Colour is not decoration — it is navigation
A grey grid blends. A heading colour says: data starts here. Borders separate a total from the grades. A teacher knows the structure in two seconds.
You do not have to overdo it. Two shades and thin lines are enough.
Fill colour = cell background. Font colour = text. Icons next to B on the bar. In Excel Home → Fill colour / font.
A heading in another colour
-
Sheet
Grades. Select A1:B1. -
Fill colour light blue or grey. Font colour dark (not yellow on yellow).
-
Bold Ctrl+B. Click away — the heading stands out.
Table borders
-
Select A1:B8 (heading + data + a row under the last grade).
-
The Borders icon (a grid) → All borders.
-
The grid around the data is visible even without Sheets’ default grey lines.
A stronger line under the heading: select A1:B1 → Borders → Bottom border double (선택).
A whole column coloured. When you select A:A and colour it, a million rows get coloured. Select only A1:B10. Ctrl+Z if you fly off.
Alternating rows — zebra
Sheets: select data A2:B6 → Format → Alternating colours. Pick a grey template. The heading stays out when you select only data.
In Excel similar as a table (Format as Table) — for now we do it by hand or alternating colours.
Pocket money — the same style
-
PocketA1:D1 — colour like on Grades, bold. -
A1:D8 borders everywhere.
-
Column D (Left) still empty or a light yellow background — when formulas come, you will know the result column.
🏫 Grade average
One sheet, two columns: subject and grade. At the bottom a sum and an average.💰 Pocket money
Rows = days, columns = income / spend / left.📊 Class survey
One question, answers in one column, later a chart.🏆 Mini dashboard
Three numbers at the top and one chart. Numbers as a link, not copied by hand.Now you 💪
Gradeshas a coloured heading and a border around the data.- The heading text is readable (dark on light).
Pocketlooks from the same family — a similar heading colour.- No whole column A coloured to infinity.
- Alternating colours on data rows (선택) — the heading different from the data.
Check: The table has a frame and a heading you know at a glance.
What to take from this lesson
- Heading colour separates the sign from the data.
- A border around a block = a finished table.
- Select a range, not a whole column.
- Alternating colours help read rows.
- Fewer colours = more overview.
© 2026 Ing. Martin Polak / AlgoRhino · 콘텐츠 이용 약관