Custom Background & Cover Images

This guide explains how to customize your Trello board's background to create a more personalized and visually appealing workspace. Board backgrounds help establish the mood, reflect project themes, or simply make your boards more enjoyable to work with.

When to Customize Board Backgrounds

Customizing board backgrounds is valuable for several scenarios:

• Project themes - Match your board's visual style to the project content or brand
• Team morale - Create an inspiring or motivating workspace atmosphere
• Board identification - Quickly distinguish between different boards through visual cues
• Personal preference - Simply make your workspace more enjoyable and personalized

Background Options Available

Trello offers several background customization options:

• Pre-made photo backgrounds - Curated collection of professional images
• Solid colors - Clean, minimalist color backgrounds
• Custom uploads - Your own images or company branding (Premium feature)

How to Change Your Board Background

To navigate to the background customization feature, you need to access your board's settings menu from any board view.

1

On your Trello board, locate and click the horizontal three-dot menu icon in the top-right area of your board. This opens the board settings menu with various customization and management options.

2

From the board menu sidebar, click on "Change background". This option opens the background customization panel where you can browse and select from different background categories.

3

The background panel displays different categories including Photos and Colors. Browse through the available options by scrolling through the thumbnail previews. Each background option shows a small preview of how it will look on your board.

4

Once you've found a background you like, click the "Choose as board background" button beneath the background thumbnail. This immediately applies the selected background to your board.

5

After selecting your background, click the close button (X) or click anywhere outside the background panel to return to your board view with the new background applied.

6

Your board now displays the new background image. The change is automatically saved and will be visible to all board members. Notice how the new background enhances the visual appeal of your board while maintaining readability of your cards and lists.

Best Practices for Board Backgrounds

• Readability first - Choose backgrounds that don't interfere with text readability on cards and lists
• Consistent branding - Use backgrounds that align with your project or company branding
• Team consultation - Consider your team's preferences, especially for shared boards
• Professional context - Choose appropriate backgrounds for business or client-facing boards

Advanced Customization Options

For Trello Premium users, additional customization features include:

• Custom image uploads - Upload your own images, logos, or branded backgrounds
• Unsplash integration - Access to thousands of high-quality stock photos
• Board templates - Save customized boards as templates with backgrounds included

Troubleshooting Background Issues

• Background not loading - Check your internet connection and try refreshing the page
• Low image quality - Backgrounds may appear lower quality on smaller screens or when browser zoom is adjusted
• Can't see custom upload option - Custom uploads require a Trello Premium subscription

Review

Customizing your Trello board background is a simple but effective way to personalize your workspace and improve team engagement. The process involves accessing the board menu, selecting "Change background," choosing from available options, and applying your selection. Remember to prioritize readability and consider your team's preferences when making changes.

A well-chosen background can enhance your board's visual appeal, reinforce project themes, and create a more enjoyable working environment for your entire team. Experiment with different backgrounds to find what works best for your specific projects and team dynamics.