Branding your SharePoint Online site with a custom theme enhances user engagement, strengthens corporate identity, and provides a consistent look and feel across your intranet or team sites. SharePoint allows organizations to customize their sites using themes, logos, colors, fonts, and layouts to align with their branding guidelines.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
✔ Why branding is important in SharePoint
✔ Different branding options in SharePoint Online
✔ Step-by-step process to apply custom themes
✔ Best practices for branding SharePoint sites
1. Why Branding Your SharePoint Site Matters
✔ Enhances User Experience – A well-branded site improves navigation and usability.
✔ Strengthens Corporate Identity – Reinforces the company’s visual style and culture.
✔ Increases Employee Engagement – A professional and appealing design encourages usage.
✔ Provides a Consistent Look – Ensures uniform branding across all SharePoint sites.
Example: A company with a blue and white branding theme should reflect the same colors in its SharePoint intranet to maintain visual consistency.
2. Branding Options in SharePoint Online
1. Change the SharePoint Site Logo
The site logo represents the brand identity and appears in the top-left corner of your SharePoint site.
Steps to Change the Logo:
- Go to your SharePoint site.
- Click Settings (⚙) > Change the Look > Header.
- Under the Site Logo section, upload a PNG, JPG, or SVG file.
- Click Save.
Tip: Use a transparent PNG or SVG file for a clean, modern look.
2. Apply a Custom SharePoint Theme
SharePoint Online offers built-in themes, but you can create custom themes using the SharePoint Theme Designer.
Steps to Change the Theme in SharePoint Online:
- Go to your SharePoint site and click Settings (⚙) > Change the Look > Theme.
- Select a default theme or click Customize to choose custom colors.
- Click Save to apply the theme.
Tip: If you need advanced customization, you can create a custom JSON theme using PowerShell.
3. Customize the SharePoint Header
Headers in SharePoint can be compact, standard, minimal, or extended to provide different design aesthetics.
Steps to Customize the Header:
- Click Settings (⚙) > Change the Look > Header.
- Choose a header layout (Minimal, Standard, Compact, or Extended).
- Upload a background image for more visual appeal.
- Click Save to apply the changes.
Tip: Use Extended Headers for a modern, full-width look with a large company logo.
4. Modify the Navigation Style
A well-structured navigation menu improves usability.
Steps to Customize Navigation:
- Click Edit Navigation from the Site Settings.
- Add or rearrange links to important pages.
- Use Mega Menu for a modern dropdown layout.
- Click Save.
Tip: Enable Audience Targeting to show different navigation links based on user roles.
5. Add Custom Web Parts
Web parts allow users to add dynamic content like news, documents, and social media feeds.
Common Web Parts for Branding:
✔ Hero Web Part – Showcase key company updates.
✔ News Web Part – Display internal news and announcements.
✔ Quick Links – Provide shortcuts to frequently used resources.
✔ Image & Video Web Parts – Add rich media for better engagement.
Tip: Use the Hero Web Part to highlight important events or initiatives.
6. Apply Custom CSS & JavaScript (Advanced Users)
For deeper customization, developers can use SharePoint Framework (SPFx) to inject CSS and JavaScript.
Steps to Add Custom CSS via SPFx:
- Create a SharePoint Framework (SPFx) extension.
- Add a custom CSS file with branding styles.
- Deploy the SPFx extension to SharePoint Online.
Tip: Use CSS overrides carefully to maintain responsiveness and accessibility.
3. Best Practices for Branding SharePoint Sites
✔ Keep It Simple – Avoid overcomplicated designs that affect usability.
✔ Ensure Mobile Responsiveness – Test your theme on mobile devices.
✔ Maintain Accessibility Standards – Use readable fonts and high-contrast colors.
✔ Use Branding Consistently – Apply the same colors and styles across all sites.
✔ Test Before Deployment – Preview changes before rolling them out to all users.
4. Common Questions About SharePoint Branding
Q1: Can I Use Custom Fonts in SharePoint Online?
SharePoint Online does not natively support custom fonts, but you can apply them using custom CSS via SPFx.
Q2: How Do I Revert to a Default Theme?
Go to Settings (⚙) > Change the Look > Theme, then select the default SharePoint theme.
Q3: Can I Apply Branding to All SharePoint Sites at Once?
Yes! Using SharePoint Hub Sites, you can enforce consistent branding across multiple sites.
Conclusion
Branding your SharePoint Online site enhances the overall user experience and aligns your site’s design with your company’s identity. Whether you use built-in themes, custom logos, web parts, or advanced CSS styling, a well-branded SharePoint site improves navigation, engagement, and adoption.
Next Steps:
✔ Start by changing the logo and theme.
✔ Customize the header, navigation, and web parts.
✔ Explore advanced branding using PowerShell or SPFx if needed.
By following these best practices, you can transform your SharePoint site into a visually appealing and user-friendly digital workspace.