Minimize all your open windows and show the desktop

To see your desktop without closing your open windows, minimize all of your windows at once by clicking the Show desktop button next to the notification area at the end of the taskbar.

You can also temporarily preview or "peek at" the desktop by just pointing your mouse to the Show desktop button. The open windows aren't minimized, but they fade from view to reveal the desktop. To show the windows again, just move the mouse away from the Show desktop button.