How to Add Colors to Notion Calendar
Want to make your Notion Calendar more visual? Learn how to add colors to calendar events using Select properties. This guide covers setting up color-coded categories and organizing your schedule with visual cues.
Quick Answer
To add colors to Notion Calendar: Create a Select property with colored options, then in Calendar view settings, click the three dots menu, choose "Color", and select your property. Each Select option will color-code your calendar events.
Understanding Notion Calendar Colors
Notion Calendar view displays database entries on a timeline based on their date properties. By default, all events appear in the same color, which makes it hard to distinguish between different types of events at a glance.
The solution is to use Notion's color-coding feature, which links event colors to a Select or Multi-select property. When you assign different options (with different colors) to events, they automatically display in those colors on the calendar.
This visual system helps you:
- Quickly identify event types (meetings, deadlines, personal)
- See workload distribution at a glance
- Separate work from personal life visually
- Track project progress by status colors
- Prioritize tasks using color urgency levels
Available Colors in Notion
Notion provides 10 built-in colors for Select and Multi-select properties. You cannot add custom hex colors, but these options cover most organizational needs:
Each color also has a lighter "background" variant that Notion uses for highlighting. In Calendar view, the solid color versions appear on events.
Step 1: Create a Select Property for Categories
First, you need a property that Notion can use to determine event colors. A Select property works best because each option can have a unique color.
Adding a New Select Property
- Open your database in any view (Table view is easiest for this step).
- Click the + button in the property header row to add a new property.
- Select "Select" as the property type (or "Multi-select" if events can have multiple categories).
- Name the property something descriptive like "Category", "Type", or "Status".
Adding Color-Coded Options
- Click inside a cell in your new Select column.
- Type a category name (like "Work", "Personal", or "Meeting").
- Press Enter to create the option.
- Click the option tag that appears.
- Select a color from the color picker that appears.
- Repeat for each category you want to create.
Example Category Structure
Pro Tip: Plan your categories before creating them. Think about what distinctions matter most for your workflow. Too many categories can become overwhelming, while too few may not provide enough visual differentiation.
Step 2: Configure Calendar View to Use Colors
Once you have a Select property with colored options, you need to tell Calendar view to use it for coloring events.
Setting the Color Property
- Switch to Calendar view of your database (click the view tabs or add a new Calendar view).
- Click the three dots menu (...) at the top right of the calendar.
- Select "Color" from the dropdown menu.
- Choose your Select property (the one you created in Step 1).
After selecting the property, your calendar events will immediately update to show the colors assigned to each event's category.
Alternative: Using the Properties Panel
- In Calendar view, click the three dots menu.
- Select "Properties".
- Look for the "Color" option at the bottom of the properties list.
- Click it and select your desired property.
Step 3: Assign Categories to Your Events
Now that everything is set up, you need to assign categories to your calendar events for colors to appear.
From Calendar View
- Click on any event in the calendar to open it.
- Find your category property in the event details.
- Click the property and select a category option.
- Close the event. The color updates instantly on the calendar.
From Table View (Bulk Editing)
If you have many events to categorize, Table view is faster:
- Switch to Table view of the same database.
- Find the category column you created.
- Click each cell and select the appropriate category.
- Switch back to Calendar view to see the colors.
Pro Tip: In Table view, you can select multiple rows (Shift+Click) and edit the category property for all selected items at once. This is the fastest way to categorize many events.
Effective Color-Coding Systems
The power of calendar colors comes from using them consistently. Here are proven color-coding systems you can adapt:
System 1: By Event Type
System 2: By Priority
System 3: By Project or Client
If you work on multiple projects or with different clients, assign each one a unique color. This helps you see at a glance how your time is distributed across projects.
System 4: By Status
Combining Colors with Filters
Colors become even more powerful when combined with Notion's filter feature. You can create filtered views that show only specific categories:
Creating a Filtered Calendar View
- Duplicate your Calendar view by clicking the dropdown arrow next to the view name and selecting "Duplicate".
- Rename the new view (e.g., "Work Only" or "Personal Calendar").
- Click "Filter" in the view menu.
- Add a filter: Select your category property, set it to "is", and choose the categories you want to see.
Now you can switch between views to see all events, only work events, only personal events, or any combination you need.
Pro Tip: Create a "Today's Focus" view that filters for high-priority items only. This helps you concentrate on what matters without visual clutter from lower-priority events.
Limitations and Workarounds
No Custom Colors
Notion does not support custom hex colors. You must work within the 10 built-in color options. If you need more variety, consider using the lighter and darker shades creatively, or combine colors with emojis in event titles for additional visual distinction.
One Color Property at a Time
Calendar view can only color events by one property at a time. If you have both "Category" and "Priority" properties, you must choose which one controls the colors. A workaround is to create combined options like "Work - High Priority" in a single property.
Colors Don't Sync to External Calendars
If you use Notion's calendar sync feature to export to Google Calendar or other apps, the colors will not transfer. Colors are a Notion-specific display feature. Events exported to external calendars will appear in that calendar's default color.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add more colors to Notion Calendar?
Create a Select or Multi-select property with different options, each with its own color. In Calendar view settings, click the three dots menu, choose "Color", and select your property. Notion offers 10 built-in colors: light gray, gray, brown, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, and red.
Can I use custom colors in Notion Calendar?
No, Notion does not support custom hex colors. You are limited to Notion's 10 built-in color options. However, you can use these strategically to create an effective color-coding system for your needs.
Why are my Notion Calendar events all the same color?
Check Calendar view settings. Click the three dots menu, select "Color", and ensure it is set to a Select property rather than "None". Each event needs a different Select option assigned to display different colors.
Can I color events by multiple properties?
No, Calendar view can only use one property for colors at a time. As a workaround, create a combined property with options like "Work - High Priority" or "Personal - Low Priority" to encode multiple dimensions in one property.
Do calendar colors work on mobile?
Yes, calendar colors display on the Notion mobile app. The setup process is similar: open view options, find the Color setting, and select your property.
How do I change the color of a Select option?
Click on any cell with that Select option, then click the option tag. A color picker will appear. Select a new color. The change applies to all events with that option.
Summary
Adding colors to Notion Calendar transforms a plain schedule into a visual productivity tool. Here is the process:
- Create a Select property with colored options for your categories (Work, Personal, Meeting, etc.).
- Configure Calendar view by clicking the three dots menu, selecting "Color", and choosing your property.
- Assign categories to your events. Colors appear automatically.
- Use filters to create focused views showing only specific categories.
While Notion limits you to 10 built-in colors and one color property per view, these constraints rarely matter in practice. A well-designed color system with 4-6 categories is usually more effective than a complex one with dozens of options.
Start simple, and expand your color system as your needs become clearer.
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