With both Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) overhauling the user interfaces of their search engines, it only made sense that Google (NSDQ: GOOG) would want to tweak the look of its site too. The company is testing out an updated logo and home page (See screenshot to the left). And the results pages now features a left hand column by default, which includes related searches as well as a colorful way to quickly navigate to other Google properties, including news. Search Engine Land reported last week that the changes could go live to all users next year—if the tests are successful. VP Marissa Mayer described the changes to the publication as “an overall cleaning up of the search results page.”

The changes come as Yahoo has updated the look of its search pages—which now feature a left hand column, complete with related searches and quick links—and Microsoft too has introduced related searches, along with links to other properties it owns to its results pages with the launch of Bing.

Here’s how to try out Google’s new look for yourself, courtesy of Google Blogoscoped. First, log out of your Google account. Next, head to Google.com and type in the following long piece of code in your browser:

javascript:void(document.cookie=“PREF=ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb:U=4bf292d46faad806:TM=1249677602:LM=1257919388:S=odm0Ys-53ZueXfZG;path=/; domain=.google.com”);

Hit return. You should be able to see it then.

• Yahoo Set To Launch Home Page Redesign; New Look For Search, Too
• My Week With Microsoft’s ‘Bing’