Great Sheet Design

Includes

94 Tutorials

About this topic
Every house is a home, if you decorate it. Every home still needs to be livable, functional, useful. These videos not only make your sheets look good, they also help your sheets function. Meaning you won’t be looking around for hidden columns, you won’t have to tell people twice where to put the damn data. 

Make Your Sheets Look Good And Feel Even Better
Are you tired of looking at boring and cluttered spreadsheets? 

Do you want to improve the visual appeal of your Google Sheets while also enhancing their functionality? Look no further than this section of great Google Sheet aesthetics and design tips! 

These simple yet effective design strategies will not only make your sheets look good, but they will also help you work more efficiently and effectively. If we're spending 8 to 10 hours a day inside spreadsheets, we might as well enjoy it. Right?


Creating an Aesthetically Pleasing Google Sheet
When it comes to creating a Google Sheet, functionality should always be the top priority. However, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice aesthetics in the process. 

By incorporating a few design techniques, you can create a visually pleasing spreadsheet that is also easy to use and understand. From customizing cell formatting to adjusting color and iconography, there are many ways to improve the appearance and functionality of your Google Sheets.

Your coworkers will start to notice. Your sheets won't look like anyone else's. That is until they start stealing your techniques. And then you'll just have to come back for more! 


Customize Formatting for Improved Readability

One of the easiest ways to improve the aesthetics of your Google Sheets is to customize the format of your cells. By adjusting font sizes, styles, and colors, you can create a clean and consistent look that is easy to read and understand. Here are some tips for customizing cell formatting:


Choose a Clear and Readable Font

The font you choose for your Google Sheet can have a big impact on its readability. Choose a font that is clear, easy to read, and consistent throughout your sheet. Some popular options include Arial, Helvetica, and Calibri. But I personally like Karla the most. If you're looking for a the best header font, try Oswald.

I go into more details in these tutorials: My Favorite Fonts and Better Header Fonts


Adjust Font Sizes and Styles for Emphasis

To draw attention to important data, you can increase the font size and style of specific cells or sections of your sheet. they might tell you to use larger font sizes for headings or subheadings, and consider using bold or italicized text for emphasis. But there are some many more techniques you can use. 

For example instead of making your header bigger, and then losing readability of your data, keep your header small. You only need it for navigation and orientation, not constantly to read. Your data is more important.

One more quick technique is not to increase the size or boldness of your headers, but rather decrease the contrast of your non-important data. Down towards gray will help you point out your important data.


Use Colors to Highlight Data

Color is a powerful tool for drawing attention to specific data points in your sheet. Use contrasting colors to make data stand out, or apply a consistent color scheme throughout your sheet for a cohesive look.

Well that's what they all say but your in Better Sheets, there's a better way.

First off, decrease the contrast of your sheets. This improves the experience so you can actually stare at your sheets longer. The highest contrast hurts our eyes! And Arial hurts our hearts.

Get this free Google Sheet Add-on: Sheet Styles to decrease the contrast between your text and background with one click.


Adding Images and Graphics to Enhance Visual Appeal

Another way to improve the aesthetics of your Google Sheets is to incorporate images and graphics. By adding icons, logos, or other visual elements, you can make your sheet more engaging and memorable. Here are some tips for using images and graphics in your sheet:

Use Icons and Symbols to Simplify Data

Icons and symbols can be a great way to simplify complex data and make it easier to understand. Consider using icons or symbols to represent different data points or categories in your sheet.

Use Emojis when and where you can. They empower you to get a little funky with your sheets.
check out this tutorial: Insert Emojis in Sheets


some other advice they might have:
  • Creating a Consistent and Cohesive Look
  • Choose a Color Scheme and Stick to It
  • Use Formatting Styles Consistently

But this is all well and good only if you know good design. If your design techniques are poor, then your consistently screwing up.

The sheet design techniques featured in these tutorials will empower you to make great sheets. Sheets that your bosses will love. Sheets you'll love to work in. And might just save your sanity once and for all.

