Instagram Stories are images or videos that disappear after 24 hours. They are displayed in a slideshow format at the top of the Instagram app and offer various interactive elements like stickers, text, polls, and more.
A visually captivating background can instantly grab attention and set the tone for your story. Whether promoting a product, sharing a moment from your daily life, or showcasing your creativity, a well-designed background can significantly affect how your content is perceived.
Customizing Background Color on Instagram Stories
To customize the background color on Instagram Stories, follow these steps:
- Open Instagram: Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
- Access Stories: Tap on your profile picture (the “+” sign) at the top left corner of your Instagram feed or swipe right from your feed to access the Stories camera.
- Take a Photo/Video or Select Media: You can either capture a new photo/video by pressing the white circle at the bottom or swipe up to access your phone’s gallery to select media from there.
- Tap the Pen/Text Tool: After capturing/selecting media, you’ll see various creative tools at the top of the screen. Tap the pen or text icon to access editing options.
- Choose Background Color: Once you’re in the pen or text mode, look for the color picker. It’s usually a circle or square icon that lets you change the color of your drawing or text.
- Select Custom Color: The color picker will display a wide range of preset colors. To customize the background color, tap and hold any color in the palette. This action will reveal a sliding color bar or a color wheel.
- Pick Your Custom Color: Slide your finger along the color bar or drag your finger around the color wheel until you find the desired background color for your Instagram Story.
- Set Background Color: After choosing the custom color, lift your finger from the screen. The background color of your Story should now change to the selected color.
- Publish Your Story: Once you’re happy with the customized background and all other elements, click the “Your Story” button at the bottom left corner to publish your Instagram Story.
Using the Default Colors
Before we dive into the customization process, let’s look at the default background color options Instagram provides. Your Instagram story can be enhanced with a variety of basic colors. Here’s a brief description of each color:
- White: The classic and clean choice, perfect for minimalist or elegant aesthetics.
- Black: Adds a touch of drama and sophistication to your story.
- Gray: A neutral option that complements various color schemes and adds a subtle touch.
- Pink: A soft and feminine color that adds a playful and romantic vibe.
- Blue: Creates a calm and soothing atmosphere, suitable for relaxation or tranquility-themed stories.
- Green: Evoke nature and freshness with this vibrant and lively color choice.
- Yellow: Adds a pop of energy and joy to your story, perfect for showcasing fun moments.
Choosing a Custom Color
- On Instagram click the camera icon.
- Select the photo/video you want to use as the background for your story.
- After selecting your base content, swipe up on the screen or tap the brush icon.
- This action will reveal the default background color options at the bottom of the screen. Swipe left or right to browse through the available colors.
- If none of the default colors suit your preference, tap on the dropper tool located next to the default colors.
- To use the dropper tool, tap and hold on to any part of your photo or video, and Instagram will sample the color from that point. Release your finger when you’ve found the desired color.
- Once you’ve chosen the perfect background color, you can customize it by adjusting the intensity using the slider above the default colors.
- Finally, add stickers, text, or effects to complete your Instagram story. And voila! You’ve successfully changed the background color of your story.
Related Post: What are Instagram Reels?
Enhancing Background Colors with Additional Features
Animated Stickers: Add fun and playful animated stickers like hearts, stars, or dancing emojis to bring life to your story.
- Text Effects: Use stylish fonts and text effects like gradients, shadows, or outlines to make your captions and messages pop.
- Polls and Quizzes: Engage your audience with interactive polls and quizzes to get their opinions and feedback.
- Location Tags: Tag your current location or a favorite spot to let your followers know where you are or where you’ve been.
- Music Stickers: Add your favorite tunes to your story with music stickers that match the mood of your content.
- Hashtags and Mentions: Use relevant hashtags and mention other users to increase visibility and reach a broader audience.
- GIFs and Effects: Enhance your story with GIFs and special effects like boomerangs or superzooms for some added flair.
- Countdown Timer: Build excitement for an upcoming event or announcement by using the countdown timer feature.
- Drawing Tools: Get creative and draw doodles, sketches, or annotations on your photos and videos.
- AR Filters: Experiment with augmented reality (AR) filters to transform your appearance or add virtual elements to your story.
Conclusion
Changing the background color on your Instagram Story can be fun and creative. It also gives you another tool to get creative with your content, connecting it to an overall brand or design theme. You can use the default tones available out of the box or leverage features like the color picker, Blending options, and Textures to customize a unique tone. If you’re looking for full control, using a photo as your background may be the right choice.
Finally, remember filters and effects; they can make ordinary colors look special and will give you more ways to improve your Story content. Ultimately, learning how to change the background color of an Instagram Story takes practice and persistence. However, this technique can powerfully enhance any Story post with these few simple tips!
FAQs
Can I change the background color of an Instagram story after it’s already been posted?
No, once a story has been posted, you cannot edit its background color. You must delete the story and re-post it with the new background color.
Can I use any color for my Instagram story background?
You can select from the pre-set colors on Instagram or use the color picker tool to choose any color.
Can I change the background color without covering the text or stickers on my Instagram story?
Yes, you can use the eraser tool after changing the background color. This lets you reveal any text, stickers, or images underneath the new background color.
Can I change the background color on both photo and video Instagram stories?
Yes, you can change the background color on photo and video stories using the same method. However, remember that the color overlay will apply throughout the entire clip for videos.