Have you ever found a Canva template and thought:
“I love this layout…but those colors are definitely NOT me.” 😂
Don’t scroll past it just because the colors don’t match your brand.
Colors are easy to change.
Instead, look at the template’s structure.
Do you like the layout?
Does it have the right amount of space for your message?
Can you picture your content in it?
If so, you’ve got a great starting point.
Now you just need to make it look like you.
And the secret to doing that consistently is knowing your brand colors’ hex codes.
📺 Watch the video below to see how I use my brand colors to transform an existing Canva template.
What Is a Hex Code?
Every digital color can be represented by a code called a hex code.
It’s usually a hashtag followed by six letters and/or numbers.
Instead of looking at Canva’s color picker and thinking:
“That blue looks pretty close…”
you can enter your hex code and get the exact color you want.
Every. Single. Time.
That means the blue you use today can be the same blue you use next week, next month, and on your next 50 graphics.
No eyeballing required.
Save Your Brand Colors Somewhere
If your Canva plan includes Brand Kit features, you can save your brand colors inside Canva so they’re readily available while you’re designing.
But what if you’re using Canva Free?
You’re not out of luck.
You can simply save your hex codes somewhere else.
Keep them in:
- Notepad
- A Word document
- A Google Doc
- A note on your computer
- Anywhere else that’s convenient for you
It doesn’t need to be fancy.
You simply need one reliable place where you can grab the exact code whenever you’re creating something.
Copy.
Paste.
Correct color.
Done.
Don’t Choose Canva Templates Based on Color
This is one of the biggest things I want you to remember when you’re browsing Canva.
Don’t let the existing colors determine whether you use a template.
Maybe the template is bright orange and green and your brand is blue and pink.
Who cares?
Look past the colors and evaluate the design itself.
You can replace those colors.
What you’re really looking for is a layout that saves you from having to design something from scratch.
Replace the Template Colors With Your Own
Once you’ve found a template you like, start replacing its colors with your brand colors.
If you have your colors saved inside Canva, use them from there.
If you’re using Canva Free and keeping your hex codes somewhere else, copy the code you need and paste it into Canva’s color picker.
Now you’re not trying to find something that looks approximately right.
You’re using the exact same color every time.
Repeat that with the other colors in the design until the template begins looking less like the original and much more like your brand.
Then Make the Rest of the Template Yours
Changing the colors is only part of customizing a template.
Now change the words.
Swap out the images.
Adjust the fonts if necessary.
Remove elements you don’t need.
Add whatever makes sense for your content.
A Canva template is a starting point, not a finished product you’re required to use exactly as it was designed.
Use the parts that help you.
Change the parts that don’t.
Brand Consistency Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
You don’t need every graphic you create to look identical.
In fact, please don’t. 😂
But using consistent colors is one simple way to help your content feel connected and recognizable.
And you don’t need a complicated branding system to accomplish that.
Even if you’re using Canva Free, knowing your hex codes gives you a simple way to repeat your exact colors.
That’s Tech Confidence in action:
Know the little piece of information that makes the technology work better for you.
So the next time you find a Canva template with a great layout and terrible colors, don’t dismiss it.
Grab your hex codes.
Change the colors.
Change the content.
Make it yours.
And stop guessing which shade of blue you used last time. 💙