Microsoft Word is a popular and versatile word-processing application. You can use it to create text documents, letters, reports, handouts, etc. However, did you know you can also use Microsoft Word to create attractive and professional page layout designs?
Page layout design is the way you arrange elements on a page, such as text, images, tables, graphics, and more. Good page layout design can improve the look and readability of your document, as well as grab the attention of your readers. Poor page layout design, on the contrary, can make your document look chaotic and unattractive.
Microsoft Word has many features and tools that can help you create attractive page layout designs, such as:
- Page Layout tab: This tab allows you to set the margins, orientation, size, and page numbers of your document. You can also add background colors, borders, and watermarks to your pages.
- Insert tabs: These tabs let you add elements like images, shapes, icons, graphics, tables, text boxes, and more to your page. You can also adjust the position, size, and format of these elements.
- Format tabs: These tabs appear when you select a specific element, such as a picture, shape, or table. This tab lets you change the color, style, effects, and advanced settings of the element.
- Layout Options icon: This icon appears at the top right of the element you selected. These icons let you change how the element interacts with the surrounding text, such as spacing, alignment, and text wrapping.
- Paragraph group: This group is in the Home tab. This group allows you to set the spacing between lines, indentation, left-right alignment, and spacing between paragraphs in your text.
- Styles group: This group is also in the Home tab. This group lets you apply predefined styles to your text, such as headings, subheadings, normal, and more. You can also create your style by clicking New Style.
Using those features and tools, you can create attractive page layout designs with Microsoft Word. Here are some steps you can follow to create an attractive page layout design with Microsoft Word:
Step 1: Define Your Goals and Objectives
Before you create a page layout design, define your goals and objectives. What do you want to convey with your document? Who are your readers? How do you want them to react to your document? These answers can help you determine the type, style, and content of your document.
For example, if you want to create a formal and professional business report, use a simple, clean, and neat page layout design with neutral colors, easy-to-read fonts, and relevant images. If you want to create an attractive and creative promotional brochure, use a bold, bright, and dynamic page layout design, with striking colors, unique fonts, and eye-catching images.
Step 2: Determine the Structure and Layout of Your Document
Once you’ve defined your goals and objectives, you can define the structure and layout of your document. Document structure is how you organize parts of your document, such as headings, subheadings, paragraphs, lists, and more. Document layout is how you organize elements on a page, such as text, images, tables, graphics, and more.
You can use sketches, outlines, or mind maps to define the structure and layout of your document. You can write down the main ideas, sub-ideas, and details you want to convey, as well as the elements you want to add. You can also specify the size, position, and format of these elements.
For example, if you want to create a formal and professional business report, you may want to use the following document structure:
- Title Page: This page contains the title, author name, company name, and date of your document. You can use large, bold fonts for headings, and small, normal fonts for other information. You can also add your company logo in the top right or top left corner of the page.
- Table of Contents: This page lists the headings and subheadings of your document, along with their respective page numbers. You can use the same font as the title page but with a smaller size. You can also add a dividing line between headings and subheadings, as well as between headings and page numbers.
- Introduction: This section contains the background, purpose, and scope of your document. You can use the Heading 1 style for this section heading, and the Normal style for the text. You can also add relevant images, graphs, or tables to support your points.
- Body: This section contains the analysis, results, and recommendations of your document. You can use the Heading 2 style for the headings of this subsection, and the Normal style for the text. You can also add relevant images, graphs, or tables to support your points.
- Conclusion: This section contains a summary, conclusion, and suggestions for your document. You can use the Heading 1 style for this section heading, and the Normal style for the text. You can also add relevant images, graphs, or tables to support your points.
- Bibliography: This page lists the sources that you use in your document. You can use the Bibliography style for the title of this page, and the Bibliography style for the text. You can also follow a citation format that matches the standard you are using, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.
You can use the following document layouts to create formal and professional business reports:
- Margins: You can use a standard margin of 2.54 cm for all sides of the page. You can also adjust the margin according to your needs, but make sure the margin is not too big or too small.
- Orientation: You can use Portrait orientation for your page, unless you have elements that better match Landscape orientation, such as a wide table or graph. You can change the page orientation by clicking Page Layout > Orientation > Portrait or Landscape.
- Size: You can use A4 size for your page, unless you have a specific need to use another size, such as Letter or Legal. You can change the page size by clicking Page Layout > Size > A4 or other sizes.
- Page Numbers: You can add page numbers at the bottom or top of your page, in a simple or creative format. You can add page numbers by clicking Insert > Page Number > Bottom of Page or Top of Page > Plain Number or other formats.
- Spacing Between Paragraphs: You can use the standard space between paragraphs, which is 0 pt before and after paragraphs. You can also adjust the spacing between paragraphs according to your needs, but make sure the spacing between paragraphs is not too big or too small. You can change the spacing between paragraphs by clicking Page Layout > Paragraph > Spacing > Before or After > 0 pt or other numbers.
- Background Color: You can use a white background color for your pages, unless you want to give it a different feel, such as elegant, cheerful, or dramatic. You can change the background color by clicking Page Layout > Page Color > No Color or another color.
- Borders: You can use thin and simple borders for your pages unless you want to add decorations or accents to your pages. You can change the border by clicking Page Layout > Page Borders > None or other styles.
- Watermark: You can use a transparent and discrete watermark for your pages unless you want to emphasize the status or identity of your document, such as confidential, draft, or copy. You can change the watermark by clicking Page Layout > Watermark > No Watermark or other options.
If you want to create an attractive and creative promotional brochure, use the following document structure:
- Front Page: This page contains titles, slogans, logos, and images that grab your readers’ attention. You can use a large, unique font for titles, and a small, normal font for slogans. You can also use flashy colors, geometric shapes, and special effects for these elements.
- Inside Page: This page contains information about the product, service, or event you’re promoting, such as features, benefits, pricing, location, and contacts. You can use the same font as the front page but with a smaller size. You can also use colors that match the theme, relevant images, and informative icons for those elements.
- Back Page: This page contains additional information that you want to convey to your readers, such as testimonials, warranties, terms and conditions, and calls to action. You can use the same font as the inner page but with a smaller size. You can also use neutral colors, supportive images, and interesting shapes for these elements.
You can use the following document layouts to create attractive and creative promotional brochures:
- Margins: You can use a small margin of 0.5 cm for all sides of the page. You can also adjust the margins to suit your needs, but make sure they don’t interfere with the elements on your page.
- Orientation: You can use Landscape orientation for your page, so you have more space to display your elements. You can change the page orientation by clicking Page Layout > Orientation > Landscape.
- Size: You can use A5 size for your pages, so you can print two pages on one sheet of paper A4. You can resize the page by clicking Page Layout > Size > A5.
- Page Numbers: You don’t need to add page numbers to your brochure, as brochures usually comprise only a few pages. You can remove page numbers by clicking Insert > Page Number > Remove Page Numbers.
- Background Color: You can use a different background color for each of your pages to make your brochure look more attractive and varied. You can change the background color by clicking Page Layout > Page Color > the color you want.
- Borders: You can use bold and creative borders for your pages to make your brochure look more unique and memorable. You can change the border by clicking Page Layout > Page Borders > the style you want.
- Watermark: You don’t need to use watermarks on your brochures, as watermarks are usually used for documents that are official or confidential. You can remove the watermark by clicking Page Layout > Watermark > Remove Watermark.