Feeling stuck with plain Instagram Story backgrounds? You’re not alone. Many creators look for simple ways to add personality and creativity to their Stories without overcomplicating the process. Changing the background color can instantly make your content more eye-catching, boost engagement, and help your posts align with your overall aesthetic. Whether you’re promoting a product, sharing a moment, or just posting for fun, the right background color sets the tone. Think of it as the canvas where your visuals, stickers, and text come to life. With the right tricks, you can transform your Story in seconds.
The good news is that Instagram offers multiple built-in options to customize backgrounds—no extra tools required. From solid shades to tinted overlays, gradient effects, and playful stickers, there’s plenty of room for creativity. These methods are easy to follow, even if you’re new to Instagram’s editing features. By learning how to tweak colors and backgrounds, you’ll gain more control over your brand’s visual identity. This guide will walk you step by step through each option, so you can design Stories that truly stand out and keep your audience coming back for more.
Why Should You Change the Background Color on Your Instagram Story?
The default Instagram Story background may look clean and minimal, but it often lacks personality. Relying on plain backgrounds can make your content feel repetitive and uninspired. By experimenting with different background colors, you open the door to creativity, branding, and audience engagement. With just a few simple tweaks, your Stories can go from ordinary to extraordinary, creating an immersive experience for your viewers.
Boost Your Aesthetic Appeal
A well-chosen background color instantly enhances the look of your Story. It sets the tone, highlights your text or images, and adds visual energy that keeps viewers watching. Whether you opt for bold hues, soft pastels, or dark shades, the background serves as a creative canvas that amplifies your message.
Build Brand Consistency
For influencers, businesses, or personal brands, consistent use of specific colors strengthens recognition. Incorporating your brand palette—even in Instagram Stories—creates a polished and professional image. This level of consistency helps your audience instantly connect with your identity.
Simplify Story Segmentation
When creating multi-part Stories, changing background colors can serve as visual dividers. This makes it easier for viewers to follow along, especially if you’re sharing tutorials, product updates, or behind-the-scenes content. Each color shift creates a natural pause and flow in your storytelling.
Increase Engagement and Retention
Stories with dynamic and colorful backgrounds stand out more in a crowded feed. Vibrant visuals are proven to grab attention and can encourage longer viewing times. The more engaging your background, the more likely your audience is to stick around and interact.
Showcase Creativity and Personality
Instagram Stories are a creative playground, and background colors let your personality shine. Experiment with gradients, overlays, or bold shades to reflect your mood, theme, or style. This personal touch helps you connect more authentically with your audience.
Highlight Key Information
Background colors are also practical. By choosing contrasting shades, you can ensure that your text, stickers, or polls remain easy to read. This makes your Stories not just attractive but also functional, especially when sharing important updates or announcements.
Stand Out From the Crowd
With so many Stories uploaded every day, standing out is essential. A thoughtfully chosen background color makes your content pop in the lineup and increases the chances of catching someone’s eye. Even subtle changes can give you a competitive edge in visibility.
By customizing your Instagram Story background, you’re doing more than just changing colors—you’re elevating the way you communicate. Each color choice adds meaning, emotion, and energy, turning your Stories into a powerful tool for connection, branding, and creativity.
How to Change Background Color on Instagram Stories: Solid Color
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to customize your Story is by using a solid background color. This method creates a clean canvas that allows your text, stickers, or images to shine without distraction. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for beginners who want a polished look with minimal effort.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply a Solid Color Background:
- Open Instagram and tap the “+” icon at the bottom of your screen, then choose Story.
- Take a new photo or video, or select one from your camera roll.
- Tap the three dots (…) at the top right corner and select Draw.
- From the tools menu at the top, tap the pen icon (full marker).
- Select your preferred shade from the color palette at the bottom, or use the eyedropper tool to pick a color directly from your photo or video.
- Press and hold anywhere on the screen until the background fills with the chosen solid color.
- To reveal parts of your original image or video, select the eraser tool and adjust its size with the side slider. Drag your finger across the screen to “scratch” away sections, revealing the content underneath.
- If you make a mistake, use the Undo button at the top to step back.
Bonus Tip:
Solid color backgrounds aren’t just plain—they can set the tone of your entire Story. Choose bright shades for an energetic vibe, dark tones for a dramatic look, or soft pastels to create a calm, aesthetic feel. Experiment with colors that reflect your mood or theme for the day.
How to Change Background Color on Instagram Stories: Gradient Color
If you want your Story to look more dynamic than a flat background, gradient colors are the way to go. Gradients blend multiple shades together, creating a rich and visually striking backdrop that instantly elevates your content. This technique is ideal for making text stand out, highlighting key messages, or simply adding flair to your everyday Stories.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply a Gradient Background:
- Open Instagram and tap the “+” icon at the bottom, then select Story.
- From the left toolbar, tap the “Aa” text icon to enter Create Mode.
- At the bottom right, swipe through and choose your preferred gradient background. Instagram will automatically show multiple color blends to pick from.
- Once your gradient is set, tap the Stickers icon at the top to enhance your Story.
- Use the photo sticker option (“+” button) to upload an image from your camera roll if you want to layer visuals.
- Resize and position your content as desired, then finish customizing with text or GIFs before posting.
