Blog Home Presentation Tips PowerPoint Tutorials Google Slides Tutorials Video Tutorials Industry Information Presentation Collections

How to Change Colors in a PowerPoint Presentation

Banner for a blog 'How to Change Colors in a PowerPoint Presentation' with colorful rounded rectangles and SlideEgg logo.


Colors aren’t just for making things pretty. They can influence emotions, highlight key points, and create a cohesive look. Colors can make or break a presentation. The right colors can captivate your audience, while the wrong ones can make them snooze. As Picasso said, “Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” In this blog, let’s discover how to bring your slides to life with colors!


Steps to Change Colors in PowerPoint


  1. Open Your Presentation: First things first, open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit. If you’re creating a new one, start by picking a template. Using premade professional PowerPoint templates can save you time and ensure a polished look.
  2. Navigate to the Design Tab: Once your presentation is open, head over to the “Design” tab on the top ribbon. This is where all the magic happens!
  3. Choose a Theme: Under the “Design” tab, you’ll see various themes, which come with pre-set color palettes. Hover over them to see a preview. If you like one, click on it. But if you want to customize your colors, keep reading.


PowerPoint Design tab with Themes and Colors options open, showing various color schemes like Office, Blue, Green, and more.


  1. Customize Colors: To personalize your colors, click on the “Variants” dropdown arrow next to your chosen theme. Then, select “Colors,” followed by “Customize Colors.” Here, you can change the colors for text, backgrounds, accents, and hyperlinks. Name your new color scheme and click “Save.”


PowerPoint Design tab with custom theme colors dialog blox, and Format Background pane with 'Apply to All' highlighted.


  1. Apply to All Slides: Once you’ve customized your colors, they’ll automatically apply to all the slides in your presentation. If you need to tweak individual elements, select them and use the “Format” options.


Tips for Choosing the Right Colors


While changing colors is easy, choosing the right ones can be tricky. Here are a few tips:


  • Stick to 2-3 main colors: Too many colors can be overwhelming. Stick to a primary color and a couple of accent colors.
  • Use contrasting colors: Make sure your text stands out against the background. Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) is usually a safe bet.
  • Consider your audience: Different colors evoke different emotions. For example, blue is calming, while red can be energizing. So, choose colors according to the message that you want to convey.


For more insights on choosing the best colors, check out our blog on “How to choose the best colors for your presentations.”


Conclusion


Changing colors in a PowerPoint presentation is a simple yet powerful way to make your slides more engaging. Whether you’re using professional PowerPoint templates or designing from scratch, the right colors can transform your presentation from drab to fab. Now that you know the basics, it’s time to put these tips into practice. So go ahead, experiment with colors, and watch your audience perk up!

Spread Love

Arockia Mary Amutha is a seasoned senior content writer at SlideEgg, bringing over four years of dedicated experience to the field. Her expertise in presentation tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva shines through in her clear, concise, and professional writing style. With a passion for crafting engaging and insightful content, she specializes in creating detailed how-to guides, tutorials, and tips on presentation design that resonate with and empower readers.

Recent Blogs

31-12-2024
Presentation Tips

Public speaking is an art that requires preparation, practice, and confidence. Besides preparing the right words, a good visual aid...

30-12-2024
Google Slides Tutorials

“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” – Pablo Picasso. When it comes to creating impactful presentations, colors...

16-01-2025
Presentation Collections

Creating a unique “About Me” slide can indeed make much difference in your presentations. Standing in front of an audience-whether...