According to an embodiment of the present invention, In accordance with one embodiment, a method for controlling a visual appearance of a mobile terminal is described. The method includes sensing a property of an object or environment external to the mobile terminal and controlling the visual appearance of at least one portion of the mobile terminal according to the sensed property. According to another embodiment, a mobile terminal includes a sensor configured to sense a property of an object or environment external to the mobile terminal, and a controller configured to control a visual appearance of at least one portion of the mobile terminal according to the sensed property.