How to Change Colors in Microsoft Outlook 2007

Outlook is a great productivity tool for email, calendars and tasks, but Microsoft did not put too much consideration into the aesthetic appearance of the application. If you try to find Outlook skins to change its look, you will be disappointed. If you take a little time, however, with the steps below you can change a few colors and set Outlook to give you a slightly different look and feel.

Things You'll Need

• Outlook 2007

Instructions

Chose an Outlook Color Theme

1. Open Outlook.

2. Click "Tools," "Options" from the menu bar. This will display the "Options" dialogue box.

3. Click the "Mail Format" tab, and then click the "Editor Options" button.

4. Change the "Color Scheme" to one of the three choices: "Blue," "Black" and "Silver."

5. Click the "OK" button on the dialogue, and then again click the "OK" button on the "Options" dialogue.

Change the Outlook Today Page

1. Open Outlook.

2. Click on "Personal Folder" from the top most hierarchy in the folder list on the right. This will display the Outlook Today overview page.

3. Click "Customize Outlook Today" from the top left of the window.

4. Choose your style from the "Show Outlook Today in This Style" drop-down menu. There are five choices, but in actuality there are only three color themes available: "Standard," "Winter" and "Summer." The other choices are layout changes to Outlook Today page, and they do not affect color.

Change Colors for Calendar Background, Notes and Task Titles

1. Open Outlook.

2. Click "Tools," "Options" from the menu bar of Outlook. This will display the "Options" dialogue. Be sure the "Preferences" tab is displayed by clicking on it.

3. Set the color for the particular Outlook item. Each item has its own "Options" button on this dialogue box.

   For "Calendar" background, click the "Calendar Options" buttons, and then click the "Default Color" selection drop down. Chose the color for your calendar background.

   For "Notes", click the "Notes Options" buttons. The "Notes Options" dialogue displays. Click in the "Color" selection drop down, and choose the color for your new notes. Old notes will not be affected.

   For "Task" title colors, click "Task Options." Then set the "Overdue task color" and the "Completed task color" by selecting the color from the drop down lists.

4. Click the "OK" button on the dialogue, and then again click the "OK" button on the "Options" dialogue.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't bother changing Windows global color settings to affect Outlook. These setting will affect every window and application installed, but will have minimal affect on Outlook and other Microsoft Office applications.

References

• Microsoft.com: How to Change Colors of Outlook Bar, Folders, and Items