Customize Background Colors in Notion: A Step-by-Step Guide
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How to Customize Background Colors in Notion?
Notion is a versatile and customizable note-taking and productivity tool that helps you create personalized workspaces. Customizing background colors can enhance the visual appeal and organization of your workspace to match your style. In this article, we explore several updated methods and best practices for customizing background colors in Notion using its current features and effective workarounds.
Method 1: Simulate a Page Background Color
Notion does not offer a built-in setting to change the entire page’s background color. However, you can simulate this effect with some creative approaches:
- Add a full-width colored block at the top of your page. For instance, create a callout block and choose a background color by clicking the block’s six-dot button and selecting your desired color.
- Toggle the Full Width option from the page menu so that the block spans the whole page.
- Arrange your content below this colored block to give the impression of a unique background section.
This method visually distinguishes sections and adds a custom look even though the underlying page color remains unchanged.
Method 2: Utilize Database Properties
Notion uses colors within databases to help visually categorize information. To add color to your database entries:
- Create a new database or open an existing one.
- Add a property such as a Select or Multi-select.
- Click the property’s settings to view color options.
- Choose a color from the palette or select “Custom” to input a hexadecimal code.
- Colored labels will appear beside your entries, making it easier to distinguish and categorize your data.
This approach improves visual organization within databases without modifying the full background of your page.
Method 3: Apply Background Colors to Blocks
Thanks to its block-based system, Notion lets you customize the background color of individual blocks:
- Insert a block by clicking the + icon or typing
/followed by the block type. - Click the six-dot handle of the block to open its options.
- Hit the Color button.
- From the palette, select a background or text color that fits your needs.
- The block will now display the chosen color as its background.
This method is ideal for creating visually distinct sections and emphasizing important content on your page.
Method 4: Advanced Customization with CSS
For those comfortable with CSS, you can achieve advanced customization via browser extensions that inject custom styles into Notion. Please note that this approach is unofficial and may be affected by future Notion updates. To proceed:
- Install a browser extension like Stylus for Chrome or Stylish for Firefox.
- Open Notion in your browser.
- Click the extension’s icon and choose the option to manage or create styles.
- Create a new style for Notion or modify an existing one.
- Add custom CSS code to target specific elements. For example, to change the overall workspace background, you might add the following lines:
- Type: body {
background: #f2f2f2;
}
- Save your changes.
- Refresh the Notion page to see the updated background colors.
Conclusion
Notion offers several ways to enhance the visual appeal of your workspace by incorporating background colors. While a direct option to change the entire page background isn’t available, workarounds like full-width colored blocks, colored database properties, and customized blocks can make a significant difference. For those looking for deeper personalization, browser extensions that enable custom CSS offer extensive options. With these updated methods and best practices, you can create a unique, visually appealing workspace that boosts productivity and makes Notion truly your own.