Want to know how to use different colors in Notion? Colors in Notion are one of the most underused features — but once you learn them, your workspace becomes dramatically easier to navigate. Whether you are color-coding a project database, highlighting important notes, or organizing your daily planner, this guide covers everything you need to know about using different colors in Notion, step by step.
Before You Start: What Colors Can You Use in Notion?
Notion offers colors in three main areas:
- Text color — Change the color of any text in your pages
- Background color — Highlight entire blocks with a colored background
- Database label colors — Color-code your Select and Multi-select properties in databases
Notion currently offers 12 colors for both text and backgrounds: Default, Gray, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Red, plus Light versions of each.
Step 1: How to Change Text Color in Notion
Changing text color in Notion takes less than 10 seconds once you know where to look. Here’s exactly how to do it:
On Desktop (Mac and Windows)
- Open any Notion page and type some text
- Highlight the text you want to color by clicking and dragging over it
- A formatting toolbar will appear above the selected text
- Click the “A” icon with a colored underline in the toolbar
- A color menu will appear with two sections — Color (text color) and Background
- Click any color under the Color section to apply it to your text
Pro Tip: You can also use the slash command. Type /color in any Notion block and a color picker will appear instantly — no need to highlight text first.
On Mobile (iPhone and Android)
- Tap and hold on the text you want to color
- Drag the selection handles to highlight your text
- Tap the “Aa” icon in the formatting bar that appears
- Scroll down to find Color options
- Tap your desired color to apply
Common Mistake: Many users look for a color button in the top toolbar — it is not there. The color option only appears after you highlight text first. If you do not see the toolbar, try clicking directly on the text block first.
Step 2: How to Add Background Colors to Blocks in Notion
Background colors highlight entire blocks — paragraphs, headings, bullet points, or any other content block. This is one of the best ways to make important information stand out in Notion.
Method 1: Using the Formatting Toolbar
- Highlight any text inside a block
- Click the “A” icon in the toolbar
- In the color menu, scroll down to the Background section
- Click any background color — it will apply to the entire block, not just the selected text
Method 2: Using the Block Menu
- Hover over any block — a six-dot icon (⋮⋮) will appear on the left
- Click the six-dot icon to open the block menu
- Select “Color” from the menu
- Choose your background color from the submenu
Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest Way)
Click inside any block and type /red background, /blue background, or any color + “background” — Notion will instantly apply that background color. This works for all 12 available colors.
Pro Tip: Use background colors to create visual callout boxes without using Notion’s official Callout block. A yellow background block works perfectly as a “warning” note, and a green background works as a “success” or “tip” note.
| Background Color | Best Used For |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Warnings, important notes, things to remember |
| Green | Completed tasks, tips, positive outcomes |
| Red | Urgent items, deadlines, critical information |
| Blue | Information, resources, links |
| Purple | Creative ideas, brainstorming sections |
| Gray | Archived content, secondary information |
Step 3: How to Use Colors in Notion Databases
Database colors are where Notion’s color system gets really powerful. Color-coding your database properties lets you see the status of dozens of tasks at a glance — no reading required.
How to Color-Code Select Properties
- Open any Notion database (table, board, list, or gallery view)
- Click on a Select or Multi-select property field
- Click “Add option” or click on an existing option
- A color dot will appear next to the option name — click it
- Choose your color from the palette
- Repeat for each option in your property
Recommended Color System for Databases
Here is a color system used by thousands of Notion users in the US for task management:
| Status | Color | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Not Started | Gray | Neutral — not urgent |
| In Progress | Blue | Active, working on it |
| Review Needed | Yellow | Needs attention |
| Blocked | Red | Urgent, needs fixing |
| Completed | Green | Done, positive outcome |
| Cancelled | Brown | Inactive, deprioritized |
Pro Tip: In Notion’s Board view, each column represents a Select option — and the color of each card matches the color you assigned to that option. This makes your Kanban board instantly scannable without reading a single word.
Step 4: How to Use Colors in Notion on Mobile
The Notion mobile app (available on iPhone and Android) supports all color features, though the interface is slightly different from desktop.
Text and Background Colors on Mobile
- Tap and hold text to select it
- Tap the “Aa” formatting icon
- Scroll down to find Text Color and Background Color sections
- Tap any color to apply instantly
Database Colors on Mobile
- Open your database and tap a Select field
- Tap the colored circle next to any option
- Choose a new color from the picker
Common Mistake: On mobile, some users cannot find the color options because they skip the “Aa” button. Always look for “Aa” — not a paintbrush or color wheel icon.
Step 5: Best Practices for Using Colors in Notion
Colors are powerful — but too many colors creates chaos instead of clarity. Here are the rules followed by top Notion users:
Stick to a Maximum of 5 Colors Per Workspace
Using 10+ different colors makes your workspace feel overwhelming. Pick 4-5 colors and assign each a specific meaning — then use them consistently across all your pages and databases.
Use Colors to Communicate, Not Decorate
Every color should mean something. Red = urgent. Green = done. Yellow = in progress. If a color does not carry meaning, do not use it.
Consider Color Blindness
About 8% of men in the US have some form of color blindness. Avoid using red and green as the only differentiators — add text labels or icons alongside colors to make your workspace accessible to everyone.
Use Dark Mode Carefully
Notion’s Dark Mode changes how colors appear. A yellow background that looks great in Light Mode can look muddy in Dark Mode. If you share your Notion pages with others, test your color choices in both modes.
How to Remove Colors in Notion
Made a mistake? Removing colors in Notion is just as easy as adding them:
- Text color: Highlight the colored text → click the “A” icon → select “Default” at the top of the color menu
- Background color: Hover over the block → click the six-dot icon → select “Color” → “Default background”
- Database label color: Click the colored dot next to the option → select the gray/default color
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colors are available in Notion?
Notion offers 12 color options for both text and backgrounds: Default, Gray, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Red, and light versions of each. Database labels use the same 12 colors.
Can you use custom colors in Notion?
No — Notion does not support custom hex colors natively. You are limited to the 12 built-in colors. Some advanced users use Notion enhancer browser extensions to add custom CSS for additional color options, but this is not officially supported by Notion.
Why is the color option not showing in Notion?
The color option only appears after you highlight text or access the block menu via the six-dot icon. If you do not see it, make sure you have text selected first. On mobile, look for the “Aa” button in the formatting toolbar.
Do colors in Notion sync across devices?
Yes — all color settings in Notion sync automatically across desktop, web, and mobile. If you set a red background on your MacBook, it will appear red on your iPhone and Windows PC as well.
Can I use colors in Notion’s free plan?
Yes — all color features in Notion are available on the free plan. You do not need a paid subscription to use text colors, background colors, or database label colors.
Start Using Colors in Notion Today
Now you know exactly how to use different colors in Notion — from basic text colors to database label systems that make your workflow instantly scannable. Start with one database and apply a consistent color system this week. Once you see how much easier it is to navigate your workspace, you will wonder how you ever used Notion without colors.
