dispose(disposing);
+        }
+
+        #region Windows Form Designer generated code
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
+        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
+        /// </summary>
+        private void InitializeComponent()
+        {
+            TxBTitle = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
+            ButtonClose = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
+            TxBMessage = new System.Windows.Forms.RichTextBox();
+            IconBox = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
+            ProgressBar1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ProgressBar();
+            LblTimeout = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
+            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)IconBox).BeginInit();
+            SuspendLayout();
+            // 
+            // TxBTitle
+            // 
+            TxBTitle.BackColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlDark;
+            TxBTitle.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.None;
+            TxBTitle.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Segoe UI", 18F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Regular, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point);
+            TxBTitle.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlLightLight;
+            TxBTitle.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(54, 13);
+            TxBTitle.Name = "TxBTitle";
+            TxBTitle.ReadOnly = true;
+            TxBTitle.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(683, 32);
+            TxBTitle.TabIndex = 0;
+            TxBTitle.MouseDown += window_MouseDown;
+            // 
+            // ButtonClose
+            // 
+            ButtonClose.BackColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ActiveCaptionText;
+            ButtonClose.BackgroundImageLayout = System.Windows.Forms.ImageLayout.None;
+            ButtonClose.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 0;
+            ButtonClose.FlatAppearance.MouseOverBackColor = System.Drawing.Color.DimGray;
+            ButtonClose.FlatStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FlatStyle.Flat;
+            ButtonClose.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ButtonFace;
+            ButtonClose.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(759, 7);
+            ButtonClose.Name = "ButtonClose";
+            ButtonClose.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(29, 38);
+            ButtonClose.TabIndex = 1;
+            ButtonClose.Text = "X";
+            ButtonClose.UseVisualStyleBackColor = false;
+            ButtonClose.Click += ButtonClose_ClickHandler;
+            // 
+            // TxBMessage
+            // 
+            TxBMessage.BackColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlDark;
+            TxBMessage.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.None;
+            TxBMessage.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Segoe UI", 14.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Regular, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point);
+            TxBMessage.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlLightLight;
+            TxBMessage.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 57);
+            TxBMessage.Name = "TxBMessage";
+            TxBMessage.ReadOnly = true;
+            TxBMessage.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(776, 191);
+            TxBMessage.TabIndex = 2;
+            TxBMessage.Text = "";
+            TxBMessage.MouseDown += window_MouseDown;
+            // 
+            // IconBox
+            // 
+            IconBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 12);
+            IconBox.Name = "IconBox";
+            IconBox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(36, 39);
+            IconBox.TabIndex = 3;
+            IconBox.TabStop = false;
+            // 
+            // ProgressBar1
+            // 
+            ProgressBar1.BackColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlDarkDark;
+            ProgressBar1.Enabled = false;
+            ProgressBar1.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.WindowFrame;
+            ProgressBar1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(70, 254);
+            ProgressBar1.MarqueeAnimationSpeed = 1;
+            ProgressBar1.Name = "ProgressBar1";
+            ProgressBar1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(718, 23);
+            ProgressBar1.Step = 1;
+            ProgressBar1.Style = System.Windows.Forms.ProgressBarStyle.Continuous;
+            ProgressBar1.TabIndex = 4;
+            ProgressBar1.Value = 100;
+            // 
+            // LblTimeout
+            // 
+            LblTimeout.AutoSize = true;
+            LblTimeout.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Segoe UI", 9.75F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Regular, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point);
+            LblTimeout.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(21, 254);
+            LblTimeout.Name = "LblTimeout";
+            LblTimeout.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(43, 17);
