How To Change Background Colour Of Instagram Story
Okay, confession time. The other day, I was desperately trying to make my Instagram story look, you know, professional. I had this killer photo of my artisanal sourdough bread (don't judge, it was a masterpiece), and I wanted the background colour to be this super specific shade of muted sage green. You know, the kind that screams "effortlessly chic" and "I probably have houseplants that are thriving." So, I dove into the Instagram story editor, all confident and ready to work my magic. Turns out, finding that exact shade was a mission worthy of Indiana Jones.
I spent a solid ten minutes tapping around, trying to find a colour picker that wasn't beige, dusty rose, or a colour that looked suspiciously like traffic cone orange. My sourdough was getting cold, my artistic vision was fading, and I was starting to question my entire digital life. Is this what influencers do all day? Just… fiddling with colours until their thumbs ache? I felt a pang of sympathy for anyone trying to make their feed look curated and cohesive. It's a jungle out there, folks!
But then, after a brief moment of existential dread and a quick panic search on Google (because, let's be real, who doesn't Google how to change a background colour?), I discovered that it's actually… well, way simpler than I was making it. So, if you've ever found yourself in a colour-picking pickle, staring blankly at your screen while your amazing content languishes in the digital ether, this one’s for you. Let’s demystify the art of the Instagram story background!
The Not-So-Secret Sauce: How to Actually Change That Story Background
Right, so you've got your photo or video ready to go, and you're thinking, "This needs a little something more." Or maybe, like me, you just want to banish that default white or black background to the land of forgotten memes. The good news is, Instagram makes it pretty straightforward once you know where to look. And no, it doesn't involve a secret handshake or sacrificing your firstborn to the algorithm gods. Phew!
Option 1: The "Super Obvious, Why Didn't I See That?" Gradient Tool
This is probably the most common and easiest way to add a splash of colour. You know when you're editing a photo on Instagram and you see those little icons at the top? The ones that look like magic wands and pen nibs? One of those is your best friend here.
Step 1: Select Your Media. First things first, open up your Instagram story camera and snap that pic or record that vid. Or, you can swipe up to access your camera roll and choose something you’ve already got saved. Easy peasy.
Step 2: Find the Drawing Tool. Once your media is on the screen, look up at the top bar. You'll see a few icons: a smiley face, a text box, a doodle pen, a sticker icon, and a few others. Tap on the doodle pen icon. It usually looks like a little wavy line or a pen nib.
Step 3: Choose Your Colour. Now, this is where the magic (or the frustration, as I experienced) happens. At the bottom of your screen, you'll see a little colour bar. Swipe through these colours. You've got your basic spectrum right there.
Step 4: The BIG Secret. Here's the trick. Don't just tap a colour and expect it to fill the screen. Hold down on a colour. Yes, hold down. For like, a second or two. And BAM! The entire background of your story will be filled with that chosen colour. Mind. Blown. I know, right? So simple, yet so easily overlooked.
Step 5: Fine-Tuning (Optional but Recommended). Still not the perfect shade? No worries! While you're holding down on a colour, you'll notice a gradient appears at the bottom, showing you lighter and darker variations of that hue. You can then drag your finger up and down along this gradient while still holding to get that exact shade you’re dreaming of. This is how I finally achieved my sage green sourdough nirvana. It’s all about the press-and-drag!
Pro Tip: If you're really struggling to find a colour, sometimes taking a screenshot of a picture that has the colour you want and then using Instagram's eyedropper tool (more on that in a sec!) on the screenshot itself within the story editor can work wonders. It's a bit of a workaround, but effective!
Option 2: The Eyedropper Tool – For the Colour Perfectionists (Like Me!)
Okay, so the gradient is great for solid colours, but what if you want a colour that’s already in your photo or video? Like, you love that dusky pink of the sunset in your pic, and you want that to be your story background. That's where the eyedropper tool comes in. It’s like having a digital colour sample from your actual image.
Step 1: Get Your Media Ready. Same as before – snap a photo or choose one from your camera roll.
Step 2: Access the Drawing Tool Again. Yep, you guessed it, tap that little doodle pen icon at the top. You're going to become very familiar with this guy.
Step 3: Find the Eyedropper. Now, look at the colour bar at the bottom. You'll see a range of colours. Towards the end of this colour bar (you might have to scroll a bit), you’ll find a little eyedropper icon. Tap on that!
Step 4: Sample Your Colour. Once the eyedropper is active, you'll see a little circle appear on your screen, connected to your finger by a line. Simply drag this circle over the part of your photo or video that has the colour you want to sample. See that colour changing in the little circle at the end of the line? That’s your live preview!
