How to Set Default Shapes, Lines, and Text Box Styles in PowerPoint

Stephy Hogan Stephy Hogan

One way to make working in PowerPoint smoother is to set default shapes, lines, and text box styles so you have things the way you want them right from the start. Here’s how.

Start by putting a shape (any kind), a line, and a text box on a slide.

Format each one to your preference and then right-click on each one and choose “set as default [shape/line/text box].”

For example, the first thing I do is set my textbox to default with zero padding.

More Resources To Master Presentation Design

The 6th annual Presentation Design Conference, the essential how-to event for anyone who creates, designs, or delivers presentations, is now available on demand!

Whether you build decks for clients, teams, classrooms, or conferences, this event will help you design slides that inform, inspire, and get results.

Across four days of practical, expert-led sessions, you’ll learn how to turn content and visuals into powerful stories that connect with audiences. From mastering PowerPoint’s most essential tools to refining your design workflow, you’ll gain the skills to simplify complex information and make every presentation look its best.

If you’ve ever been asked to “make a deck,” this is the training that helps you do it faster, better, and with confidence.

LEARN MORE

Members get a special discount on registration! Sign up today.

Bookmark
Please login to bookmark Close

This article was last modified on October 30, 2025

This article was first published on August 8, 2025

Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Loading comments...
powerpoint Tips and Tricks
ad

Recommended for you

Article

How to Make an Object Style That Resizes Objects from the Center (or Any Other Reference Point) in InDesign

Learn the sneaky trick for choosing how an object resizes when you apply an obje...

Article

How to Create Long Shadows on Editable Text in PowerPoint

Learn how to create long text shadows in PowerPoint and keep the text editable.

Article

CreativePro Video: Animate Image Sequences for Presentations

In this week’s CreativePro video, Jole Simmons animates an image sequence using...