+            LblTimeout.TabIndex = 5;
+            LblTimeout.Text = "label1";
+            LblTimeout.TextAlign = System.Drawing.ContentAlignment.TopRight;
+            // 
+            // NotificationDialog
+            // 
+            AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(7F, 15F);
+            AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
+            BackColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlDark;
+            ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(800, 289);
+            Controls.Add(LblTimeout);
+            Controls.Add(ProgressBar1);
+            Controls.Add(IconBox);
+            Controls.Add(TxBMessage);
+            Controls.Add(ButtonClose);
+            Controls.Add(TxBTitle);
+            FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.None;
+            Name = "NotificationDialog";
+            Text = "NotificationDialog";
+            Click += window_MouseDown;
+            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)IconBox).EndInit();
+            ResumeLayout(false);
+            PerformLayout();
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox TxBTitle;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.Button ButtonClose;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.RichTextBox TxBMessage;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox IconBox;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.ProgressBar ProgressBar1;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.Label LblTimeout;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.cs b/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d856f2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,295 @@
+using System;
+using System.Drawing;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Windows.Forms;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using ntfysh_client.Themes;
+using Microsoft.Win32;
+using System.Media;
+
+
+namespace ntfysh_client
+{
+    public partial class NotificationDialog : Form
+    {
+        [DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
+        private static extern bool AnimateWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int time, int flags);
+
+        private const int ScreenMargin = 20;
+
+        private int _timeoutSeconds = 0;
+        private System.Timers.Timer? _displayTimeoutTimer = null;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.Timer? _updateTimer = null;
+        private Stopwatch? _shownStopwatch = null;
+
+        private readonly BaseTheme _darkModeTheme = new DarkModeTheme();
+        private readonly BaseTheme _defaultTheme = new DefaultTheme();
+        private BaseTheme? _theme = null;
+
+        public NotificationDialog()
+        {
+            ShowInTaskbar = false;
+            Visible = false;
+            TopMost = true;
+            InitializeComponent();
+            InitializeWindowHidden();
+        }
+
+        public void ShowNotification(string title, string message, int timeoutSeconds = 0, ToolTipIcon? icon = null, bool showTimeOutBar = true, bool showInDarkMode = true, bool playNotificationSound = false)
+        {
+            if (Visible)
+            {
+                // close the current notification
+                HandleTimeout(null, null);
+            }
+
+            _theme = showInDarkMode ? _darkModeTheme : _defaultTheme;
+
+            ApplyTheme();
+
+            // setup data
+            IconBox.Image = (icon is null) ? null : ConvertToolTipIconToImage(icon.Value);
+
+            TxBTitle.Text = title;
+            TxBMessage.Text = message;
+
+            // setup timers
+            if (_displayTimeoutTimer != null)
+            {
+                _displayTimeoutTimer.Stop();
+                _displayTimeoutTimer.Dispose();
+            }
+
+            if (_updateTimer != null)
+            {
+                _updateTimer.Stop();
+                _updateTimer.Dispose();
+            }
+
+            if (timeoutSeconds > 0)
+            {
+                _displayTimeoutTimer = new System.Timers.Timer(timeoutSeconds * 1000);
+                _displayTimeoutTimer.Elapsed += HandleTimeout;
+                _displayTimeoutTimer.Start();
+
+                if (showTimeOutBar)
+                {
+                    ProgressBar1.Value = 100;
+                    _updateTimer = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer();
+                    _updateTimer.Interval = 100;
+                    _updateTimer.Tick += UpdateProgress;
+                    _updateTimer.Start();
+
+                    _shownStopwatch = new Stopwatch();
+                    _shownStopwatch.Start();
+
+                    ProgressBar1.Visible = true;
+                    LblTimeout.Visible = true;
+                    _timeoutSeconds = timeoutSeconds;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    ProgressBar1.Visible = false;
+                    LblTimeout.Visible = false;
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                ProgressBar1.Visible = false;
+                LblTimeout.Visible = false;
+            }
+
+            // ok, show the window
+            Show();
+            ButtonClose.Focus(); // make sure the window is focused, not the title box.
