“Theme color” in Word can mean two different things: the document theme colors used by headings, tables, charts, and shapes in your file, or the Office theme that changes how Word itself looks (light, dark, or colorful). This guide covers both: switching and customizing the color palette of a document, and changing Word’s app appearance.
Quick Answer
Document colors: go to the Design tab, click Colors, and choose a palette, or click Customize Colors to make your own. Word’s appearance: go to File > Account > Office Theme and choose Colorful, Dark Gray, Black, White, or Use system setting.
Change the Document’s Theme Colors
- Open the document and click the Design tab.
- Click Colors.
- Hover over a palette to preview it, then click to apply.
Anything formatted with theme colors, such as Heading styles, SmartArt, charts, table styles, and shapes, updates instantly. Text with a specific (non-theme) color stays the same.
Create a custom color palette
- Click Design > Colors > Customize Colors.
- Set the text/background colors and Accent 1 through Accent 6, plus hyperlink colors. Use More Colors to enter exact RGB or hex values (for brand colors).
- Name the palette and click Save.
Your palette appears at the top of the Colors menu under Custom, and you can use it in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the same PC.
Change the whole theme
Click Design > Themes to change colors, fonts, and effects together. To keep a look for future documents, choose Themes > Save Current Theme, or Set as Default in the Design tab.
Change Word’s App Theme (Appearance)
- Click File > Account (or File > Options > General).
- Under Office Theme, choose:
- Colorful: blue title bar and ribbon accents.
- Dark Gray or Black: darker interface; Black can also darken the page.
- White: fully light.
- Use system setting: follows Windows light or dark mode.
This only changes how Word looks on your screen and applies to all Office apps. It doesn’t change your document’s colors when printed or shared.
Change the Page Background Color
For a colored page, use Design > Page Color. Page color doesn’t print by default; turn on File > Options > Display > Print background colors and images if you want it printed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t my text change color with the theme?
It was given a standard (fixed) color. Select it and pick a color from the Theme Colors row of the font color menu so it follows the theme.
Can I use my company’s brand colors?
Yes. Create a custom palette with Customize Colors and enter the brand’s hex or RGB values.
How do I go back to the default colors?
Choose Design > Colors > Office, or Themes > Reset to Theme from Template.
Summary
- Use Design > Colors to change a document’s color palette.
- Use Customize Colors for your own palette.
- Use File > Account > Office Theme to change Word’s appearance.
- Use Design > Page Color for the page background.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.