Tutorials

My Favorite Fonts

My Favorite Fonts

Learn the best fonts to use in Google Sheets.
Don't Draw Attention to the Header

Don't Draw Attention to the Header

Common mistake is highlighting the header of a table in a bold color.
DarkSide of Google Sheets - Creating Dark Mode and Making it Better!

DarkSide of Google Sheets - Creating Dark Mode and Making it Better!

Create dark mode with Conditional Formatting.
Best Buttons Ever

Best Buttons Ever

 Hey there! In this video, I'll show you how to create awesome buttons i...
How To Get Someone to look at a Cell in Your Sheet

How To Get Someone to look at a Cell in Your Sheet

Some helpful tips on how to get someone to look at a particular cell in ...
The First Thing I Do When Starting a Google Sheet

The First Thing I Do When Starting a Google Sheet

Are you tired of the default look of your Google Sheets? In this video, ...
Explore Readable Hex Codes

Explore Readable Hex Codes

Welcome to the captivating world of Readable Hex Codes! In this video, w...
Automatically Align Top

Automatically Align Top

Automate formatting cells to align top. Either by a time-based trigger o...
Currency Exchange Tricks In Google Sheets

Currency Exchange Tricks In Google Sheets

Little tricks to make Currency Exchange in Google Sheets better for you,...
GOOGLEFINANCE()
How To Format Sheets for Notes

How To Format Sheets for Notes

Create sortable notes in Three ways.  1. By adding the original word ove...
How to Move Tab To End Easily with Apps Script

How to Move Tab To End Easily with Apps Script

Create an apps script to move active tab to the far right.
Big Year - a Whole Year in One Google Sheets Tab

Big Year - a Whole Year in One Google Sheets Tab

Get "Big Year" for free via Gumroad. Get perspective on your 2024 plan ...
How Starter Story Designs Data

How Starter Story Designs Data

Learn how Starter Story, and Pat Walls, created a report that is well de...
Visicalc 2023 Design Walkthrough

Visicalc 2023 Design Walkthrough

Design walkthrough of VisiCalc 2023. Watch this if you'd like to see the...
How to Make Good Looking Spreadsheets

How to Make Good Looking Spreadsheets

Create nice colorful sheets (contrasting colors) that look and feel like...
Brighten Up Your Checklist Automatically

Brighten Up Your Checklist Automatically

Create a cool function that brightens your sheet background from white t...
How to make a Pill Form Field in Google Sheets

How to make a Pill Form Field in Google Sheets

Create rounded pill form fields in Google Sheets. Using Canva and a bit ...
Everything I know about Checkboxes (Cool Hacks)

Everything I know about Checkboxes (Cool Hacks)

Let me tell about some cool hacks you can do with checkboxes. Like makin...
Reformat Pasted Cells Automatically

Reformat Pasted Cells Automatically

Create uniform formatting even if you're copy and pasting data that is d...
Google Sheets Easter Eggs Beyond PRIDE

Google Sheets Easter Eggs Beyond PRIDE

Going beyond PRIDE, to show you some undocumented google sheets hacks th...
Weight Loss Tracker Template

Weight Loss Tracker Template

I created a weight loss tracker template for myself and thought you, and...
Replace 1,000 Formulas Instantly

Replace 1,000 Formulas Instantly

Learn a cool trick you can do with the ArrayFormula. If you don't know w...
ARRAYFORMULA() SORT()
Turn Bland Sheets Into Glam Sheets!

Turn Bland Sheets Into Glam Sheets!

A few tips to make your Google Sheets look better.
Life to Date

Life to Date

This is a review and improvement of Emmett Shear's Life to Date Sheet. O...
More LinkInBio Templates for Google Sheets | SheetInBio

More LinkInBio Templates for Google Sheets | SheetInBio

You can easily add your own links and improve your bio for free.
Create an Automated Task List

Create an Automated Task List

I've created simple automations to make an awesome automatic task list. ...
Ali Abdaal's Google Sheet | Year at a Glance

Ali Abdaal's Google Sheet | Year at a Glance

Ali gave away a free Google Sheet Template. In this tutorial I step thro...
Introducing: Brutal Calendar

Introducing: Brutal Calendar

A calendar template designed like early Craigslist. A brutalism minimali...
Build a Visual Clock

