Node-RED is a programming tool built on top of Node.js that provides a way to create automation with minimal code, wiring different nodes together to carry out automation tasks. To get started with the Node-RED dashboard, users need to install the dashboard module in their existing Node-RED setup and ensure it reads node-red-dashboard. The dashboard allows users to create a graphical user interface (GUI) for their automation using various nodes on the Node-RED dashboard. Users can arrange their UI using tabs and groups, displaying different widgets such as buttons, texts, charts, etc. They can also display audio nodes, sliders, gauges, and charts to create interactive dashboards. The dashboard offers a light theme by default but allows users to switch to dark themes or customize their own themes. Additionally, users can edit settings on the main page of Node-RED to personalize their dashboard's appearance.