Word: Change background color of tables

If you have created a table with Word, you can change the background color of your table at any time. This guide shows you how to do this.

Change background color of tables in Word

1. Select the entire table. The quickest way to do this is to click on the four-way arrow that appears above the upper left corner of the table (as soon as you move the mouse into the table).
2. If the table is selected, the "Table tools" tab with the "Design" and "Layout" command groups appears in the ribbon. With a mouse click on "Draft" you have access to the functions of the register via the ribbon.
3. There you will find the "Shading" entry in the "Table styles" command group. The associated symbol is a paint bucket. Call up the dialog box by clicking on the small arrow below the symbol.
4. This dialog box gives you direct access to standard colors and 60 design colors. If you move the mouse over a color, you can directly see how your table looks with the new background color. With a click on the selected color, your table gets a new look.
5. If your desired color is not there, click on the entry "Other colors". A dialog window opens in which you can set each color using its RGB code under the "User-defined" tab. Here you have to confirm your color choice with "OK".
6. Tip: You can quickly choose a color by clicking on the paint bucket symbol in the context menu. This is opened when you click on the four-way arrow to mark the table.

These instructions are based on Word 2013. We show you how to work with table styles in the article "Inserting a table in Word". Always use tables with the same, individually designed layout, it is best to create your own "table templates".