+            SetWindowPosition();
+
+            if (playNotificationSound) PlayNotificationSound();
+        }
+
+        private void ApplyTheme()
+        {
+            _theme ??= _defaultTheme;
+
+            // back colors
+            BackColor = _theme.BackgroundColor;
+            TxBTitle.BackColor = _theme.BackgroundColor;
+            TxBMessage.BackColor = _theme.BackgroundColor;
+            LblTimeout.BackColor = _theme.BackgroundColor;
+            ProgressBar1.BackColor = _theme.BackgroundColor;
+
+            // this one is not "hiding"
+            ButtonClose.BackColor = _theme.ControlBackGroundColor;
+            ButtonClose.ForeColor = _theme.BackgroundColor;
+            // handle mouse over
+            ButtonClose.FlatAppearance.MouseOverBackColor = _theme.ControlMouseOverBackgroundColor;
+
+            // fore colors
+            ForeColor = _theme.ForegroundColor;
+            TxBTitle.ForeColor = _theme.ForegroundColor;
+            TxBMessage.ForeColor = _theme.ForegroundColor;
+            LblTimeout.ForeColor = _theme.ForegroundColor;
+            ProgressBar1.ForeColor = _theme.ForegroundColor;
+        }
+
+        private void UpdateProgress(object? sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            if (_shownStopwatch is null) return;
+
+            ProgressBar1.Value = (_timeoutSeconds - _shownStopwatch.Elapsed.Seconds) * 100 / _timeoutSeconds;
+            LblTimeout.Text = $@"{_timeoutSeconds - _shownStopwatch.Elapsed.Seconds}";
+        }
+
+        protected override void SetVisibleCore(bool value)
+        {
+            SetWindowPosition();
+
+            if (value)
+            {
+                BringToFront();
+
+                AnimateWindow(
+                    Handle,
+                    time: 250,
+                    flags: NFWinUserAnimateWindowConstants.AW_SLIDE | NFWinUserAnimateWindowConstants.AW_VER_NEGATIVE
+                );
+            }
+
+            base.SetVisibleCore(value);
+        }
+
+        private void SetWindowPosition()
+        {
+            var workingTop = Screen.PrimaryScreen.WorkingArea.Height - Height;
+            Top = workingTop - NotificationDialog.ScreenMargin;
+
+            var workingLeft = Screen.PrimaryScreen.WorkingArea.Width - Width;
+            Left = workingLeft - NotificationDialog.ScreenMargin;
+        }
+
+        private void UIThreadAnimatedHideWindow(object? sender, EventArgs? e)
+        {
+
+            AnimateWindow(
+                Handle,
+                time: 250,
+                flags: NFWinUserAnimateWindowConstants.AW_SLIDE | NFWinUserAnimateWindowConstants.AW_VER_POSITIVE | NFWinUserAnimateWindowConstants.AW_HIDE
+            );
+
+            Visible = false;
+        }
+
+        private void HandleTimeout(object? sender, EventArgs? e)
+        {
+            CancelTimer();
+
+            if (InvokeRequired)
+            {
+                // on a background thread, so invoke on the UI thread
+                Invoke(new Action(() => UIThreadAnimatedHideWindow(sender, e)));
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // in the UI thread, invoke directly
+                UIThreadAnimatedHideWindow(sender, e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private Image? ConvertToolTipIconToImage(ToolTipIcon icon) => icon switch
+        {
+            ToolTipIcon.Info => SystemIcons.Information.ToBitmap(),
+            ToolTipIcon.Warning => SystemIcons.Warning.ToBitmap(),
+            ToolTipIcon.Error => SystemIcons.Error.ToBitmap(),
+            _ => null
+        };
+
+        private void InitializeWindowHidden()
+        {
+            Opacity = 0;
+            ShowNotification("Title", "Message");
+            ButtonClose.Focus();
+            Visible = false;
+            Opacity = 1;
+        }
+
+        private void ButtonClose_ClickHandler(object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            // don't animate, immediately "close"
+            Visible = false;
+        }
+
+        private class NFWinUserAnimateWindowConstants
+        {
+            public const int AW_HOR_POSITIVE = 0x00000001;
+            public const int AW_HOR_NEGATIVE = 0x00000002;
+            public const int AW_VER_POSITIVE = 0x00000004;
+            public const int AW_VER_NEGATIVE = 0x00000008;
+            public const int AW_CENTER = 0x00000010;
+            public const int AW_HIDE = 0x00010000;
+            public const int AW_ACTIVATE = 0x00020000;
+            public const int AW_SLIDE = 0x00040000;