Bonus Tip:
Gradient backgrounds work beautifully when combined with overlays, bold fonts, and interactive stickers. Try pairing vibrant blends with polls or questions to capture attention, or use subtle pastel gradients to create a soft, aesthetic mood. The blend you choose can completely change the tone of your Story.
How to Change Background Color on Instagram Stories: Use Photo as Background
Sometimes a solid or gradient color isn’t enough—you may want a more personal touch. Using a photo as your background is a great way to add context, showcase your style, or highlight a specific setting. Whether it’s a scenic landscape, a texture, or a branded image, photos can completely transform the feel of your Story.
Step-by-Step Guide to Use a Photo as a Background:
- Open Instagram Stories – Go to the Story creation screen (tap the “+” icon and select Story).
- Choose Your Background Photo – Open your camera roll and select the photo you’d like to use. This could be anything from patterns and textures to personal pictures.
- Tap the Sticker Icon – At the top of the screen, select the Sticker option to open the sticker tray.
- Select the Photo Sticker – Look for the photo sticker (often shown as a picture frame icon) or search for “Photo” in the tray.
- Add Your Chosen Photo – Pick the photo you want, and it will appear as a sticker on your Story.
- Resize and Position – Use two fingers to pinch, drag, and adjust the photo until it fits the way you want on your screen.
- Customize with Content – Add text, drawings, GIFs, or stickers over the photo to complete your design.
Bonus Tip:
Experiment with different types of photos—like textures, color patterns, or minimal shots—to set different moods. A landscape can create a calming vibe, while bold textures add energy. By switching up your background photo, you keep your Stories fresh, personal, and engaging.
How to Change Background Color on Instagram Stories: Adding a Color Tint
Sometimes a full solid or gradient background feels too heavy. A color tint offers the perfect balance, adding a transparent overlay that enhances your Story without covering the original photo or video. This subtle effect makes text and stickers more visible while keeping your content creative and engaging.
Step 1: Open the Stories Creation Screen
Launch Instagram and head to the Story creation screen. Capture a new photo or video, or simply choose one from your camera roll. This image or video will serve as the base for your tinted background.
Step 2: Access the Drawing Tools
Once your background is set, tap the three dots at the top-right corner of the screen. From the options that appear, select Draw. This opens the editing tools where you can add colors and effects to your Story.
Step 3: Choose a Brush and Color
At the top of the screen, tap the brush icon to activate the tool. A palette of default colors will appear at the bottom. For more variety, press and hold on any color to access the full color spectrum. This lets you select a shade that matches your mood, style, or brand identity.
Step 4: Apply the Tint
Tap and hold anywhere on the screen to apply the tint. Your chosen color will spread across the background, giving it a soft overlay. To make the effect stronger, tap and hold again for a denser tint. A third tap will turn it into a complete solid background.
Step 5: Customize and Enhance
The color tint works especially well when paired with text, GIFs, or stickers. A soft tint can help improve readability, while darker tones add emphasis to lighter fonts. Experiment with different shades to create moods—like using warm tints for energy or cool tints for a calming feel.
Bonus Tip
Color tints aren’t just about style; they also add function. They can highlight important announcements, separate different story segments, or simply make your visuals more engaging. With just a few taps, you can control how much of your original image shows through, giving you total creative freedom.
Repeat for a Stronger Tint (Optional)
If you’d like a deeper overlay, simply tap and hold the screen again. Each time you repeat the action, the tint becomes denser. Just be careful not to overdo it—too much tint can hide important details in your photo or video. The key is to find the right balance so your background looks creative while still keeping your content visible.
Final Verdict
Changing the background color on Instagram Stories is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to make your content stand out. Whether you choose solid colors, vibrant gradients, personalized photo backgrounds, or subtle color tints, each option gives your Stories a unique look and feel. By experimenting with these techniques, you can enhance readability, emphasize key elements, and express your personal or brand style.
The best approach depends on the theme of your Story and the message you want to convey. For instance, solid colors offer a clean and professional look, gradients create visual depth, photos add personality, and tints subtly enhance the background without overpowering the content. By combining these methods creatively, you can produce engaging Stories that capture attention and keep your audience coming back for more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use multiple background techniques in one Instagram Story?
Yes! You can mix solid colors, gradients, photo backgrounds, and tints in a single Story to create a layered and dynamic visual effect. Experiment with combinations to find what works best for your content.
Will changing the background color affect my Story quality?
No. Instagram maintains the resolution and quality of your photos and videos, even after applying solid colors, gradients, or tints. Just ensure your original media is high-quality for the best results.
How do I undo or adjust a color tint if it’s too strong?
Simply tap the Undo button or use the eraser tool in the Draw menu to reduce the tint intensity. You can also tap and hold again for a more subtle effect, adjusting until it looks just right.
Can I customize gradient colors freely on Instagram Stories?
Yes. Instagram provides a range of pre-set gradient options, and you can select shades from the color palette or use the eyedropper tool to create a gradient that complements your content.
Are photo backgrounds better than solid or gradient colors?
It depends on your goal. Photos add context and personality, while solid colors and gradients often highlight text and stickers more effectively. Mixing these methods can give your Story both creativity and clarity.