Build a Visual Clock

I'll show you how to create a visual clock in your Google Sheet using co...
NOW() TIMEVALUE()
Announcing Button Styles | A Free Google Sheet Add-On

Announcing Button Styles | A Free Google Sheet Add-On

A new free Google Sheets Add-On to make drop shadow buttons inside your ...
How to Make Better Lead Magnets

How to Make Better Lead Magnets

Learn how to make better lead magnets from Google Sheet checklists. Grea...
HYPERLINK() IF()
How To Change Date Format Automatically

How To Change Date Format Automatically

Create automations to change date format based on the format you want, i...
Better Header Fonts - Best Fonts To Use In Google Sheets

Better Header Fonts - Best Fonts To Use In Google Sheets

Find out what fonts to use to make your headers better.
How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets

How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets

A master class on merging cells. How to merge two cells. How to merge mu...
CONCATENATE() JOIN()
Ultimate Checklist in Google Sheets

Ultimate Checklist in Google Sheets

how to create and customize checklists using Google Sheets. I show you h...
COUNTA() COUNTIF() IF() SPARKLINE()
Announcing AtomicSheets.com

Announcing AtomicSheets.com

AtomicSheets.com for 10 Free Elements Members get it free at: https://be...
What is this Ampersand Doing in Google Sheets?

What is this Ampersand Doing in Google Sheets?

What is "&" doing in this formula? MONTH(A1&1) Do you know why this is s...
CONCAT() DATE() MONTH() VALUE()
Recreate a Starbucks Order Status Sign

Recreate a Starbucks Order Status Sign

Create a status flow chart, like a kanban board but for displaying coffe...
COUNTA() FILTER() IF() ISBLANK() SEQUENCE()
Aesthetics Teaser: How To Use Alternating Colors

Aesthetics Teaser: How To Use Alternating Colors

How to use alternating colors in your spreadsheets.
RANK()
Create a Podcast Advertising Calculator

Create a Podcast Advertising Calculator

Build from scratch a calculator to figure out podcast advertising rates.
Allow Multiple Selections is in Google Sheets Yay!

Allow Multiple Selections is in Google Sheets Yay!

Now you can select multiple options in a dropdown. Hip Hip Hooray!
FILTER() IFNA() JOIN() SEARCH() SPLIT() +1 more
Add a Checkbox to Turn on Dark Mode

Add a Checkbox to Turn on Dark Mode

Get ready to shake things up, formula fanatics! Learn how to add a dark ...
Sheet Styles A Free Google Sheet Add-on by Better Sheets

Sheet Styles A Free Google Sheet Add-on by Better Sheets

Install Sheet Styles now: https://sheet-styles.bettersheets.co/
Building the Newsletter Geeks Virtual Mall

Building the Newsletter Geeks Virtual Mall

We're gonna create another virtual mall, and in this one we're gonna mak...
CONCATENATE()
Create a Course Outline in Google Sheets

Create a Course Outline in Google Sheets

Wanted to share with members this course outline I am using for my own c...
CONCAT() CONCATENATE() COUNTA() COUNTIF() IF() +4 more
Better Than Happy | Redesign of The Feelings Wheel

Better Than Happy | Redesign of The Feelings Wheel

Turning an infographic into a useful Copy Writing cheat sheet
Learn to Love Your Sheets

Learn to Love Your Sheets

Quick intro to a better experience of using Google Sheets
ARRAYFORMULA() IMPORTRANGE()
Best Header Font Ever

Best Header Font Ever

Learn about "Oswald" the best font for headers. You might fall in love w...
Frustrated With Sheets New Dropdown Pills?

Frustrated With Sheets New Dropdown Pills?