+            public const int AW_BLEND = 0x00080000;
+        }
+
+        private void window_MouseDown(object sender, EventArgs e) => CancelTimer();
+
+        private void CancelTimer()
+        {
+            if (InvokeRequired)
+            {
+                // on a background thread, so invoke on the UI thread
+                Invoke(new Action(() =>
+                {
+                    LblTimeout.Visible = false;
+                    ProgressBar1.Visible = false;
+                }));
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // in the UI thread, invoke directly
+                LblTimeout.Visible = false;
+                ProgressBar1.Visible = false;
+            }
+
+            if (_displayTimeoutTimer != null) // check if the timer has already been disposed
+            {
+                _displayTimeoutTimer.Stop();
+                _displayTimeoutTimer.Dispose();
+                _displayTimeoutTimer = null;
+            }
+
+            if (_updateTimer != null)
+            {
+                _updateTimer.Stop();
+                _updateTimer.Dispose();
+                _updateTimer = null;
+            }
+
+            if (_shownStopwatch != null)
+            {
+                _shownStopwatch.Stop();
+                _shownStopwatch = null;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void PlayNotificationSound()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                using RegistryKey? defaultSoundPathKey = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(@"AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\Notification.Default\.Current");
+
+                if (defaultSoundPathKey is null) throw new Exception();
+
+                if (defaultSoundPathKey.GetValue(null) is not string defaultSoundPath) throw new Exception();
+
+                SoundPlayer loadedSound = new(defaultSoundPath);
+
+                loadedSound.Play();
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                SystemSounds.Beep.Play(); // consolation prize
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.resx b/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.resx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b2ff64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ntfysh_client/NotificationDialog.resx
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<root>
+  <!--
+    Microsoft ResX Schema
+
+    Version 2.0
+
+    The primary goals of this format is to allow a simple XML format
+    that is mostly human readable. The generation and parsing of the
+    various data types are done through the TypeConverter classes
+    associated with the data types.
+
+    Example:
+
+    ... ado.net/XML headers & schema ...
+    <resheader name="resmimetype">text/microsoft-resx</resheader>
+    <resheader name="version">2.0</resheader>
+    <resheader name="reader">System.Resources.ResXResourceReader, System.Windows.Forms, ...</resheader>
+    <resheader name="writer">System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, ...</resheader>
+    <data name="Name1"><value>this is my long string</value><comment>this is a comment</comment></data>
+    <data name="Color1" type="System.Drawing.Color, System.Drawing">Blue</data>
+    <data name="Bitmap1" mimetype="application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64">
+        <value>[base64 mime encoded serialized .NET Framework object]</value>
+    </data>
+    <data name="Icon1" type="System.Drawing.Icon, System.Drawing" mimetype="application/x-microsoft.net.object.bytearray.base64">
+        <value>[base64 mime encoded string representing a byte array form of the .NET Framework object]</value>
+        <comment>This is a comment</comment>
+    </data>
+
+    There are any number of "resheader" rows that contain simple
+    name/value pairs.
+
+    Each data row contains a name, and value. The row also contains a
+    type or mimetype. Type corresponds to a .NET class that support
+    text/value conversion through the TypeConverter architecture.
+    Classes that don't support this are serialized and stored with the
+    mimetype set.
+
+    The mimetype is used for serialized objects, and tells the
+    ResXResourceReader how to depersist the object. This is currently not
+    extensible. For a given mimetype the value must be set accordingly:
+
+    Note - application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64 is the format
+    that the ResXResourceWriter will generate, however the reader can
+    read any of the formats listed below.
