Yes, you can change your Notion background color in a few different ways

Notion lets you customize the background of your workspace, individual pages, and databases. The method depends on what part of Notion you want to change — your main workspace background, a single page, or a database view. Each one has its own settings, and the process takes less than a minute once you know where to look.

The background color options are limited to a set palette that Notion provides — you cannot upload a custom color code or image as a background. But the built-in colors cover most preferences, and you can change them whenever you want without losing any of your content.

Key Takeaways

  • Workspace backgrounds are changed through Settings & Members, while individual page backgrounds are changed through the page menu at the top right.
  • Database and board views have their own background color settings separate from the page background.
  • Notion provides a fixed set of background colors — you cannot input a custom hex code or use an image file.
  • Changing a background color does not affect your data or the content on that page.

Changing your workspace background color

Your workspace background is the color you see behind all your pages when you are in the sidebar view. To change it, click the settings icon in the bottom left corner of Notion (it looks like a gear). Select Settings & Members, then click Appearance in the left menu.

Under the Appearance section, you will see a row of color circles labeled Theme. Click any color to explore it to your entire workspace. The change takes effect when ready. If you want to revert to the default, select the lightest or darkest option depending on whether you use light or dark mode.

Changing a single page background color

To change the background of one page only, open that page and look at the top right corner. Click the three-dot menu icon (⋯). A dropdown will appear with several options — select Design.

In the Design panel, you will see a section called Page Cover and below it Page Background. Click on the color circle next to Page Background to open the color picker. Choose from the available colors. This change applies only to that page, not to your entire workspace.

Changing database and board view backgrounds

If you have a database displayed as a table, board, calendar, or gallery, you can set a background color for that specific view. Open the database, then click the view name at the top (for example, "Table" or "Board"). Click the three-dot menu next to the view name and select Edit view.

In the view settings panel, look for Background or Color options depending on your view type. Board views and gallery views often have background color settings. Select your preferred color from the palette. This change affects only that view — other views of the same database keep their own backgrounds.

Understanding Notion's color palette

Notion offers a standard set of background colors: white, light gray, gray, dark gray, black, light blue, blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, and green. The exact shade of each color is fixed — you cannot adjust the brightness or saturation, and you cannot enter a custom hex code like #FF5733.

If none of the preset colors match what you want, your next option is to use a page cover image instead. You can upload an image or choose from Notion's built-in cover gallery, which gives you more visual variety than solid colors alone. A cover image sits at the top of the page and can work alongside a background color.

What happens when you change a background color

Changing a background color does not delete, move, or alter any of your content. All your text, databases, files, and linked pages stay exactly where they are. The color change is purely visual and can be undone at any time by selecting a different color or reverting to the default.

If you share a page with others, they will see the background color you chose unless they have their own appearance settings that override it. In most cases, shared pages display with the background color the owner set.

Troubleshooting background color changes

If you change a background color and it does not appear, refresh your browser or close and reopen Notion. Sometimes the interface needs a moment to sync the change across your devices. If you are using Notion on mobile, background color options may be limited or hidden — try making the change on the web version instead.

If the color picker does not open when you click the color circle, make sure you are clicking in the right spot. The clickable area is small. Try clicking directly on the colored circle itself rather than the text next to it. If the menu still does not appear, log out and log back in to refresh your session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a custom color code or hex value for my background?

No. Notion only allows you to choose from its preset color palette. You cannot enter a hex code, RGB value, or custom color. If you need more visual control, use a page cover image instead, which you can design in any color you want.

Will changing my background color affect pages I have shared with others?

Shared pages will display the background color you set, but viewers can change their own appearance settings to override it. Your color choice does not lock their view — they can switch to light or dark mode independently.

Can I set different background colors for different sections of one page?

No. A page has one background color. If you want different colors in different areas, create separate pages with different backgrounds and link them together, or use colored blocks and dividers within the page instead.

What is the difference between page background and page cover?

A page cover is an image or color that appears at the very top of the page. A page background is the color behind all the content on the page. You can use both at the same time — a cover image on top and a background color behind the text below.

If I change my workspace background, does it change all my pages too?

No. The workspace background is only the color you see in the sidebar and empty space. Individual pages keep their own background colors. Changing the workspace background does not override page-specific colors you have already set.