How to Add a Background Color or Pattern to Excel Cells

Adding color to highlight your column labels or your totals can make your worksheet easier to read and use. Use the Patterns option to add background color and patterns to your worksheet. These steps work with Microsoft Excel 97.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Excel Book
• Microsoft Excel

1. Start Microsoft Excel and open the file you want to change.

2. Select the cells in which you want to add a background color.

3. Open the Format menu and select Cells.

4. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the Patterns tab.

5. Click the color you want to use as a background color.

6. Click on the arrow head to open the Patterns menu.

7. Click the pattern you want to use as a background.

8. Click the color you want the pattern to use.

9. Select OK to accept the changes.

Tips & Warnings

• The color and pattern selection appear in a box in the Pattern page.
• To undo your changes, open the Edit menu and select Undo Format.
• Use the Format Cells dialog box to add other formats to your cells.
• You do not have to use the background color and pattern options together; you can use just a pattern or just a color.