+
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized with
+            : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.soap.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized with
+            : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.SoapFormatter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.bytearray.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized into a byte array
+            : using a System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+    -->
+  <xsd:schema id="root" xmlns="" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:msdata="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-msdata">
+    <xsd:import namespace="http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace" />
+    <xsd:element name="root" msdata:IsDataSet="true">
+      <xsd:complexType>
+        <xsd:choice maxOccurs="unbounded">
+          <xsd:element name="metadata">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" use="required" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="type" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="mimetype" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute ref="xml:space" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="assembly">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:attribute name="alias" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="data">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+                <xsd:element name="comment" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="2" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="type" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="3" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="mimetype" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="4" />
+              <xsd:attribute ref="xml:space" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="resheader">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+        </xsd:choice>
+      </xsd:complexType>
+    </xsd:element>
+  </xsd:schema>
+  <resheader name="resmimetype">
+    <value>text/microsoft-resx</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="version">
+    <value>2.0</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="reader">
+    <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceReader, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="writer">
+    <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
+  </resheader>
+</root>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.Designer.cs b/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.Designer.cs
index 8f240fe..428625a 100644
--- a/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.Designer.cs
+++ b/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.Designer.cs
@@ -38,10 +38,20 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             reconnectAttemptsLabel = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
             reconnectAttemptDelay = new System.Windows.Forms.NumericUpDown();
             reconnectAttemptDelayLabel = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox = new System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox();
+            useCustomTrayNotifications = new System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton();
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications = new System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton();
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings = new System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox();
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio = new System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox();
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode = new System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox();
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar = new System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox();
+            label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
             buttonPanel.SuspendLayout();
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)timeout).BeginInit();
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)reconnectAttempts).BeginInit();
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)reconnectAttemptDelay).BeginInit();
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.SuspendLayout();
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.SuspendLayout();
             SuspendLayout();
             // 
             // buttonPanel
@@ -50,7 +60,7 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             buttonPanel.Controls.Add(cancelButton);
             buttonPanel.Controls.Add(saveButton);
             buttonPanel.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Bottom;
-            buttonPanel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 150);
+            buttonPanel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 336);
             buttonPanel.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(4, 3, 4, 3);
             buttonPanel.Name = "buttonPanel";
             buttonPanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(531, 51);
@@ -82,9 +92,9 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             timeoutLabel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(13, 9);
             timeoutLabel.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(4, 0, 4, 0);
             timeoutLabel.Name = "timeoutLabel";
-            timeoutLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(488, 15);
+            timeoutLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(401, 15);
             timeoutLabel.TabIndex = 3;
-            timeoutLabel.Text = "Notification Toast Timeout (seconds, may be ignored by OS based on accessibility settings):";
+            timeoutLabel.Text = "Notification Toast Timeout (seconds, use -1 to require closing notification):";
             // 
             // timeout
             // 
@@ -108,7 +118,7 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             reconnectAttemptsLabel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 54);
             reconnectAttemptsLabel.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(4, 0, 4, 0);
             reconnectAttemptsLabel.Name = "reconnectAttemptsLabel";
-            reconnectAttemptsLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(198, 15);
+            reconnectAttemptsLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(287, 15);
             reconnectAttemptsLabel.TabIndex = 5;
             reconnectAttemptsLabel.Text = "Maximum reconnect retry attempts (requires restart):";
             // 
@@ -126,16 +136,102 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 99);
             reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(4, 0, 4, 0);
             reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.Name = "reconnectAttemptDelayLabel";
-            reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(191, 15);
+            reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(275, 15);
             reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.TabIndex = 7;
             reconnectAttemptDelayLabel.Text = "Delay between attempts (seconds, requires restart):";
             // 
+            // nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox
+            // 
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.Controls.Add(useCustomTrayNotifications);
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.Controls.Add(useNativeWindowsNotifications);
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 147);
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.Name = "nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox";
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(506, 67);
