How to Add a Background to an Instagram Story

Tired of your Instagram Stories looking a little plain? You've come to the right place. Customizing the background is one of the fastest ways to make your Stories look more polished, professional, and perfectly aligned with your brand's vibe. This guide will walk you through several easy methods for adding backgrounds, from simple solid colors to fully branded image templates and a few clever hacks you might not know about.

The Basics: Starting with a Solid Color Background

Sometimes, the simplest approach is the most effective. A solid color background is perfect for text-heavy Stories, clean announcements, or when you just need a straightforward canvas. It removes all distractions and puts the focus squarely on your message. Plus, it's incredibly easy to do.

How to Create a Solid Background with the Draw Tool

The quickest way to get a clean background is by using Instagram's built-in drawing feature. It only takes a few seconds.

• Step 1: Open Instagram and tap the "+" icon at the top, then select "Story" to start a new creation.
• Step 2: Take a random photo or choose one from your camera roll. Don't worry about what it is, you're going to cover it up completely.
• Step 3: Tap the three-dot icon (...) in the top-right corner and select "Draw" from the menu.
• Step 4: At the top of the screen, you'll see a few pen tools. Select the first one (the standard marker). Then, at the bottom, choose your desired color from the color swatches.
• Step 5: Now, just press and hold your finger anywhere on the screen for a couple of seconds. The entire screen will instantly fill with the solid color you chose.
• Step 6: Tap "Done" in the top-right, and you have a blank canvas ready for text, stickers, or GIFs.

Pro Tip: If you want a semi-translucent overlay instead of an opaque color, select the third tool from the left (the highlighter) before you press and hold. This creates a neat effect, tinting the original photo with your chosen color while still letting some of the image show through.

Finding the Perfect Custom Color Shade

Not satisfied with the default color options at the bottom of the screen? Instagram has a full color spectrum hidden right in plain sight.

• While you're in the Draw tool, press and hold on any of the color circles in the bottom palette.
• A color slider will appear, giving you access to virtually any shade imaginable.
• Without lifting your finger, drag it across the spectrum until you find the perfect hue for your brand. Let go, and that color will be selected. You can now use the press-and-hold technique to fill your entire background with this custom color.

Adding a Custom Background When Sharing a Post to Your Story

One of the most common reasons people want a custom background is to get rid of Instagram's default gradient that appears when you share a feed post. Let's be honest - that automatically generated background rarely matches your aesthetic. Here’s a brilliant little trick to replace it with any image you want.

The "Layering Trick" Every Creator Should Know

This method involves layering your custom background image and then cleverly bringing the feed post sticker back to the front. It might sound tricky, but once you do it once, it'll become second nature.

• Step 1: Get the Post Ready. Go to the feed post or Reel you want to share. Tap the paper airplane icon below it and choose "Add to your story."
• Step 2: Add Your Background Image. Once the post sticker is on that default gradient background, tap the Sticker icon (the smiley face square) at the top of the screen. Scroll down until you find the circular sticker that lets you add an image from your camera roll. Tap on it.
• Step 3: Choose Your Background. Select the image from your camera roll that you want to use for the new background. This could be a brand pattern, a textured image, or a photo that complements the post.
• Step 4: Hide the Post Sticker… Temporarily. Your chosen background image will now appear as a new sticker on top of everything else. Using two fingers, pinch and zoom to enlarge this image until it completely fills the screen, hiding both the gradient background and the original post sticker.
• Step 5: Bring the Post Sticker to the Front. This is the most important part. Press and hold down on the screen with one finger (this "selects" your background image layer). While still holding, use another finger from your other hand to quickly tap where the post sticker is hiding underneath.
• Step 6: Success! When you let go, the feed post sticker should pop right on top of your new, beautiful background. You can now resize and reposition the post sticker wherever you'd like. The old gradient is gone for good.

This technique is a game-changer for maintaining a cohesive and branded look across all your Stories, especially when you’re promoting new content.

More Creative Ways to Use Backgrounds

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start experimenting with more advanced techniques that make your content even more dynamic and engaging.

Using Branded Templates for Consistency

For businesses, marketers, and creators serious about their brand identity, having a set of pre-made Story templates is a fantastic way to streamline your workflow and ensure every Story feels consistent. A template is simply a background image designed with your brand's colors, fonts, and maybe even your logo.

You can easily create these templates using free design tools like Canva or Adobe Express. Simply create a design with the proper dimensions for an Instagram Story (1080px by 1920px) and save it to a dedicated album on your phone called "Story Backgrounds." When you want to create a branded story, you can use the "Add Image" sticker method described above to pull in your template as the base layer, then add your content on top.

This works especially well for things like:

• Weekly Q&A sessions ("Ask Me Anything")
• New product announcements
• Client testimonials
• Behind-the-scenes content

The "Copy and Paste" Photo Hack

Another way to quickly layer images into your story is by copying and pasting them directly from your phone's photo library. This is a fast and fluid alternative to the "Add Image" sticker.

1. First, go to your phone’s Photos app and open the image you want to use.
2. Tap the "Share" icon and select "Copy Photo."
3. Immediately switch back to the Instagram app, where you have your Story open. As soon as you open the Story editor, a little pop-up should appear in the bottom-left corner that says "Add sticker," showing a preview of the image you just copied. Tap it, and your image will drop right in.
4. If the pop-up doesn't appear, you can open a text box, tap, and select "Paste." Your image will appear as a sticker that you can resize, rotate, and place anywhere you like. This is an awesome method for creating quick collage-style Stories.

Quick Tips for Awesome Looking Backgrounds

Adding a background is just the first step. To make sure your finalized Story looks its best, keep these design tips in mind.

Match Your Colors with the Eyedropper Tool

The eyedropper tool is one of Instagram’s best-kept secrets for design cohesion. When adding text or using the draw tool, you can perfectly match your color to any element in your background photo.

Simply tap the text or draw tool, then tap the eyedropper icon on the far left of the color palette. Drag the tool around the screen, and you'll see the color of your text or brush change in real time. Hover it over any part of your background image and let go to select that exact color. This creates a beautifully coordinated and professional look.

Always Use a Vertical Aspect Ratio

Remember that Instagram Stories are designed to be viewed vertically. Their aspect ratio is 9:16. For the best results, always use a vertical photo or a pre-sized template (1080x1920 pixels) as your background. If you use a horizontal photo, Instagram will zoom in and crop it awkwardly, or you'll be left with big, empty space at the top and bottom. Taking a quick moment to crop your photo to the correct dimensions ahead of time makes a huge difference.

Don't Let Your Background Overpower Your Message

A background should complement your content, not compete with it. If you're overlaying text, CTA buttons, or small product photos, avoid using a background that is too busy or has too much contrast. Busy patterns or bright, chaotic photos can make your text difficult to read and your stickers hard to see.

A great solution is to use a slightly blurred version of a photo as your background. This adds texture and color without creating visual clutter, ensuring your main message remains the hero of the Story.

Final Thoughts

Putting a little extra effort into your Instagram Story backgrounds is a simple change that delivers a big impact. From creating clean solid colors and using branded templates to mastering the layering trick for shared posts, you now have all the tools you need to make every Story look purposeful, on-brand, and thoughtfully designed.

Crafting eye-catching Stories is a big part of building a standout brand on social media. After spending time getting our designs just right, the last thing we want is for a scheduled post to fail or to jump between apps to stay organized. That's why we built Postbase from the ground up to handle modern formats like Stories and Reels effortlessly. Our visual planner makes it easy to see your entire content strategy at a glance, and you can trust that what you schedule will actually go live when it's supposed to.