How to Change Background Color in Notion

Notion is a fantastic tool for organizing your life and work, but have you ever wondered how to make your pages not just functional but also visually appealing? Changing the background color in Notion can breathe new life into your workspace, making it both more enjoyable to use and easier on the eyes. This guide will walk you through the process, offering tips and tricks to customize your Notion pages to reflect your personal style and needs.

Why Change the Background Color?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to change the background color, let's chat about why you might want to do it in the first place. Customizing the background can help you in several ways:

• Visual Appeal: Aesthetically pleasing pages can make your work environment more inviting.
• Focus: Certain colors can improve concentration or reduce eye strain, especially during long work sessions.
• Organization: Using color to differentiate sections or types of content can make navigating your workspace easier.

Interestingly enough, color psychology plays a role in productivity. For example, blue is often associated with calm and focus, while yellow might inspire creativity. So, the colors you choose can subtly influence your mood and efficiency.

Basic Steps to Change Background Color

Now, let's get into the practical steps. Changing the background color of a Notion page isn't directly supported by the platform. But there are workarounds using built-in features like callouts and custom blocks. Here's how you can do it:

Using Callouts

Callouts are a versatile feature in Notion that can be used to change the background color of specific sections. Here's a quick rundown:

1. Create a new Callout by typing /callout and hitting Enter.
2. Once the callout is created, you can change its color. Click on the six-dot menu to the left of the callout.
3. Select Color, then choose your desired background color. The text color will also adjust to ensure readability.

This method is great for highlighting important information or creating visually distinct sections within your workspace.

Using Custom Blocks

If you're looking for more control over the page's appearance, custom blocks might be the way to go. Here's how:

1. Create a new block by typing / and selecting the desired block type (like a text block).
2. Click on the block's six-dot menu and choose Color.
3. Select a background color to apply it to the entire block.

Repeat these steps to change the color of additional blocks, creating a cohesive look throughout your page.

While these methods don't allow you to change the background color of an entire page, they offer a practical way to introduce color and structure into your Notion workspaces.

Using Emojis and Icons for Additional Flair

Beyond just changing background colors, adding emojis and icons can further personalize your Notion pages. Emojis are not only fun but can also serve as visual cues, helping you quickly identify different sections or tasks.

1. To add an emoji, start by typing : followed by the emoji name (e.g., :smile:). Notion will provide suggestions that you can select.
2. For page icons, click on the page title and choose Add Icon. You can select an emoji or upload a custom image.

Using emojis and icons is a simple way to make your pages more engaging and easier to navigate. For instance, you might use a lightbulb emoji for ideas or a checkmark for tasks that are completed.

Organizing Sections with Dividers

While color can help separate sections, adding dividers is another effective way to organize content. Dividers provide a clear visual break between sections, making it easier to distinguish different parts of your page.

1. Type /divider and hit Enter to add a horizontal line.
2. You can move the divider by dragging the six-dot menu to reposition it between sections.

Combining dividers with color changes creates a visually appealing and organized layout, enhancing the overall readability of your pages.

Creating a Consistent Visual Theme

One of the joys of using Notion is the ability to create a consistent visual theme across your pages. This doesn't just make your workspace look good. It also enhances usability by providing a familiar structure.

Here are some tips for creating a cohesive theme:

• Color Palette: Choose a set of colors that complement each other and stick to them. This will make your pages look unified.
• Font and Text Styles: Notion allows you to apply different text styles. Use bold, italics, or underline consistently to highlight important information.
• Icons and Emojis: Use similar styles of icons and emojis across pages to maintain consistency.

Establishing a theme not only looks professional but also makes your workspace feel more intentional and less chaotic.

Advanced Customization with CSS

For those who are comfortable with a bit of coding, you can take customization to the next level using CSS. While Notion doesn't natively support CSS customization, browser extensions like Notion Enhancer offer a workaround.

Here's a basic overview:

1. Install a browser extension like Notion Enhancer.
2. Once installed, you can access settings to apply custom CSS.
3. Use CSS to define background colors, fonts, and other styles.

Remember, this method requires some technical know-how and might not be suitable for everyone. However, it's a powerful way to tailor Notion to your specific aesthetic preferences.

Integrating With External Tools

Integrating Notion with other tools can expand its functionality and make your workspace even more dynamic. While you can't directly change Notion's background color through integrations, using tools like Zapier or IFTTT can automate processes and enhance your productivity.

For example, you can set up automations to:

• Sync tasks from a task management app into Notion.
• Automatically update Notion pages based on external triggers.
• Use Spell to generate content faster and more efficiently, saving you time to focus on customizing your workspace.

These integrations can streamline your workflow, making Notion not just a tool for notes but a central hub for all your productivity needs.

Keeping Accessibility in Mind

While it's tempting to go wild with colors and customizations, it's important to keep accessibility in mind. Not everyone perceives colors the same way, and certain combinations can be challenging for those with visual impairments.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Contrast: Ensure there's enough contrast between text and background colors for readability.
• Color Blindness: Avoid using color alone to convey important information. Use text or icons as well.
• Font Size and Style: Make sure your text is legible and not too small.

Creating an accessible workspace not only benefits you but also anyone you might be collaborating with, ensuring that your pages are usable by everyone.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes things don't go as planned, and that's okay! Here are some common issues you might encounter when changing background colors in Notion and how to solve them:

• Color Not Applying: Make sure you're selecting the color for the correct block or callout.
• Text Visibility: If the text isn't visible against a new background color, switch to a contrasting text color.
• Page Settings: Double-check that you're not trying to apply changes in a locked or restricted page.

If you're still having trouble, consider reaching out to the Notion community online. There are plenty of user forums and social media groups where you can ask questions and get advice from other Notion enthusiasts.

Final Thoughts

Customizing your Notion workspace with background colors can transform your pages into something uniquely yours, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. While the native options are somewhat limited, creative workarounds like callouts and custom blocks allow for a surprising level of personalization. If you're looking for even more customization and efficiency, using tools like Spell can help streamline your workflow by generating and editing content rapidly. Happy customizing!