Create a Cohesive Look with Google Sites Fonts and Colors
Learning Objectives
- Select and apply fonts that work well for your site's purpose
- Set up a consistent color palette across your Google Sites pages
- Work within Google Sites' font and color limitations effectively
Introduction
Getting fonts and colors right on your Google Site makes the difference between looking professional and looking amateur. This chapter shows you how to pick fonts that work well together, set up colors that match your brand, and work within what Google Sites actually lets you do.
The good news is that Google Sites keeps things simple. The challenge is making smart choices within those limits.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Choosing and Applying Fonts
Google Sites gives you a decent selection of fonts, but you need to know where to find them and how to use them well.
Step 1: Open your Google Sites editor and click the page you want to work on.
Step 2: Look for the 'Themes' panel on the right side of your screen.
Step 3: Click on 'Text styles' to see your font options.
Step 4: Pick a font that fits your site's purpose. If you're creating a business site, stick to clean, readable fonts like Open Sans or Roboto. For creative sites, you can try something with more personality.
Step 5: Your changes apply automatically to all text using that style across your site.
Here's the bit most people miss: Google Sites uses text styles, not individual font changes. When you change a heading style, it changes everywhere that style appears. This actually helps keep things consistent, but it means you need to think about your whole site, not just one page.
Lesson 2: Setting Up Your Color Palette
Colors need to work together and serve a purpose. Here's how to set them up properly.
Step 1: In the Themes panel, click on 'Colors'.
Step 2: You'll see options for different parts of your site – backgrounds, accent colors, and text colors.
Step 3: Start with your main brand color as the accent color. If you don't have brand colors yet, pick something that fits your site's mood.
Step 4: Google Sites suggests complementary colors automatically. These usually work well together, but you can override them if needed.
Step 5: For custom colors, click the color picker and enter your brand's hex codes if you have them.
Step 6: Check how your colors look on both light and dark backgrounds before settling on them.
The key is contrast. Your text needs to be readable against your background colors. Google Sites helps with this, but always double-check on different devices.
Lesson 3: Working Within the Limitations
Google Sites keeps things simple, which means some things just aren't possible. Here's what you need to know.
Font limitations:
- You can't upload custom fonts
- You're limited to Google's font selection
- Advanced typography features aren't available
Color limitations:
- You work with predefined color roles (accent, background, text)
- You can't set different colors for individual elements easily
- Some color combinations might not work well with certain themes
What you can do:
- Use the available fonts strategically
- Make the most of the color system by picking colors that work in multiple contexts
- Test your choices on different screen sizes
Roll your sleeves up and work with what you've got. The limitations actually help you avoid common design mistakes.
Practice
Pick one page on your Google Site and try these exercises:
- Change the font to something completely different and see how it affects the feel of your content
- Switch between three different color schemes and notice which one makes your content easier to read
- Look at your site on a phone and check if your color choices still work on the smaller screen
Pay attention to which combinations make your content clearer and which ones get in the way.
FAQs
Can I upload my own fonts to Google Sites?
No, you're limited to the fonts Google Sites provides. The selection covers most needs, but you can't add custom typefaces.
How do I keep colors consistent across all my pages?
Set your colors in the Themes panel, and they'll apply to your whole site automatically. Stick to the color roles Google Sites gives you rather than trying to override them everywhere.
Can I use different fonts for different sections?
You can use different text styles (heading, body text, etc.) which can have different fonts, but you can't easily mix fonts within the same text style across your site.
What if my brand colors don't look good together in Google Sites?
Try using your main brand color as the accent and let Google Sites suggest complementary colors. Sometimes a slight adjustment works better than forcing exact brand matches.
Jargon Buster
Text styles – Predefined formatting options (like Heading 1, Body text) that control font, size, and color across your site
Accent color – The main color Google Sites uses for buttons, links, and highlights
Hex codes – Six-digit codes (like #FF0000) that specify exact colors
Contrast – The difference between text and background colors that makes content readable
Color roles – Google Sites' system for organizing colors (background, accent, text) that work together
Wrap-up
You now know how to pick fonts and colors that work well together in Google Sites. The key is working within the platform's structure rather than fighting against it.
Your next step is to apply these choices to a real page and see how they look. Don't try to get everything perfect on the first go – it's easier to adjust as you build more pages.
Remember that good design serves your content, not the other way around. Pick fonts and colors that help people read and understand what you're sharing.