3 options to show dropdowns. It looks actually much closer to Airtable, ...
Create a Branded Lead Magnet from Qualitative Data

Create a Branded Lead Magnet from Qualitative Data

Find out how to turn some data you can copy/paste from the web into a br...
AVERAGE() COUNTA() COUNTIF() FIND() HYPERLINK() +7 more
Create Square Cells for Dashboards or Beautiful Information

Create Square Cells for Dashboards or Beautiful Information

I offer an alternative design for your dashboards. Any time you want to ...
Hide Gridlines for Better Communication

Hide Gridlines for Better Communication

Without gridlines our sheets become a lot easier to communicate exactly ...
Creating Blank Cells For Good Reasons with IfError Formula and if(isBlank) Formula

Creating Blank Cells For Good Reasons with IfError Formula and if(isBlank) Formula

There are surprisingly few times you want to have blank cells, or even c...
Visicalc 2023 Quick Walkthrough

Visicalc 2023 Quick Walkthrough

This is a fun template I created for April 1st. Take a quick walk throug...
SUM()
How do I Insert Emojis into Google Sheets?

How do I Insert Emojis into Google Sheets?

Using Control+Command+Space in inserting emojis into Google Sheets.
Google Sheets Interface Changes

Google Sheets Interface Changes

Showing off New experiences in smart canvas changes to sheets. Including...
6 Ways to Make Your Checkboxes Better

6 Ways to Make Your Checkboxes Better

Learn How to Take Your Google Sheets Checkbox to the Next Level and Get ...
Convert Your Bullet Journal To Google Sheets

Convert Your Bullet Journal To Google Sheets

Find out how you can make your spreadsheets like a Bullet Journal. It's ...
VLOOKUP()
Adding Number and dot to rank or order lists

Adding Number and dot to rank or order lists

This is like one of those things that is incredibly frustrating about Go...
CONCAT() ROW()
Better Numbers and Bullet Points in Your Spreadsheets

Better Numbers and Bullet Points in Your Spreadsheets

Improve Google Sheets Readability Improve the readability of your spread...
That Viral Growing Plant Progress Chart

That Viral Growing Plant Progress Chart

Create a growing flower pot from checkboxes with this bountiful formula ...
COUNTIF() IMAGE() SWITCH()
Dark Mode / Better Font Color

Dark Mode / Better Font Color

While the desktop version of Google Sheets does not have a dark mode, do...
Create an Email Campaign Stats Calculator

Create an Email Campaign Stats Calculator

Take your email marketing to the next level with our Google Sheet Campai...
CONCATENATE() ROUNDDOWN() UPPER()
Capitalize Each Word

Capitalize Each Word

Every word can be capitalized with this formula.
LOWER() PROPER() UPPER()
Add Cool Responsive Graphs to Your Stock Tracking Sheets

Add Cool Responsive Graphs to Your Stock Tracking Sheets

Create little graphs with SPARKLINE() super easy!
GOOGLEFINANCE() INDEX() SPARKLINE() TODAY()
Switch Months Menu - Design a Better Dashboard Part 4

Switch Months Menu - Design a Better Dashboard Part 4

Create a dropdown that changes the months displayed in a dashboard.
INDEX() MATCH()
Create a Sheet of Sheets for Project Management and/or Data Management

Create a Sheet of Sheets for Project Management and/or Data Management

Create an epic organization sheet of all your spreadsheets. Unlock the s...
COUNT() INDIRECT() REPT() SPLIT() TRANSPOSE()
Unique Features - Design a Better Dashboard Part 2

Unique Features - Design a Better Dashboard Part 2

We're gonna talk about some features that we're gonna be using that migh...
Make Color Changing Progress Bars - Make Progress Bars with Sparkline: Part 4

Make Color Changing Progress Bars - Make Progress Bars with Sparkline: Part 4

Create awesome progress bars with sparkline formula. You can make progre...
COUNTIF() MAX() SPARKLINE() TRUE()
Creating A Dark Mode Theme | Announcing Dark Habits

Creating A Dark Mode Theme | Announcing Dark Habits

Build a habit tracker in dark mode. Learn how to use emojis and checkbox...
ARRAYFORMULA() CONCATENATE() COUNTIF() FILTER() IFNA() +6 more
LinkTree in a Google Sheet

LinkTree in a Google Sheet

This tool will allows you to share multiple links on your social media.
Ken Asks: Can We Add Star Ratings?

Ken Asks: Can We Add Star Ratings?