Step 5: Fill the Background. Once you’ve landed on the perfect colour with your eyedropper, lift your finger. The eyedropper will deactivate, and the selected colour will be highlighted in the colour bar. Now, hold down on that highlighted colour (just like in Option 1!). And voilà! The background will fill with the colour you sampled directly from your media.
Step 6: Gradient Fun (Again!). You can then use the same press-and-drag gradient trick to lighten or darken that sampled colour if needed. It’s a two-for-one deal!
This is a game-changer if you want your story background to truly complement your main visual. It creates a much more cohesive and professional look. Imagine your beach photo with the exact blue of the ocean as the background. Chef’s kiss!
Option 3: Text and Background Colour (A Different Vibe)
This method is slightly different, and it’s more about creating a coloured background for your text, but it can be used creatively if you're making a text-heavy story or want a block of colour behind some elements.
Step 1: Add Text. Tap the "Aa" icon (the text tool) on your story editor screen.
Step 2: Type Your Message. Type whatever you want to say. Boring, I know, but stick with me.
Step 3: Choose a Text Colour. At the bottom, you'll see the usual colour palette. Select your desired text colour.
Step 4: The Magic Underline. Now, this is the neat part. You’ll see a little coloured circle or bar next to the text input box, usually on the left. This is your background colour selector for the text itself. Tap on it!
Step 5: Select Your Background. A new colour palette will appear, offering a slightly different range of colours, and importantly, often includes some handy presets like gradients and pastels. Tap on a colour.
Step 6: See the Magic Happen. As you select a colour from this second palette, the background behind your text will change. You can also use the press-and-drag gradient trick here too!
Step 7: Positioning is Key. Now, you can resize and move this text block around your screen. If you’ve picked a plain colour and made it fill the whole screen (by making the text very long and dragging the background colour option), you can effectively use this as a full background. It’s a bit of a hack, but it works if you need something specific and the drawing tool isn't quite cutting it.
Just a heads-up: This method is generally best for text. If you have a photo or video, the first two methods are more intuitive for a full background fill.
Beyond the Basics: Little Hacks and Tips
So, we’ve covered the main ways to get your story looking colourfully on point. But as with all things in the digital realm, there are always a few extra little tricks up my sleeve (or at least, in my saved Instagram tips bookmarks).
Dealing with Those Awkward Default Backgrounds
Sometimes, when you add a photo that's smaller than the full screen, or if you're sharing a post to your story, Instagram will leave you with either a white or black background. If that's not your vibe, you know what to do. Head straight for the doodle pen and fill it with a colour that suits your brand or mood!
It’s surprising how much a simple coloured background can elevate a shared post. It makes it look less like a re-share and more like a curated addition to your story. Subtle but effective, right?
The "Invisible Ink" Effect (Kind Of)
This is a fun one. If you want to add a slightly tinted, almost translucent overlay to your image, you can use the doodle pen tool. Select a colour (say, a soft pink), hold down to fill the screen, and then, before you lift your finger, tap the eraser icon at the top. You can then use the eraser to ‘un-fill’ parts of the screen, creating a gradient effect where the colour fades back to the original image. It’s a bit fiddly, but can create some really cool, artistic overlays. It’s like a soft focus for your colours!
Consistency is Key for Your Brand
If you're a business or a creator with a specific brand identity, choosing consistent background colours for your stories is super important. It helps build recognition. Think about brands you follow – you probably notice their signature colours. Experiment with your palette! Use the eyedropper tool to pull colours from your logo, your website, or your existing feed to ensure everything ties together beautifully.
It makes your profile feel more polished and professional, even if you're just using your phone to create everything. And that, my friends, is powerful!
Don't Be Afraid to Experiment!
Honestly, the best way to get good at this is to just play around. Tap all the buttons. Try all the colours. See what looks good. What works for one photo might not work for another. Sometimes a bright, bold background can make a subtle image pop, and other times a muted tone can let a vibrant photo truly shine.
Instagram is a creative platform, so don't feel confined by what you think you should be doing. Have fun with it! Your followers want to see your personality, and that includes your aesthetic choices. If you’re feeling a bit chaotic, go with a vibrant, clashing background. If you’re feeling zen, embrace those calming pastels. It’s your story, after all!
So, there you have it. The not-so-secret, not-so-complicated ways to change your Instagram story background colour. No more sourdough tragedies for us! Now go forth and colour your world, one story at a time. Let me know in the comments if you try any of these out, or if you have any other cool colour tricks!