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.TabIndex = 9;
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.TabStop = false;
+            // 
+            // useCustomTrayNotifications
+            // 
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.AutoSize = true;
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(6, 40);
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.Name = "useCustomTrayNotifications";
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(267, 19);
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.TabIndex = 1;
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.TabStop = true;
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.Text = "Use ntfysh-windows custom tray notifications";
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            useCustomTrayNotifications.CheckedChanged += UseCustomTrayNotifications_CheckedChanged;
+            // 
+            // useNativeWindowsNotifications
+            // 
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.AutoSize = true;
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(6, 15);
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.Name = "useNativeWindowsNotifications";
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(203, 19);
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.TabIndex = 0;
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.TabStop = true;
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.Text = "Use Windows' native notifications";
+            useNativeWindowsNotifications.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            // 
+            // groupCustomNotificationSettings
+            // 
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Controls.Add(customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio);
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Controls.Add(customNotificationsShowInDarkMode);
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Controls.Add(customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar);
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 243);
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Name = "groupCustomNotificationSettings";
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(504, 87);
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.TabIndex = 10;
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.TabStop = false;
+            // 
+            // customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio
+            // 
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.AutoSize = true;
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(4, 59);
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.Name = "customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio";
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(200, 19);
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.TabIndex = 2;
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.Text = "Play Windows notification sound";
+            customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            // 
+            // customNotificationsShowInDarkMode
+            // 
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.AutoSize = true;
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(6, 37);
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.Name = "customNotificationsShowInDarkMode";
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(197, 19);
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.TabIndex = 1;
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.Text = "Show notifications in dark mode";
+            customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            // 
+            // customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar
+            // 
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.AutoSize = true;
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(6, 14);
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.Name = "customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar";
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(211, 19);
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.TabIndex = 0;
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.Text = "Show time-out bar on notifications";
+            customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            // 
+            // label1
+            // 
+            label1.AutoSize = true;
+            label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(12, 227);
+            label1.Name = "label1";
+            label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(180, 15);
+            label1.TabIndex = 11;
+            label1.Text = "Custom tray notification settings";
+            // 
             // SettingsDialog
             // 
             AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(7F, 15F);
             AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
             BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
-            ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(531, 201);
+            ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(531, 387);
+            Controls.Add(label1);
+            Controls.Add(groupCustomNotificationSettings);
+            Controls.Add(nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox);
             Controls.Add(reconnectAttemptDelay);
             Controls.Add(reconnectAttemptDelayLabel);
             Controls.Add(reconnectAttempts);
@@ -156,6 +252,10 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)timeout).EndInit();
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)reconnectAttempts).EndInit();
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)reconnectAttemptDelay).EndInit();
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.ResumeLayout(false);
+            nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox.PerformLayout();
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.ResumeLayout(false);
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.PerformLayout();
             ResumeLayout(false);
             PerformLayout();
         }
@@ -171,5 +271,13 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
         private System.Windows.Forms.Label reconnectAttemptsLabel;
         private System.Windows.Forms.NumericUpDown reconnectAttemptDelay;
         private System.Windows.Forms.Label reconnectAttemptDelayLabel;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox nativeVersusCustomNotificationsGroupBox;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton useCustomTrayNotifications;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton useNativeWindowsNotifications;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox groupCustomNotificationSettings;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox customNotificationsShowInDarkMode;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio;
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.cs b/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.cs
index 6568d9d..2d4d0ec 100644
--- a/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.cs
+++ b/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.cs
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 using System;
 using System.Windows.Forms;
+using static ntfysh_client.SettingsModel;
 
 namespace ntfysh_client
 {
     public partial class SettingsDialog : Form
     {
+        public NotificationsType NotificationsMethod { get; set; }
+
         public decimal Timeout
         {
             get => timeout.Value;
@@ -23,9 +26,53 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
             set => reconnectAttemptDelay.Value = value;
         }
 
+        #region: Native vs custom notifications options. Because these are in a group box, these are mutualy exclusive.