One common feature that users often request is the ability to add star r...
AVERAGE() SWITCH() VLOOKUP()
Dashboard Principles - Design a Better Dashboard Part 1

Dashboard Principles - Design a Better Dashboard Part 1

One of the best examples of a dashboard I got from a great talk on just ...
How To Export Your Beautiful Sheets to PDF

How To Export Your Beautiful Sheets to PDF

Want to create sleek, stunning PDFs from your Google Sheets? Look no fur...
Build The Dashboard - Design a Better Dashboard Part 3

Build The Dashboard - Design a Better Dashboard Part 3

We're actually gonna go build the dashboard today.
CHAR() COUNTA() HYPERLINK() IF() INDEX() +2 more
Build a Thermometer for Savings Goals

Build a Thermometer for Savings Goals

Track your goals with a thermometer.
CONCATENATE() IF() REPT() ROUND() SPLIT() +1 more
Consider Labels as Opposed to Headers

Consider Labels as Opposed to Headers

A quick video to share with you this theory. Consider repositioning your...
Add Icons To Your Sheets With a Domain Name

Add Icons To Your Sheets With a Domain Name

Add visual flair to your Google Sheets when sharing company domain infor...
IMAGE()
How To Color Cell Blocks So Others Enter Data Easily

How To Color Cell Blocks So Others Enter Data Easily

Use neon blue to show where someone needs to enter data.
Roast: Sidekick Recipes

Roast: Sidekick Recipes

Unlock the Secrets of Recipe Organization with this Google Sheet review....
Create Drop Shadows! This makes your dashboards pretty.

Create Drop Shadows! This makes your dashboards pretty.

Add extra pizzazz. a little more snazz to your sheets. Make dashboards w...
Make Your Headers Useful

Make Your Headers Useful

Today we're gonna talk about headers. I'm gonna give you three really co...
Rishabh Asks: Conditional Format Whole Row Via Text inside a Cell

Rishabh Asks: Conditional Format Whole Row Via Text inside a Cell

Your question is, you have these events and dates and statuses. And y...
Better Sheets Videos Checklist

Better Sheets Videos Checklist

How to create a video checklist. Create a sheet with check boxes that yo...
COUNTA() COUNTIF() FILTER() IFNA() SORT() +1 more
Create A Video Course in a Google Sheet | LMS in a Google Sheet

Create A Video Course in a Google Sheet | LMS in a Google Sheet

Set up a list of video links, and a checklist for others to use.
COUNTA() COUNTIF() IF() SPARKLINE()
Basics - 5 Ways to Change Row Height

Basics - 5 Ways to Change Row Height

You can change the row height in 5 different ways in a google sheet. Con...
Biggest Flaw In Dashboards with Dark Colors

Biggest Flaw In Dashboards with Dark Colors

An optical illusion in Google Sheets and how to fix it.
2 New Ways To Add Emoji Reactions

2 New Ways To Add Emoji Reactions

 Revolutionize the way you react with emojis! Discover two new methods t...
Merge Cells for Dashboards

Merge Cells for Dashboards

to make better Dashboards consider merging cells.
Communicate Better with Gridlines, Border Styles, and Border Colors - Google Sheets

Communicate Better with Gridlines, Border Styles, and Border Colors - Google Sheets

Make your Google Sheets visually appealing and easier to understand with...
Make Your Lists Spicy Hot in Google Sheets

Make Your Lists Spicy Hot in Google Sheets

Create fun funky bullet points to get your point across better. Put emoj...
CONCAT() ROW()
Deep Inside Dark Habits Google Script

Deep Inside Dark Habits Google Script

Go inside this apps script and sheet. See how it's designed and created.
ARRAYFORMULA() CONCATENATE() COUNTIF() FILTER() IFNA() +3 more
Create a 2x2 Priority Matrix

Create a 2x2 Priority Matrix

Boost Your Productivity with a Priority Matrix: Learn How to Prioritize ...
FILTER() JOIN()
Create a Progress Bar - Make Progress Bars with Sparkline: Part 1

Create a Progress Bar - Make Progress Bars with Sparkline: Part 1

Let's make a progress bar in Google Sheets.
SPARKLINE()