Tables are the proper tool in WordPress to present data in an organized way, but plain, monochromatic tables might fail to grab attention or communicate effectively. So, when you’re looking for ways to make your tables come out with a better appearance, adding different colors in different attributes can be an easy hack.
A simple tweak in colors in different elements of your table can change how the tables come out in the eyes of the viewers. By strategically using colors for headers, footers, columns, rows, borders, or specific cells, you can modify your basic table into an effective communication tool.
This article is here to show you how easy it is to make your WordPress tables look better. It focuses on simple, beginner-friendly methods that let you add colors to your tables, all without the need for writing a single line of code.
Let us take a walk through those methods and steps to gain a clearer understanding of the approaches to color your tables.
Method 1: Using the Default Table Block
The Table Block in WordPress is a built-in feature of the Gutenberg editor designed for simple table creation and customization. While its color options are somewhat basic, you can adjust background and text colors with ease.
Step 1: Select The Table
Find the table you want to customize in the WordPress editor, then click on the table to open the block settings panel on the right side.
Step 2: Access Block Settings
With the table selected, locate the Styles Tab from the block settings panel and click on it. Then, navigate to the Color Settings section.
Step 3: Customize Text, Background, and Border Colors
Under the Color settings panel, choose an appropriate background color to apply to the entire table. You will have the flexibility to choose between a solid or gradient background, but keep in mind that this will uniformly affect your entire table, not specific rows or cells.
Next, select a text color to ensure the content remains readable against the chosen background.
Scroll to the border color option within the same settings and select a color that complements your table design. This change will uniformly affect the borders of the entire table.
Limitations of the Default Table Block
- No support for alternate colors of rows or columns.
- No option to customize individual cell colors.
- Header and footer sections cannot be highlighted with separate colors.
Method 2: Using the Tableberg Plugin
Tableberg is a specialized plugin for users who need more advanced customization options for their tables. This method is ideal for those who want more control over their table design than the default Table Block.
Step 1: Install and Activate Tableberg
Open your WordPress dashboard and head to Plugins, then click Add New. Type “Tableberg” into the search bar, install it and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Create or Select a Table
Open the page or post you want to add your table, click the block inserter (+), and add the tableberg block. Once you’re done, create the table based on your requirements and populate it with content. Lastly, select the entire table by clicking the Tableberg icon in the block toolbar to open the Block Settings.
Step 3: Customize the Header and Footer Colors
First, make sure your table has a Header and Footer section that meets your requirements. Now, move to the styles tab of the block settings panel and use the color options to assign background colors to these sections.
Step 4: Style the Background (Row, Column, and Cell)
From the same color settings section, you can set the same color for even and odd rows. If you want a uniform color for the whole background (apart from the header and the footer) of your table, just put the same color in these sections.
For individual cells, select that particular cell and move the color settings again. Select the appropriate color for your cell.
Similarly, if you want to have a consistent color for an entire row or column, select the row or column first and then utilize the color settings to change the color. But, if you’re already using the even/odd row color option, you must clear those colors before this setting comes into effect.
Step 5: Adjust Border Colors
Scroll down further in the Styles tab and locate the Border settings. You’ll find a spectrum of features to apply colors to every border of your table. First, you can change the border of your table from the Table Border section and then alter the color of the inner border from the Inner Border section similarly. To have a better effect, you might need to change the thickness of every border first.
Next, if you want to have a specific border color for a specific row or column, select the row or column first and then scroll further in the Border Settings. Find the settings for the Row Border and the Column Border and change the colors.
Step 6: Adjust Font/Text Color
If you want to change the font color of all the texts in your table, you need to use Global Font Style settings. Scroll further down in the settings panel, locate the Font Color option, and select the desired color.
If you want to change the font color of a specific text on a particular cell, click that text, move to the Styles tab on the right-side panel, open text Color settings, and change it.
Conclusion
The Default Table Block is perfect for basic adjustments, while Tableberg provides more advanced options for detailed customization. This guide has shown you how to style headers, footers, rows, and cells effortlessly, all without any coding. With these methods, you can create tables that are not only functional but also visually aligned with your site’s design. Now, it’s time to put these tips into action and make your tables stand out.