+        public bool UseNativeWindowsNotifications
+        {
+            get => useNativeWindowsNotifications.Checked;
+            set
+            {
+                useNativeWindowsNotifications.Checked = value;
+                groupCustomNotificationSettings.Enabled = !value;
+                NotificationsMethod = (value) ? NotificationsType.NativeWindows : NotificationsType.CustomTray;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public bool UseCustomTrayNotifications
+        {
+            get => useCustomTrayNotifications.Checked;
+            set {
+                useCustomTrayNotifications.Checked = value;
+                groupCustomNotificationSettings.Enabled = value;
+                NotificationsMethod = (value) ? NotificationsType.NativeWindows : NotificationsType.CustomTray;
+            }
+        }
+        #endregion
+
+        #region: Custom tray notification options
+        public bool CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar
+        {
+            get => customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.Checked;
+            set => customNotificationsShowTimeoutBar.Checked = value;
+        }
+
+        public bool CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode
+        {
+            get => customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.Checked;
+            set => customNotificationsShowInDarkMode.Checked = value;
+        }
+
+        public bool CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound
+        {
+            get => customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.Checked;
+            set => customNotificationsPlayWindowsNotificationAudio.Checked = value;
+        }
+        #endregion
+
         public SettingsDialog()
         {
             InitializeComponent();
+            SetNotificationsUiElements();
         }
 
         private void saveButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
@@ -37,5 +84,19 @@ namespace ntfysh_client
         {
             DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel;
         }
+
+        private void SetNotificationsUiElements()
+        {
+            groupCustomNotificationSettings.Enabled = useCustomTrayNotifications.Checked;
+            timeoutLabel.Text = useCustomTrayNotifications.Checked ? _customNotificationsTimeout : _windowsNotificationsTimeout;
+        }
+
+        private void UseCustomTrayNotifications_CheckedChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            SetNotificationsUiElements();
+        }
+
+        private const string _windowsNotificationsTimeout = "Notification Toast Timeout (seconds, may be ignored by OS based on accessibility settings):";
+        private const string _customNotificationsTimeout = "Notification Toast Timeout (seconds, use 0 to require closing notification):";
     }
 }
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.resx b/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.resx
index af32865..8b2ff64 100644
--- a/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.resx
+++ b/ntfysh_client/SettingsDialog.resx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <root>
   <!--
-    Microsoft ResX Schema 
+    Microsoft ResX Schema
 
     Version 2.0
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
     value   : The object must be serialized with
             : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter
             : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
-    
+
     mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.soap.base64
     value   : The object must be serialized with
             : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.SoapFormatter
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/SettingsModel.cs b/ntfysh_client/SettingsModel.cs
index ef67969..79cbd2f 100644
--- a/ntfysh_client/SettingsModel.cs
+++ b/ntfysh_client/SettingsModel.cs
@@ -2,9 +2,19 @@
 {
     public class SettingsModel
     {
+        public enum NotificationsType
+        {
+            NativeWindows,
+            CustomTray
+        }
+
         public uint Revision { get; set; }
         public decimal Timeout { get; set; }
         public decimal ReconnectAttempts { get; set; }
         public decimal ReconnectAttemptDelay { get; set; }
+        public NotificationsType NotificationsMethod { get; set; }
+        public bool CustomTrayNotificationsShowTimeoutBar { get; set; }
+        public bool CustomTrayNotificationsShowInDarkMode { get; set; }
+        public bool CustomTrayNotificationsPlayDefaultWindowsSound { get; set; }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/Themes/BaseTheme.cs b/ntfysh_client/Themes/BaseTheme.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b139ab9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ntfysh_client/Themes/BaseTheme.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Drawing;
+
+namespace ntfysh_client.Themes
+{
+    internal abstract class BaseTheme
+    {
+        public abstract Color BackgroundColor {get; }
+        public abstract Color ControlBackGroundColor {get; }
+        public abstract Color ControlMouseOverBackgroundColor { get; }
+        public abstract Color ForegroundColor { get; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/Themes/DarkModeTheme.cs b/ntfysh_client/Themes/DarkModeTheme.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..300809f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ntfysh_client/Themes/DarkModeTheme.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Drawing;
+
+namespace ntfysh_client.Themes
+{
+    internal class DarkModeTheme: BaseTheme
+    {
+        public override Color BackgroundColor { get => SystemColors.ControlDark; }
+        public override Color ControlBackGroundColor { get => Color.Black; }
+        public override Color ControlMouseOverBackgroundColor { get => Color.Silver; }
+        public override Color ForegroundColor { get => SystemColors.WindowText; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ntfysh_client/Themes/DefaultTheme.cs b/ntfysh_client/Themes/DefaultTheme.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c3ce2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ntfysh_client/Themes/DefaultTheme.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Drawing;
+
+namespace ntfysh_client.Themes
+{
+    internal class DefaultTheme: BaseTheme
+    {
+        public override Color BackgroundColor { get => Color.White; }
+        public override Color ControlBackGroundColor { get => SystemColors.ControlDark; }
+        public override Color ControlMouseOverBackgroundColor { get => Color.CadetBlue; }
+        public override Color ForegroundColor { get => SystemColors.WindowText; }
+    }
+}