To decorate Google Slides, start with a theme from the Themes panel (Slide > Change theme), then customize it: change the background with Slide > Change background, add images and icons from Insert > Image, use shapes and lines for accents, pick two or three fonts, and add simple transitions. For a consistent look on every slide, make design changes in the theme builder (Slide > Edit theme) instead of slide by slide.
Below are practical ways to make your presentation look polished, with the exact steps for each.
1. Choose and customize a theme
- Click Slide > Change theme to open the Themes panel.
- Click a theme to apply it to all slides.
- Click Import theme at the bottom to use a theme from another presentation, such as a school or company template.
For more choices, look in the Google Slides template gallery from the Slides home screen.
2. Change the background
- Click Slide > Change background.
- Choose a Color (solid or gradient) or click Choose image.
- Click Done for the current slide, or Add to theme to apply it to every slide using that layout.
Use subtle backgrounds behind text. Busy photos work best on title slides with little text.
3. Edit the theme builder for consistent design
- Click Slide > Edit theme.
- Click the top master slide to change fonts, colors and backgrounds for the whole deck.
- Click individual layouts below it to adjust title slides, section headers and content slides.
- Add a logo or decorative shape to the master so it appears everywhere.
- Close the theme builder with the X.
4. Add images, icons and illustrations
- Images: Insert > Image lets you upload, search the web, or add from Drive, Photos or your camera.
- Icons and stickers: Use Extensions > Add-ons to get icon add-ons, or insert simple icons as images.
- Crop to shapes: Select an image, click the arrow next to the Crop button, and choose Shapes to crop it into a circle or other shape.
- Transparency: Select an image and click Format options > Adjustments to lower opacity for watermark-style backgrounds.
5. Use shapes, lines and color blocks
Click Insert > Shape to add rectangles, circles and banners. Color blocks behind text, thin divider lines, and shapes in your theme colors give slides structure without clutter. Use Arrange > Order to send shapes behind text.
6. Pick fonts that work together
- Use one font for headings and one for body text.
- Click the font menu and choose More fonts to browse Google Fonts.
- Keep body text at least 18 points so it’s readable from the back of a room.
7. Add transitions and animations sparingly
Click Slide > Transition to choose a slide transition, and Insert > Animation to animate objects. Simple fades look professional; avoid mixing many different effects.
Design tips at a glance
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Two or three theme colors | Rainbow color schemes |
| One idea per slide | Walls of text |
| High-quality images | Stretched or blurry pictures |
| Consistent layouts | Moving titles around on every slide |
| Plenty of white space | Filling every corner |
Related: get more themes in Google Slides.
Related: make an image transparent in Google Slides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Canva designs in Google Slides?
Yes. Download a Canva presentation as a PowerPoint file and import it into Google Slides, then adjust fonts that don’t match.
How do I add a border around a slide?
Insert a rectangle that covers the slide, set its fill to transparent and its border to the color and weight you want, then send it to the back.
Can I add GIFs to Google Slides?
Yes. Insert a GIF with Insert > Image, and it plays automatically in presentation mode.
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.