How to add design elements in a Word document

Microsoft Word is among the best-known word processors and has been around for a long time. Since it was first launched in 1983, the application has evolved and added many features, expanding its functionality and making it extremely versatile. Newer versions of Word let you not only type and edit text but even add design elements to enhance the appearance of your documents. You can use different styles, backgrounds, and more in your Word document.

Using text effects

Like any word-processing software, Microsoft Word lets you format text in multiple ways, such as by changing font styles, sizes, and colors. However, you can go one step further by applying text effects to make sections of your document stand out.

1. Open the Word document where you want to apply text effects and select the word, sentence, or paragraph in question.

2. Click on the 'Text Effects and Typography' button on the toolbar to view the available text effect options.

3. You can apply the effect you want by clicking on it. Hovering your cursor over the different effects will show you a preview, making it easier to select the right one.

4. You can also find additional effects such as Outline, Shadow, Reflection, Glow, Number Styles, Ligatures, and Stylistic Sets. Clicking on any of them will also open up several additional effects you can apply.

Inserting WordArt

WordArt is a collection of text styles that can make the text in your document look more beautiful and impactful. It can include words and phrases and combines visual imagery with text.

1. With your document open in Word, select the text to which you want to apply the WordArt. Then click on the 'Insert' tab at the top before clicking on the 'WordArt' dropdown menu on the right.

2. You will see the various types of WordArt you can use.

3. Click on any option to apply it.

Applying Styles

Styles in Microsoft Word are a collection of font styles, sizes, colors, and spacing that you can use to ensure consistency in your document. Word offers several different styles you can use.

1. Open the document where you want to apply a Style.
2. Select the sections, such as words, sentences, or paragraphs where you want to apply the Style. You can also use it on lists and tables.

3. Check that the 'Home' tab is selected at the top. If it isn't, click on it to select it and you will be able to see the different styles available on the right side.

4. You can hover your cursor over the different Styles to get a preview of how they will look. Click on a Style and it will be applied to your selected sentence or paragraph.

5. You can also view additional Styles by clicking the arrow button on the right of the Styles section.

Applying Themes and Document Formatting

When you need to create professional-looking documents, themes can help you out. Document themes in Word combine various fonts, effects, and colors that you can apply to an entire document with just one click. Moreover, themes work across all Office programs, ensuring consistency across all your documents.

1. With a Word document open, click on the 'Design' tab at the top and then on the 'Themes' button. You should now see the themes available and can click on any theme to apply it to the document.

2. Hovering your cursor over a theme will show you a preview of how your document will look when that theme is applied. To apply a theme, click on it.

3. Next to the themes button, you will find different formatting options. You can select a section of your document and click on any of these to apply that formatting to it.

4. You can also customize the selected formatting option by changing its color and effects. Click on the 'Colors' button to view the available color presets.

5. Click on a preset to apply it to your selected text. Similarly, you can see and apply the available effects to the formatting by clicking on the 'Effects' button.

Adding a watermark, and borders and changing the page color

If you want to protect your document, you can add a watermark to it.

1. With your document open, go to the 'Design' tab and click on the 'Watermark' button on the right to see the available watermarks.

2. Click on a watermark to apply it to your document.

3. You can also change the page color of the document by clicking on the 'Page Color' button and selecting a color from the dropdown.

4. Finally, click on the 'Page Borders' button and a dialog box showing various border options will appear. Here you can select a border from the available options and even customize it by changing their style, color, width, etc.

5. Once you've customized and selected a border, click on the 'OK' button to apply it to your document.

Things to know

• Microsoft Word also lets you insert pictures, shapes, icons, 3D models, and more from the 'Insert' tab to make your documents more appealing and expressive.
• You can also go to the 'Draw' tab at the top and use the pen and highlighter tools to manually draw, highlight, or create annotations in your document.
• Besides the design elements mentioned here, Word lets you make your document in numerous ways. You can change the layout by altering the orientation, margins, adding columns, etc.
• If you plan to open your Word documents using word processors from other Office suites, like OpenOffice and LibreOffice, remember that not all of your design elements may appear correctly in those.