Customize Pages with Icons and Covers

Learn how to transform plain Notion pages into visually appealing, well-organized spaces by adding custom icons and cover images. This guide covers the complete process of personalizing your pages to improve navigation, create visual hierarchy, and enhance your workspace's professional appearance.

Why Customize Pages with Icons and Covers

Visual customization serves multiple purposes in Notion workspaces. Icons provide instant recognition and help users quickly identify different pages, projects, or content types. Cover images create visual separation between sections and can reinforce branding or thematic organization.

Key benefits include:

• Improved navigation through visual cues and instant recognition
• Enhanced organization with consistent visual hierarchy
• Professional branding and aesthetic appeal for shared workspaces
• Increased engagement and productivity through personalized environments

Understanding Icon and Cover Customization

Notion provides two main visual customization options for pages:

• Page Icons: Small emoji or custom icons that appear next to the page title in the sidebar and at the top of the page content
• Cover Images: Banner-style background images that appear at the top of the page, creating visual impact and thematic consistency

Getting Started

To customize any page in Notion, navigate to the page you want to personalize. You can add icons and covers to any page type, including databases, templates, and regular content pages. The customization options appear when you hover over the page title area.

1

Start by opening the Notion page you want to customize. In this example, we're working with a page titled TEST NEW PAGE. Notice the plain appearance without any visual elements - this is the default state for new pages.

2

Hover over the page title area until you see the Add icon button appear. Click this button to open the icon selection modal. The modal displays a comprehensive collection of emojis organized by categories, along with options to upload custom icons or search for specific symbols.

You can also access icon options by typing /icon anywhere in the page content, or use the search bar in the icon modal to quickly find specific emojis or symbols.

3

Browse through the available icons and click on your preferred choice. In this example, we selected a crown emoji which could represent importance, leadership, or premium content. The icon immediately appears at the top of your page and will also be visible in the sidebar navigation.

Consider choosing icons that:

• Relate to the page content or purpose
• Maintain consistency within your workspace
• Are easily recognizable and professional

4

You can change your icon selection at any time by clicking directly on the existing icon. This reopens the icon selector, allowing you to browse and choose a different option. In this example, the icon was changed from a crown to a different emoji to better represent the page content.

5

To add a cover image, hover over the top area of your page until the Add cover button appears, then click it. This opens the cover selection interface where you can choose from Notion's built-in gallery, upload custom images, or use images from external URLs.

Cover options include:

• Gallery images: Curated collection of professional backgrounds
• Upload: Custom images from your device
• Link: Images from external URLs
• Unsplash integration: High-quality stock photography

6

Your page now displays both the selected icon and cover image, creating a visually appealing and professional appearance. The space-themed background shown in this example creates an engaging header that draws attention while maintaining readability of the page title and content.

The combination of icon and cover image serves multiple purposes: immediate visual recognition, enhanced navigation experience, and improved aesthetic appeal that encourages engagement with the content.

Advanced Customization Options

Beyond basic icon and cover selection, Notion offers several advanced customization features:

• Custom Icon Upload: Upload your own SVG or PNG files for branded icons
• Cover Position Adjustment: Reposition cover images to highlight specific areas
• Gradient Covers: Choose from solid colors or gradient backgrounds for minimal designs
• Remove Options: Easily remove icons or covers by clicking the three-dot menu next to them

Best Practices for Visual Organization

Effective visual customization requires strategic thinking about consistency, purpose, and user experience:

Icon Strategy

• Develop a consistent icon system across related pages
• Use category-specific icons (📊 for data, 📝 for documents, for goals)
• Maintain professional appearance in business contexts
• Consider accessibility and cross-cultural understanding of symbols

Cover Image Guidelines

• Ensure high contrast between cover and text for readability
• Use brand-appropriate colors and imagery for professional spaces
• Avoid overly busy or distracting backgrounds
• Test appearance across different screen sizes and devices

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Conclusion

Customizing pages with icons and covers transforms basic Notion pages into visually engaging, well-organized spaces that improve navigation and user experience. By following the step-by-step process outlined above, you can enhance any page's visual appeal while maintaining professional standards and consistency across your workspace.

Start with simple icon selection to improve page identification, then add cover images to create visual hierarchy and thematic organization. Remember to maintain consistency and consider your audience when choosing visual elements.

For next steps, consider exploring page styling options for additional customization techniques, or learn about template systems to apply consistent visual branding across multiple pages efficiently.