Personalizing your Notion workspace isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a system that makes sense to you. One of the quickest ways to transform your Notion setup is by adding icons to pages, databases, and even within text blocks. Icons make navigation intuitive and add a touch of personality to your workspace.
Whether you’re organizing a project dashboard or creating a personal wiki, knowing how to add icons in Notion can take your organization game to the next level. Let’s dive into the simple steps to customize your Notion experience with icons.
How to Add Icons to Notion Pages and Databases
Adding icons to your Notion pages and databases is surprisingly straightforward:
- Hover over any page or database title
- Click on the “Add icon” button (looks like a small emoji)
- Choose from Notion’s built-in emoji library
- Alternatively, click “Upload an image” to use a custom icon
If you already have an icon and want to change it, simply hover over the existing icon and click on it. The same menu will appear, allowing you to select a new emoji or upload a different image.
Custom icons can be JPG, PNG, or GIF files. For best results, use square images with a clear background for that professional look.
How to Insert Icons in Notion Text
Icons aren’t limited to page headers—you can also add icons in Notion text blocks to create visual cues within your content:
- Place your cursor where you want the icon to appear in your text
- Type “:” (colon) followed by keywords to search for an emoji
- Select the desired emoji from the dropdown menu
- Continue typing your text
This technique works in any text block, making it perfect for creating visually organized lists, highlighting important notes, or adding personality to your content.
Where to Get Notion Icons
Notion offers several options for sourcing icons:
Built-in Emoji Library
The simplest place to get Notion icons is right within the app. Notion’s emoji picker includes hundreds of standard emojis that work perfectly as icons for most needs.
Custom Icon Resources
For a more unique look, check out these external resources:
- Icons8: Offer thousands of free and premium icons in various styles
- Notion Icons by Notion VIP: Curated icon sets specifically designed for Notion
- Noto Emoji by Google: High-quality, consistent emoji designs
Pro Tips for Notion Icon Usage
Take your icon game to the next level with these expert suggestions:
- Create a consistent system: Use the same icon style across related pages for visual coherence
- Color-code by category: Match icon colors to your database properties or page types
- Consider icon hierarchy: Use more prominent icons for main pages and simpler ones for subpages
- Save favorites: Keep your most-used custom icons in a dedicated Notion page for easy access
Making the Most of Notion’s Customization Options
Icons are just the beginning of Notion’s customization features. Combine them with cover images, colored text, and thoughtful page layouts to create a truly personalized workspace.
Experimenting with different ways to add icons to Notion pages transforms not just how your workspace looks, but how you interact with your information. The visual cues provide instant context and make navigation faster and more intuitive.
Start small by adding icons to your most-used pages, then gradually incorporate them throughout your workspace. You’ll quickly discover how these small visual elements can make a big difference in your productivity and enjoyment of Notion.