Excel is more than just a tool for calculations—it’s a canvas for presenting data professionally and making it visually engaging. In this post, we’ll enhance the Poke Mart Shop Cart case by exploring Excel Styling techniques that ensure your worksheet is clear, visually appealing, and easy to understand.
Why Styling Matters
Styling in Excel is crucial for:
- Readability: Well-designed sheets are easier to navigate.
- Professionalism: A polished look builds trust and credibility.
- Insights: Visual elements like colors and borders make key insights pop.
With The Coding College, let’s learn how to transform plain data into visually stunning reports.
Step-by-Step Styling for Poke Mart
Step 1: Define a Theme
Before applying styles, decide on a color scheme that aligns with the Poke Mart theme. For example:
- Primary Color: Yellow (Pikachu-inspired)
- Secondary Color: Red (Poké Ball-inspired)
Step 2: Header Styling
- Merge and Center
- Merge cells for the header row to create a unified title.
- Example: Merge A1:G1 for “Poke Mart Shopping Cart”.
Home > Merge & Center - Font and Background Color
- Use bold text with a larger font size (e.g., Calibri, 16 pt).
- Apply a background fill in yellow with a bold red font.
Step 3: Borders
Apply borders to organize your data:
- Use thick borders for the header row.
- Apply thin borders to the entire data range for a clean grid look.
Home > Borders > All Borders Step 4: Conditional Formatting
Make your data dynamic and insightful:
- Highlight rows where Total > 1000 with a green background.
Conditional Formatting > New Rule > Format cells that contain - Apply a color scale to the Subtotal column to show variations in spending.
Step 5: Alignment and Text Wrapping
- Center-align numeric values for clarity.
- Use text wrapping for long product names.
Home > Wrap Text Step 6: Number Formats
Ensure consistent number formats for monetary values:
- Format prices and totals as currency (₹).
- Use 2 decimal places for precise calculations.
Home > Number Format > Currency Example Styled Dataset
| Item Name | Price (₹) | Quantity | Subtotal (₹) | Discount (%) | Total (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu Plushie | ₹500.00 | 2 | ₹1,000.00 | 10 | ₹900.00 |
| Poké Ball Keychain | ₹150.00 | 3 | ₹450.00 | 0 | ₹450.00 |
| Charmander T-Shirt | ₹800.00 | 1 | ₹800.00 | 5 | ₹760.00 |
Step 7: Create a Polished Footer
Add a footer row with the Grand Total:
- Use bold text and a light yellow background.
- Merge footer cells and align them to the right for emphasis.
=SUM(Total Range) Bonus: Add a Dashboard
For a polished look, include:
- Pie Chart: Visualize the share of each item in the total cost.
- Bar Chart: Compare the subtotal of each item.
- Dynamic Filters: Allow users to sort items by quantity, price, or total.
Why Styling Matters in Poke Mart
Excel styling transforms a simple worksheet into a professional, impactful, and user-friendly tool. For businesses like Poke Mart, this means better communication with stakeholders and customers.
Learn Advanced Excel Styling with The Coding College
At The Coding College, we go beyond the basics to help you create stunning, functional, and professional Excel sheets. Stay tuned for more tutorials and tips!