How to Add a Page Border in Microsoft Word 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide

Page borders are a powerful tool in Microsoft Word 2013, transforming plain documents into visually engaging creations. Whether you’re crafting a school project, a professional report, or a festive invitation, borders add polish and emphasis. This guide focuses specifically on Word 2013, though many steps apply to newer versions. Designed for users of all skill levels, it breaks down the process with clarity and detail.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Microsoft Word 2013 installed.
• Basic knowledge of Word’s interface, including tabs like Design and Page Layout, and how to navigate dialog boxes.

Step-by-Step Methods to Add a Page Border

Method 1: Using the Design Tab

1. Open Your Document: Launch Word 2013 and open the file where you want to add a border.
2. Navigate to the Design Tab: Click the Design tab in the ribbon at the top of the window.
3. Open the Page Borders Menu: In the Page Background group (far right), click Page Borders.
4. Configure the Border:
   • In the Borders and Shading dialog box, select the Page Border tab.
   • Style: Choose a line style (e.g., solid, dotted) from the list.
   • Color: Click the dropdown to pick a color. Use theme colors for consistency with your document’s palette.
   • Width: Adjust the thickness (e.g., ½ pt for subtlety, 3 pt for boldness).
   • Artistic Borders: Scroll the Art dropdown to select decorative designs like stars, cakes, or trees (ideal for flyers or invitations). Adjust the Width slider under Art to scale the design.
   • Apply To: Decide whether the border applies to the Whole Document or specific sections (e.g., This Section if you’ve divided the document with section breaks).
5. Preview and Confirm: Check the preview pane to ensure the border appears as expected. Click OK to apply.

Pro Tip: Use the Options button to adjust how the border aligns with text. For example, setting Measure From to Edge of Page prevents printers from cutting off borders.

Method 2: Using the Page Layout Tab (Legacy Approach)

If you’re accustomed to older Word versions (e.g., Word 2010), follow these steps:

1. Open the Page Layout tab (still available in Word 2013).
2. Click Page Borders in the Page Background group.
3. Follow the same configuration steps as in Method 1.

Note: Microsoft later moved the Page Borders option to the Design tab, but this method ensures compatibility with muscle memory from previous versions.

Customizing Page Borders

1. Artistic Flair:
   • Use festive art borders sparingly. For example, a floral border might suit a party invite but clash with a resume.
   • Adjust the Art Width under the Art dropdown to avoid overcrowding the page.
2. Margins and Placement:
   • Click Options in the Borders and Shading dialog box.
   • Set margins from the Edge of Page to ensure borders align with your printer’s capabilities.
   • Increase Margin values (e.g., 24 pt) if the border overlaps text.
3. Section-Specific Borders:
   • Insert a Section Break via Layout > Breaks > Next Page.
   • Place your cursor in the desired section, then apply a border under Apply To > This Section.

Example: Add a formal border to the first page of a report and a decorative border to appendices using section breaks.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Border Not Visible:
   • Fix 1: In Page Border Options, ensure Measure From is set to Edge of Page.
   • Fix 2: Check if the border color matches the page background (e.g., white on white).
2. Partial or Missing Borders:
   • Verify that no section breaks disrupt the border’s application.
   • Confirm the Apply To dropdown is set correctly (e.g., Whole Document vs. This Section).
3. Printing Issues:
   • Many printers cannot print edge-to-edge. Adjust margins in Page Border Options to leave a 0.5–1-inch gap from the edge.

Removing a Page Border

1. Step-by-Step Removal:
   a. Open your document and navigate to the Design tab.
   b. In the Page Background group, click Page Borders.
   c. In the Borders and Shading dialog box, go to the Page Border tab.
   d. Under Settings, select None to disable all borders.
   e. In the Apply To dropdown:
   • Choose Whole Document to remove borders entirely.
   • Select This Section if borders are applied to specific sections (e.g., first page only).
     f. Click OK to apply changes.
2. Troubleshooting Removal:
   • Issue: Border persists after removal.
     • Solution: Check for section breaks (Layout > Breaks) and repeat removal steps for each section.
   • Issue: Partial border remains in headers/footers.
     • Solution: Navigate to Insert > Header/Footer, select content, and delete manual lines.

Pro Tip: If borders are linked to a template, update the template file (File > Options > Add-Ins > Templates > Organizer) to prevent reoccurrence.

Tips for Professional Results

1. Avoid Overly Complex Designs:
   • Formal Documents: Use a 0.5-pt solid line in dark gray or black. Example:
     • Resumes: Subtle border around the header to separate contact information.
     • Contracts: Double-line border on the title page for gravitas.
   • Creative Projects: Limit art borders to 1–2 pages (e.g., wedding invitations) to avoid visual fatigue.
2. Match Branding Colors:
   • In the Borders and Shading dialog:
     a. Select Theme Colors from the Color dropdown.
     b. Use your organization’s hex code (e.g., #2E5A88 for corporate blue) via More Colors > Custom.
3. Section Breaks for Layouts:
   • Alternating Designs:
     a. Insert a section break after the first page (Layout > Breaks > Next Page).
     b. Apply a formal border to Section 1 and a decorative border to Section 2 using Apply To > This Section.
   • Brochures: Use art borders in section 1 (cover) and minimalist lines in section 2 (content).

Conclusion

Adding page borders in Word 2013 is straightforward but powerful. By mastering the Design tab tools and Borders and Shading dialog, you can:

• Enhance formal documents with understated elegance.
• Inject creativity into personal projects.
• Solve printing or formatting issues through strategic margin adjustments.

Experiment with styles: a 3D border might elevate a school presentation, while a dashed line could highlight draft watermarks. Balance professionalism and flair to match your document’s purpose.

Appendices

Visual Aids

1. Design Tab Navigation:
   
2. Borders and Shading Dialog:
   

Word Version Differences

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Open Borders Dialog: Alt + D + B
• Navigate Sections: Ctrl + G > Section

Additional Resources

1. Microsoft’s Guide:

• Word 2013 Borders and Shading

1. Video Tutorials:

• “Mastering Page Borders in Word 2013” by TechAcademy (hypothetical link)
• “Fixing Border Printing Issues” by OfficePrep (hypothetical link)

Let me know if you’d like further refinements!