How to Add or Change Themes in PowerPoint

Themes play an essential role in enhancing the visual appeal of your PowerPoint presentations.

A well-chosen theme can make your presentation look polished and professional, while a poorly chosen one can distract the audience and reduce the impact of your message.

In this article, we will discuss how to add or change themes in PowerPoint, so you can create engaging presentations that leave a lasting impression.

What is a PowerPoint Theme?

Before we dive into how to add or change a theme in PowerPoint, let’s define what a theme is.

A PowerPoint theme is a pre-designed set of colors, fonts, and backgrounds that you can apply to your presentation slides for a cohesive look.

Themes save you time and effort by allowing you to create a presentation with a consistent design without having to select every design element manually.

How to Add a Theme in PowerPoint

Adding a theme in PowerPoint is a straightforward process.

Follow these steps, and you’ll have a new theme in your presentation in no time:

1. Open PowerPoint and select the slide you want to add a theme to.
2. Click on the “Design” tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the “More” drop-down arrow in the Themes section to expand the selection.
4. Hover over the different themes to preview them in real-time. When you find one you like, click on it to apply it to your slide.
5. Once you have selected a theme, you can refine the design further by changing the color scheme or font set.

How to Change a Theme in PowerPoint

If you’ve already applied a theme to your presentation, but you’re not happy with it, you can easily change it.

Follow these steps to change the theme in PowerPoint:

1. Open PowerPoint and select the slide you want to change the theme on.
2. Click on the “Design” tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the “More” drop-down arrow in the Themes section to expand the selection.
4. Hover over the different themes to preview them in real-time. When you find one you like, click on it to apply it to your slide.
5. Once you have selected a new theme, PowerPoint will ask if you want to apply the new theme to all slides or just the selected slide. Choose the appropriate option.
6. If you decide you don’t like the new theme, you can always revert to the previous one by following the same steps.

Customize a Theme in PowerPoint

While selecting a theme in PowerPoint is quick and easy, customizing it to suit your presentation’s specific needs may take some time.

Luckily, PowerPoint provides several customization options to help you create a theme that’s unique and visually appealing.

Change the Color Scheme

Changing the color scheme of a PowerPoint theme is a simple way to personalize your presentation’s look. Follow these steps to change the color scheme:

1. Click on the slide that you want to change the color scheme.
2. Click on the “Design” tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the “Colors” drop-down arrow in the Variants section.
4. Choose one of the pre-installed color schemes or create your own by clicking on “Create New Theme Colors” at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
5. Select colors for the text, background, and accents of your presentation.

Change the Font Set

Changing the font set can also help to make your PowerPoint presentation stand out. Follow these steps to change the font set:

1. Click on the slide where you want to change the font set.
2. Click on the “Design” tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the “Fonts” drop-down arrow in the Variants section.
4. Choose one of the pre-installed font sets or create your own by clicking on “Create New Theme Fonts” at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
5. Select fonts for headings and body text.

Change the Background

You can also customize the background of your PowerPoint presentation by following these steps:

1. Click on the slide that you want to change the background.
2. Click on the “Design” tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the “Background Styles” drop-down arrow in the Background section.
4. Choose one of the pre-installed options, such as a solid color or gradient.
5. If you want to insert a picture as a background, click on “Format Background” at the bottom of the drop-down menu and follow the prompts.

Final Thoughts

Adding or changing themes in PowerPoint is an essential skill for anyone who wants to create compelling and professional presentations. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can make your presentations stand out with themes that look polished and cohesive.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different themes, color schemes, and fonts until you find the perfect combination for your presentation. With a little practice, you’ll be creating eye-catching PowerPoint presentations in no time.