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 the Font drop-down box and pick one of the following.
Use My Font For Replies and Forwards
If you choose Use my font when replying and forwarding messages, the Font button becomes available in the Replying and forwarding messages section.
Select that button, pick the font you want to use, and press OK.
Optionally, you can mark the setting for Pick a new color when replying or forwarding. This setting automatically changes the color of the font when you reply or forward a message.
Always Use My Fonts
If you choose Always use my fonts instead, the Font buttons for New mail messages and Replying and forwarding messages become available.
Select the button for the message font you want to change, pick the new one, and press OK.
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.
Change the Outlook Theme
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.
Remove the Outlook Theme
If you just want to remove a theme you’ve applied by default from a new message, you can do this on the Home tab as well.
Select the New Items drop-down menu, move your cursor to Email Message Using, and pick Plain Text, Rich Text, or HTML per 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 adding a signature in Outlook.