How to design pretty excel tablesBy Libby Coy, Graphic Designer

PREVIEW

Here is what we will make:

Pick a colour palette and fonts

STEP ONE

If you want a specific colour that isn’t listed on the theme colours list, click “more colours” and type in the RGB, then drag it to your colour palette.

Paint the background white

STEP TWO

Choose sizes for row height and width. Create a 5px divider between each section, horizontally and vertically (these will stay white). Stay consistent!!!!

STEP THREE

Height = 5px

Height = 40px

Width = 5px Width = 200px

Have fun colouring in your boxes with your colour palettes (as a general rule, darker colours at top and bottom, lighter colours in between)

STEP FOUR

Helpful Hint: Alternating colours between rows improves readability and is a more graceful way of differentiating text than using outlines or bolding words.

Create an outline around your table (around the 5px border) using ¼ point width.

STEP FIVE

Insert your text

STEP SIX

Copy/paste your table into Word or PowerPoint

- Select the area you would like to copy (make sure to include the ¼ point border)

- Right click when you get into Word, Select “Paste Special”

- Select “Paste as pdf”

And voila! A beautiful table has been created. Congratulations.

STEP SEVEN