SharePoint Page Headers Are Gone… Now Create Your Own!

With Microsoft’s latest SharePoint Online updates, we finally have the power to remove default page headers—and replace them with our own stunning designs. In this guide, I’ll show you how to turn a bland intranet page into a bold, branded experience using custom headers, background images, and layout techniques—no code required.

Let’s transform your pages from this... to this. ✨

✂️ Step 1: Remove the Default SharePoint Page Header

The default header has been a UX buzzkill for years. Now, we can remove it:

1. Open the page in edit mode

2. Select the top section

3. Click the delete icon

Poof—it's gone. Clean slate.

🔔 Note: This feature is still rolling out across tenants, so you might not see it just yet.

🧱 Step 2: Add a Custom “Header” Section

You’ll now design your own header with full control.

Layout:

• Add a 2-column section

• Left column = title + subtitle

• Right column = image (e.g., a character illustration)

Styling Tips:

• Use section background images for a bold visual base

• Choose stock images or upload your own (e.g., abstract backgrounds)

• Use the Spacer web part to control alignment vertically

🎨 Example: I used a vibrant abstract background, dropped in a title (“All Our Policies”), and added a chill illustration on the right. Simple but effective.

🖌️ Step 3: Style Your Text Like a Pro

Customize your text with SharePoint’s upgraded formatting:

• Use any font size (no longer limited to dropdown presets)

• Apply heading styles for boldness

• Align text with illustrations using Spacers

💡 Tip: Set subtitles to normal text at 18px for visual hierarchy.

🌈 Step 4: Blend Backgrounds Using Gradient Tricks

Want your header section and next section to flow seamlessly?

Use a gradient overlay:

1. Edit the section below your header

2. Add a black background image

3. Apply a bottom-to-top gradient overlay with 100% opacity

This creates a seamless transition between two visually distinct sections.

🖤 Bonus: Use matching black overlays on both sections for a continuous look.

🎨 Step 5: Design Custom Backgrounds in Figma (or PowerPoint!)

For full control, design your own header backgrounds with characters, illustrations, or branding:

In Figma:

• Create a canvas (suggested size: 6120 x 1540 px)

• Add your characters, logos, or decorative elements

• Export the frame as an image

In PowerPoint:

• Insert a shape (e.g., rectangle)

• Apply a gradient fill or solid color

• Save as an image and upload to SharePoint

No design tool? No problem—PowerPoint does the trick.

🧠 Step 6: Contrast & Readability

Make sure your text remains legible:

• Use overlay color settings (black or white) to toggle between light and dark text

• Adjust opacity to reveal more or less of the image background

• Change focal point of the image to avoid chopping off heads or key visuals

🏕 Bonus Example: Themed Page Variants

Not into bold color? Try a themed layout:

• Background: Mountain stock image with dark gradient

• Image: Person camping, shaped with “Pebble” crop

• Lower section: Tent background for seamless transition

Just swap images and colors to change the vibe completely. Same technique, different aesthetic.

🎯 Final Thoughts

This new functionality marks a major upgrade in SharePoint UX. With custom fonts, background images, and now removable headers, your site pages can finally reflect your brand and creativity.

✅ Use abstract or themed headers ✅ Create seamless transitions with gradients ✅ Align everything with just native SharePoint tools

🎥 Watch the Full Build

See the transformation from start to finish—including design tips, Figma walkthroughs, and live page edits