How to Change and Customize the Outlook Theme for Your Emails

Add some style to your messages

If you want to spruce up your emails, you can use a Microsoft Outlook theme. Sometimes called “stationery,” a theme can include font styles, colors, backgrounds, and images which you can customize if you wish.

You can pick a theme that applies to all new emails you compose for a simple way to make your messages more attractive. Once you apply one, you can easily change the Outlook theme for a single message or just remove it.

If you’re ready to add some style to your messages, here’s how to change the theme on Outlook emails.

Use the HTML Mail Format

To use a theme in Outlook, you must use HTML as the format for new messages.

Apply a Default Email Theme in Outlook

Whether you want a bright background with various colors, subtle background color with soothing fonts, or even a dark or black theme, you have plenty to pick from in Outlook.

Customize an Outlook Email Theme

By default, new messages, replies, and forwards use the theme’s font. However, you can change these if you like.

In the Signatures and Stationery window, select theFontdrop-down box and pick one of the following.

If you chooseUse my font when replying and forwarding messages, theFontbutton becomes available in theReplying and forwarding messagessection.

Select that button,pick the fontyou want to use, and pressOK.

Optionally, you can mark the setting forPick a new color when replying or forwarding. This setting automatically changes the color of the font when you reply or forward a message.

If you chooseAlways use my fontsinstead, theFontbuttons forNew mail messagesandReplying and forwarding messagesbecome available.

Select the button for the message font you want to change, pick the new one, and pressOK.

Remove a Default Outlook Email Theme

If you decide later that you want to remove a theme you’ve applied, you’ll return to the same area of the Outlook options and change the default setting for the theme.

Apply or Remove a Theme From a Single Email

Maybe you’d prefer to pick a theme on the fly, depending on the type of email you’re composing, or simply remove the default theme you’ve set. You can do both for a single email.

Note: You’ll see any recent themes you’ve used in the pop-out as selectable options.

You’ll then see the new theme in the compose message window.

If you just want to remove a theme you’ve applied by default from a new message, you can do this on theHometab as well.

Select theNew Itemsdrop-down menu, move your cursor toEmail Message Using, and pickPlain Text,Rich Text, orHTMLper your preference.

You’ll then see your new email appear without a theme and the original white background.

Whether you want a seasonal theme color, one to match your industry, or just an appealing color scheme, you can pick and change an Outlook email theme easily. For more, look at our tutorial on addinga signature in Outlook.

Sandy Writtenhouse is a freelance technology writer and former Project, Department, and Program Manager. She turned her education, job experience, and love of technology into a full-time writing career. With all sorts of gadgets in her home and her hands, she seeks to help others make life easier through technology.Read Sandy’s Full Bio

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How to Change and Customize the Outlook Theme for Your Emails#

Use the HTML Mail Format#

Apply a Default Email Theme in Outlook#

Customize an Outlook Email Theme#

Remove a Default Outlook Email Theme#

Apply or Remove a Theme From a Single Email#