Change the Background Color of Your Instagram Story for a Custom Look

When you share content on your Story, Instagram automatically applies a color based on the color grading in the image. However, you can change the background color of an Instagram Story, and these custom backgrounds make your Stories fit your brand image better.

Keep reading and learn how to create colorful Instagram Story backgrounds.

4 Ways To Personalize Your Instagram Story Background Color

Instagram offers multiple ways to change your background color — here’s how. 

1. Pick a Solid Color 

Whether you want a black Instagram Story background or a bright pink one, follow these steps to personalize your background palette:

• Open Instagram — Upload an image or video to your Story.
• Tap the ellipsis icon — Select “Draw.”
• Click the “Pen” button — Pick your preferred color. Select one of the default color options at the bottom of the screen, or tap the dropper icon to choose a specific hue. 
• Apply the background color — Press and hold. The color will fill the screen, covering your image or video. 
• Customize the image — Click the “Eraser” icon in the top menu bar. Drag your finger across the screen to remove the color and reveal your picture or video. If you make a mistake, tap the “Undo” button. 

2. Create a Gradient

If solid backgrounds aren’t your style, Instagram also allows you to apply eye-catching gradient backgrounds. Here’s how:

• Open a new project — Click the “Plus” icon at the bottom of the screen and select “Story.”
• Generate the gradient — Tap “Aa Create” on the left side of the screen to automatically apply a gradient background color. 
• Customize the palette — Click the circle at the bottom right of the screen to preview and select a gradient color.
  

3. Choose an Image 

To try a striking image background instead of a single color, follow these steps: 

• Start a new Story — Tap the “Plus” icon at the bottom of the screen and select “Story.”
• Choose your image — Swipe up or tap the “Camera roll” icon to open your photos. Select a picture, and the platform will reformat it to fit the screen. 
• Customize — Click the face logo at the top of the screen to layer another photo on the background image or apply other features, such as text and stickers. 

4. Upload a Video

Instagram offers a green-screen effect for uploading video backgrounds. Here’s how to use this feature:

• Tap the “Plus” icon — Create a new Story. 
• Open settings — Toggle through the available effects and select the magnifying glass icon. Type “Green Screen” in the search bar. 
• Select “Add Media” — Search through your camera roll and choose a video to upload as your Story background. 

How To Customize Your Instagram Story Background With Captions

Captions’ Instagram Story Maker is an all-in-one tool that makes it easy to create aesthetically pleasing IG Story backgrounds. With this feature, you can create custom Instagram backgrounds, apply additional effects, and save reusable templates to speed up your editing process. Here’s how it works:

• Customize your Instagram Story background — Choose from a large library of premade templates, or create your own background to match your Instagram’s brand, mood, and color scheme. Upload a video from your device for your background or create footage using our AI Reel Generator.
• Match your style — Personalize your background with custom text and animations. Use the “Style” option to choose from available settings or create your own visuals.
• Save your template — Bookmark your Instagram Story template for later use, which saves time and lets you reuse backgrounds in future Stories.
• Share your Story on Instagram — When you’re happy with your edit, export the video and upload it to the platform. 

3 Creative Tips To Make Your Instagram Stories Stand Out

Use these three Instagram hacks to create engaging Stories that show off your personality. 

1. Choose Complementary Instagram Story Colors

Balance primary, secondary, and accent colors to create a visually pleasing mix and enhance your Instagram Story’s aesthetic. For example, you could create a sunset background with warm oranges, reds, and purples or adopt a dreamy pastel color palette with soft pink, yellow, and blue hues.

2. Add Text in Contrasting Colors for Visibility 

If you intend to add captions to your Instagram Story, use a contrasting color font. This will make your text appear more vibrant, allowing it to stand out from any background colors used in your Stories. 

To choose contrasting colors, pick hues that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green.

3. Stick To a Theme 

Whatever creative choices you decide on, make them consistent. Pick background colors that match your branding and then apply GIFs and stickers with a similar visual appeal. This makes your Story look cohesive and gives it a polished, professional feel — so your audience interacts instead of swiping past.

Follow Instagram’s Formatting Requirements 

The ideal dimension for Instagram Stories is 1080 x 1920px with an aspect ratio of 9:16. This formatting gives Stories a vertical alignment and makes your visuals appear sharp on any device.

Enhance Instagram Content With Captions

With a few small touches, you can elevate a plain-looking Instagram background into a colorful, eye-catching display that draws viewers in. To speed up your Instagram content production process, try Captions.

With our all-in-one tool, you can design compelling Instagram Stories and streamline the content editing process. Resize videos for Instagram, create compelling Instagram ads, and edit videos to match your brand and personality in seconds — no experience required. 

Try Captions today and start creating colorful Stories for your Instagram page. 

FAQ

How Does Instagram Customization Increase Engagement?

Personalizing Instagram Reels and Stories helps viewers spot your content more easily, which can increase your brand recognition. Stickers and text can also act as calls to action, boosting engagement. For instance, these elements can ask viewers to share posts or subscribe to your other channels.

How Do Instagram Stories Work?

An Instagram Story is a temporary picture or video that appears separately from the rest of your feed. Once posted, a Story is only visible for 24 hours before disappearing. To customize Stories, you can add elements like text, doodles, and time stamps.

How Do You Make a Black Background for an Instagram Story?

In the Instagram app, you can add a black background to a Story by using the pen icon in the Draw menu. Apply the color, then use the eraser to reveal images or videos.

Can You Change the Background Color When Reposting Instagram Stories? 

Yes — here’s how: 

• Find content to repost — Decide which video you want to repost. Click the paper airplane icon, then tap “Your Story.”
• Click the ellipses — Press the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Select “Draw” — Choose which color you want to use, then tap and hold to fill the screen with it.