How to Do a Layout on an Instagram Story

Putting more than one photo on a single Instagram Story completely changes the game for your content. Instead of just a single image, you can create a mini-mood board, a product showcase, or a "before and after" reveal all at once. This article walks you through exactly how to do layouts on Instagram Stories, covering the built-in features and outside apps that give you even more creative control.

The Easiest Method: Instagram’s Built-In “Layout” Feature

If you need to create a simple, clean grid with multiple photos, Instagram’s own Layout tool is the fastest way to get it done. It’s built directly into the Story creation screen, so you don’t need to download anything extra. This method is perfect for quick, structured collages.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Layout Tool

Follow these simple steps to create your first grid-style Story:

1. Open the Instagram Story Camera: Launch the Instagram app and swipe right from your feed to open the Story creation screen.
2. Find the Layout Icon: On the left-hand side of the screen, you'll see a toolbar with several icons. Look for the one that looks like a grid (it’s often labeled “Layout”). Tap on it.
3. Choose Your Grid: After tapping the Layout icon, you’ll be in the layout mode. You can tap the “Change Grid” icon (it looks like a rectangle with different grid layouts) to select the style you want. Instagram offers several options, from a simple two-photo split to a more complex six-photo grid.
4. Add Your Photos: Now you can start filling the grid. You have two options:
   • From your Camera Roll: Tap the small square icon with a plus sign in the bottom-left corner to open your photo gallery. Select the first image you want to add.
   • Take a New Photo: You can also tap the shutter button at the bottom center to take a photo directly for each section of the grid.
5. Fill Each Segment: Continue adding photos from your gallery or taking new ones until all the segments of your chosen grid are full. If you make a mistake, just tap on the specific photo you want to replace, then tap the trash can icon at the bottom of the screen to delete it and choose again.
6. Confirm and Edit: Once your grid is complete, tap the checkmark button at the bottom of the screen to confirm your layout. This will take you to the standard Story editing screen, where you can add text, stickers, music, or draw on your creation just like any other Story.
7. Post Your Story: When you’re happy with the final result, tap “Your Story” or “Close Friends” to share it.

When to Use the Layout Tool

The native Layout feature is great for specific purposes where structure is more important than creative stacking. Here are a few ideas:

• Before-and-After Shots: Perfect for personal trainers, interior designers, or hairstylists showing off a transformation.
• Product Collections: Showcasing multiple products from a new collection or a lookbook of different outfits.
• Event Recaps: Quickly combine four to six standout moments from an event or a fun weekend.
• Tutorial Steps: A four-panel grid can show four simple steps in a recipe or a DIY project.

The Flexible Method: Using the “Add Photo” Sticker

If the rigid grids of the Layout tool feel a bit too restrictive, there’s another built-in Instagram feature that offers far more creative freedom: the photo sticker. This lets you layer multiple photos on top of any background, giving you full control over the size, angle, and position of each image.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Photo Sticker Method

This approach feels more like creating a scrapbook or a digital collage.

1. Start with a Background: Open your Story camera. You can start with a solid background by tapping the “Create” (Aa) mode and choosing a color or gradient. Alternatively, you can take a new photo or select one from your gallery to serve as your background image.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your background is set, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (the square smiley face).
3. Find the Photo Sticker: Scroll through the sticker options until you find one that looks like a small preview of your photo gallery with a mountain-and-sun icon on it. Sometimes it's right near the top. Tap it.
4. Select Your First Image: Your photo gallery will open. Choose the first photo you want to add to your collage. It will appear on your Story as a sticker with sharp corners.
5. Resize, Rotate, and Position: Now for the fun part. You can use two fingers to pinch and zoom the sticker to change its size. You can also rotate it to any angle and drag it anywhere on the screen.
6. Change the Shape (Optional): Want to break out of the box? Simply tap on the photo sticker. Tapping it will cycle through different shapes like a circle, star, heart, or a rectangle with rounded corners. Find a shape that works for your design.
7. Add More Photos: To add another picture, just repeat the process. Go back to the sticker tray, tap the photo sticker again, and choose your next image. You can add several photos, layering them on top of one another to create a dynamic look.
8. Finalize and Share: Once all your images are in place, add any text, GIFs, or other elements you want. Then, publish your Story.

