CentOS7: How to install Desktop Environments on CentOS 7?

1. Installing GNOME-Desktop:

Install GNOME Desktop Environment on here.

# yum -y groups install "GNOME Desktop"

Input a command like below after finishing installation:

# startx

GNOME Desktop Environment will start. For first booting, initial setup runs and you have to configure it for first time.
Select System language first.
Select your keyboard type.
Add online accounts if you'd like to.
Finally click "Start using CentOS Linux".

GNOME Desktop Environments starts like follows.

How to use GNOME Shell?

The default GNOME Desktop of CentOS 7 starts with classic mode but if you'd like to use GNOME Shell, set like follows:

Option A: If you start GNOME with 

startx

,
set like follows.

# echo "exec gnome-session" >> ~/.xinitrc
# startx

Option B: set the system graphical login 

systemctl
set-default graphical.target

 and reboot the system. After system starts
Click the button which is located next to the "Sign In" button.
Select "GNOME" on the list. (The default is GNOME Classic)
Click "Sign In" and log in with GNOME Shell.



GNOME shell starts like follows:

2. Installing KDE-Desktop:

Install KDE Desktop Environment on here.

# yum -y groups install "KDE Plasma Workspaces"

Input a command like below after finishing installation:

# echo "exec startkde" >> ~/.xinitrc
# startx

KDE Desktop Environment starts like follows:

3. Installing Cinnamon Desktop Environment:

Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on here.

First Add the EPEL Repository (EPEL Repository which is provided from Fedora project.)
Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL)

How to add EPEL Repository?

# yum -y install epel-release

# sed -i -e "s/\]$/\]\npriority=5/g" /etc/yum.repos.d/epel.repo # set [priority=5]
# sed -i -e "s/enabled=1/enabled=0/g" /etc/yum.repos.d/epel.repo # for another way, change to [enabled=0] and use it only when needed
# yum --enablerepo=epel install [Package] # if [enabled=0], input a command to use the repository

And now install the Cinnamon Desktop Environment from EPEL Repository:

# yum --enablerepo=epel -y install cinnamon*

Input a command like below after finishing installation:

# echo "exec /usr/bin/cinnamon-session" >> ~/.xinitrc
# startx

Cinnamon Desktop Environment will start. For first booting, initial setup runs and you have to configure it for first time.
Select System language first.
Select your keyboard type.
Add online accounts if you'd like to.
Finally click "Start using CentOS Linux".

Cinnamon Desktop Environment starts like follows.

4. Installing MATE Desktop Environment:

Install MATE Desktop Environment on here.

# yum --enablerepo=epel -y groups install "MATE Desktop"

Input a command like below after finishing installation:

# echo "exec /usr/bin/mate-session" >> ~/.xinitrc
# startx

MATE Desktop Environment starts.

5. Installing Xfce Desktop Environment:

Install Xfce Desktop Environment on here.

# yum --enablerepo=epel -y groups install "Xfce"

Input a command like below after finishing installation:

# echo "exec /usr/bin/xfce4-session" >> ~/.xinitrc
# startx

Xfce Desktop Environment starts.



Copy from:
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/181503/how-to-install-desktop-environments-on-centos-7