You’ve probably seen beautifully crafted Instagram stories and wondered, ‘How can I do that?’ Whether you’re sharing branded content or reposting something funny from one of your friends’ accounts, changing the background allows you to customize content to match your own style. 

Luckily, the answer to how to change the background on an Instagram story is easier than you might think. 

Here, we’ll break the process down into steps and show you a few different methods to create the exact the aesthetic you want. We’ll also take a closer look at an easy tool that can save you time when creating eye-catching, on-brand Instagram stories. 

How to change a background on an Instagram story Changing the background on your Instagram Stories can be done using features available within the Instagram app. Here we look at the four main methods. 

Add a solid color background 

Want to make your pictures stand out? Here’s how you can add a solid color background behind an image: 

  1. Open Instagram stories and upload your image. 
  2. Select “…” in the top right-hand corner and select “Draw.”
  3. Choose the pen option and select your desired color at the bottom of the screen. 
  4. For a perfect color match with a shade in your image, use the eyedropper tool. 
  5. Press and hold on the screen for a few seconds until the screen fills with color.
  6. Select the erase tool in the top bar and drag your finger across the screen to reveal your image.

When you share a photo from the feed to your story, the background color is automatically set by pulling one from the palette in the image. It’s usually a gradient or a solid color background. If this is not the best option, you can also change it using the method above. 

Create a gradient background

Make a funky design by starting with a blank slate and adding a vibrant gradient background. Just follow these steps: 

  1. Tap “+” at the bottom of your screen and select “Story.”
  2. Select “Aa Create” on the left side of the screen. This will automatically add a gradient color as a background. 
  3. Tap the small circle in the bottom right to choose your favorite gradient.

Upload an image background 

If you want something more striking than a block color or gradient background, you can upload your own image as a background to another image! Here’s how:

  1. Tap “+” at the bottom of the screen and select “Story.”
  2. Click your camera roll in the bottom left corner and select an image.
  3. Select the face logo at the top and choose “Photo” to add another image over the top or simply customize with text and stickers.

Add a video background

These days you’re not limited to photos when playing around with your background. Use Instagram’s green screen effect to add a video background to your story by following these steps:  

  1. Select “+” to create a new story.
  2. Swipe through the effects until you find the magnifying glass icon.
  3. Type “Green Screen” in the search bar.
  4. Select “Add media” and choose a video from your camera roll. 

How to change backgrounds on Instagram photo stories with Picsart

Even if you’re not a seasoned editor, it only takes a few seconds to create a really professional-looking Instagram story with a customized background using Picsart’s tools. 

Want to draw attention to your new products or just make a selfie of you and your friends pop? You can remove the background of your main image to put the focus on the subject matter. 

In the same editor, you can change your background to something more interesting. Follow these steps to get started:

On the web:

  1. Open the Picsart background changer and upload a photo. The tool will automatically remove your existing background. 
  2. Select your new background by choosing an image, a solid color, or a gradient that matches your vision.
  3. Customize your edit as needed using Picsart’s extensive suite of editing tools.
  4. Once you’re satisfied with your Instagram Story, click “Export” and “Download” to save.

On mobile:

  1. Open the Picsart app and use the “+.” button.
  2. Now, select “Remove BG” to remove the background automatically.
  3. Pick a color, gradient, or pattern by using the toolset on the bottom.
  4. Resize your image to Instagram Story size by using the Ratio button. 
  5. Once you’re done editing, tap “Apply” and “Next”. Then, choose “Save” to download your newly edited image.

Want to step up your background game? Use AI-generated backgrounds to add an innovative and distinct visual style to your stories. You can find our AI tools directly in the Photo Editor; all you need to do is enter a short text prompt and watch your designs come to life!

How to remove your video background with Picsart

If you’re looking for a simpler way to play around with Instagram video backgrounds than Instagram’s green screen filter, try out Picsart’s video background remover. It’s this easy: 

  1. Upload your video. 
  2. Hit “Remove BG.”
  3. Select “Download.” 

From here, you can add other videos or photos as the background in just a few clicks. 

Why should you change the background color on your Instagram story?

A simple background color change can transform your Instagram stories, helping you reinforce your brand’s identity, segment longer content, and more. Remember: The key is to be purposeful in your background changes. For the best results, backgrounds should complement your content, align with your brand (if applicable), and contribute to your overall aesthetic.

Boost your aesthetic appeal

When you change background color on an Instagram story, you make your story more visually appealing and eye-catching. Whether it’s a solid color, a gradient, or a textured pattern, a new background color can elevate the overall look of your story and make it more enjoyable for your audience to view.

Build brand consistency

If you’re using Instagram for personal branding or promoting a business, try changing the background to help maintain brand consistency. When potential customers repeatedly experience the same visual cues aligned with your brand, it’ll reinforce trust and recognition, encouraging engagement and loyalty.

Simple story segmentation 

Different backgrounds can be used to segment longer stories or multiple posts, giving each segment its unique identity. This helps guide viewers through the sequence of your content while preventing information overload, so viewers can better grasp the structure and navigate it without confusion.

Amplify your Instagram Stories with Picsart

Now you know how to change an IG story’s background color, every story you create can have your own distinct vibe. 

To perfect your designs even further, scroll through Picsart’s library of stickers, including emojis, decorative elements, GIFs, and themed stickers to find stickers that complement your content — or experiment with vintage, artistic, dramatic, and themed filters for a new look.

And for even more inspiration when it comes to one-of-a-kind social media edits, check out the Picsart Design School. There’s something for everyone, including step-by-step tutorials and videos to help you step up your Instagram stories game.