Problem: Too many steps to activate. Open System Prefs, get to the General preference pane, then click to select 1 of 3 Appearance settings: Light (Standard) Mode, Dark Mode, or "Auto" (Change based on the time of day). I also thought Auto lacked the fine control for varied schedules.
Solved: Apple had thought of this, and released a new Automator action to control display modes, and now we can change modes in various ways. (from Spotlight, from the dock, from the desktop, from the Toolbar, by service, by key command, etc.).
App+Icon: iOS Dark Mode icon (from iOS Control Center; recreated in Pixelmator).
Icon: iOS: Dark Mode for Finder window Toolbar (in default "button" style)
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From Spotlight and elsewhere:
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By clicking the Dark Mode icon in the Finder window Toolbar.
To Install: Unzip Automator apps. The apps already have the icons attached.
You can also make your own App, Service, or Workflow and use one of the icons on your app.
Invoke Spotlight, and type dm .
Or use other launchers: I use LaunchBar, or you can use Spotlight, Alfred, Quicksilver, Keyboard Maestro, etc.
Additional functionality: Set apps to follow System Dark Mode status.
Many Mac apps can change Dark Mode status based on System Dark Mode status. The "Dark Reader" extension for Mac browsers Safari (paid extension) and Google Chrome (free extension) supports Dark Mode for web pages as well. (This GIF shows Finder and Chrome Dark Mode following System settings.)
- Select the app named "Dark Mode tb" (it has bevelled button edges).
- Customize your Finder window Toolbar (right click on Toolbar, select "...Customize Toolbar")
- Drag the Automator app to your Toolbar. Click done.
Some other icons and source PNGs are here.