When to Use the Photo Sticker Method

This method is all about creativity and a less structured visual style.

• Creating a Mood Board: Layer textures, colors, and inspirational images to share your brand’s vibe or a project’s vision.
• Shouting Out Other Accounts: Grab screenshots of accounts you love, add them as stickers, and then tag them.
• Showcasing Testimonials: Take screenshots of customer reviews or DMs, add them as stickers (cropping nicely!), and share them.
• Behind-the-Scenes Peeks: Share a polished "hero" image as the background and then layer on smaller, candid behind-the-scenes shots as stickers.

The Pro Method: Using Third-Party Design Apps

While Instagram's built-in tools are handy, sometimes you need something more polished, branded, and template-driven. That’s where third-party apps come in. Tools like Canva, Unfold, or Mojo are specifically designed to help you create stunning, professional-looking Story layouts with minimal effort.

Why Go with a Third-Party App?

• Templates Galore: These apps offer hundreds or even thousands of professionally designed templates for every occasion, from sales announcements to weekly Q&As.
• Brand Consistency: You can often save your brand’s fonts, colors, and logos to quickly apply a consistent look to all your Stories.
• Animations and Video: Many of these apps allow you to create animated text or even embed videos into your layouts for a more engaging feel.
• Advanced Editing: They typically offer more robust editing tools, like advanced text control, image filters, and element libraries.

A General Workflow for Using Design Apps

While each app is slightly different, the basic process is almost always the same:

1. Choose an App: Popular options include Canva (great all-rounder with a massive free library), Unfold (known for its clean, minimalist, and filmic templates), and Mojo (specializes in animated Story templates).
2. Select a Template: Browse the app's library and find a template that fits your Story’s goal. Most are categorized by type, like "Collage," "Promotion," or "Q&A."
3. Upload Your Photos: The template will have placeholders for your images. Tap on them to replace the sample photos with your own from your camera roll.
4. Customize the Design: This is where these apps shine. Change the colors to match your brand, tweak the pre-written text with your own message, and adjust the layout of elements if needed.
5. Save and Export: Once you're done, save or export the final design to your phone's camera roll. It will usually save as a high-quality image or video file.
6. Upload to Instagram: Open Instagram, head to the Story editor, and swipe up to access your camera roll. Select your newly created design and share it directly to your Story.

Best Practices for Creating Good Story Layouts

Knowing how to make a layout is one thing, knowing how to make a good layout is another. Here are a few tips to make your multi-photo Stories more effective.

1. Tell a Micro-Story

Your layout shouldn’t just be a random collection of images. Use the photos to tell a tiny story. Show the steps in a process, the progression of an event, or an "outfit of the day" from head to toe. This gives your layout a purpose and coherence.

2. Let It Breathe

Don’t cram too much into one Story. This is especially true when using the sticker method. Leaving some "negative space" around your images makes the collage easier to look at and prevents it from feeling cluttered. The viewer only has a few seconds to absorb your content, so clarity wins.

3. Keep Brand Consistency in Mind

Even if you're using Instagram's native tools, try to stick to your brand's aesthetic. If your brand is bright and colorful, use a vibrant background color. If it's minimal and clean, opt for a simple grid layout with a neutral backdrop. This consistency helps build brand recognition.

4. Combine with Interactive Elements

A layout can be the perfect foundation for engagement. Add a poll sticker asking, "Which look is your favorite?" or a quiz guessing the location of one of the photos. This turns a static piece of content into a two-way conversation.

Final Thoughts

Mastering Instagram Story layouts is one of the quickest ways to elevate your content from simple snapshots to thoughtful, engaging narratives. Whether you're using the simple native Layout tool for a quick grid, the flexible photo sticker for a creative collage, or a dedicated app for a professional sheen, you now have the skills to combine multiple images into a single, powerful Story.

We know that creating high-quality, visual content daily can be a lot to manage, and consistency is sometimes the hardest part. At Postbase, we designed our platform with today's visual-first social media in mind. Our visual calendar helps you plan out your Stories, Reels, and other content so you get a clear view of your entire strategy at a glance. Scheduling posts shouldn't feel like a chore, and with our straightforward interface built for video and visuals, you can get back to creating great content instead of fighting with your software.