How to Design a Custom Book Cover in Canva (Even If You’re Not Publishing Yet!)
- Rea Weeks
- Aug 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Tell me if this sounds familiar:You’ve got a story idea that won’t let go.You’ve been scribbling scenes, plotting characters, or dreaming of that future book in your head…But you’re not quite ready to publish yet.
Guess what? You don’t have to wait to design your book cover. 🎉
In fact, creating a custom book cover can be a powerful tool to keep you motivated, inspired, and excited — whether you’re just starting your draft or working through your third round of edits.
Today, I’m showing you how to design your own aesthetic, on-brand, totally-you book cover using Canva. No design experience needed. No pressure to hit “publish.” Just creative fun that might even help bring your book to life.
💭 Why Make a Book Cover Before You Publish?
So glad you asked.
Here’s what designing your cover early can do for you:
🎯 Clarify your genre + aesthetic
💛 Boost your motivation to keep writing
🎨 Inspire your mood boards, Pinterest boards, and social posts
📚 Give you a visual to share with readers or critique partners
💡 Spark fresh ideas for your blurb, tagline, or title
And let’s be honest — it’s just fun. You don’t need permission to make something beautiful for your own story.
🛠️ What You’ll Need to Get Started
A free Canva account
Your book title + author name (or a pen name!)
A vibe or aesthetic for your story
Optional: Stock photos, fonts, or design elements from Creative Fabrica
Want a shortcut? I’ve got pre-made book cover templates in my shop — you can grab one and customize it instantly:📚 Visit A Rea of Treasures on Etsy
✨ Step-by-Step: How to Design Your Book Cover in Canva
1. Set Your Size
Go to Canva and click Create a Design → Custom SizeA good standard size: 1600 x 2560 px (perfect for digital and print mockups)
2. Choose a Background
This is where the mood starts to build. You can:
Use a stock photo that fits your genre (romance, thriller, fantasy, etc.)
Add a gradient, textured paper, or abstract pattern
Try a solid color for a minimalist look
💡 Dark fantasy? Go moody and mysterious. Light rom-com? Go pastel and playful.
3. Add Your Title + Author Name
Pick a font pairing that matches your vibe. Canva has tons of free font combos, but you can also upload your own if you have brand fonts or something from Creative Fabrica.
Play with:
Font size + spacing
Shadow or glow effects
Capitalization styles
Centered vs. left-aligned titles
Don’t forget to add your name (real or pen) as the author!
4. Add Decorative Elements
This is the fun part — make your cover feel like your story.
Ideas:
Florals for romance or fantasy
Lightning bolts or blood spatters for thrillers
Magic sparkles, starbursts, vines, lace, coffee stains, or maps
Canva elements like frames, icons, or textured overlays
Stay consistent with your genre and color palette so it feels cohesive!
5. Save + Use It for Inspiration
Once your cover is done, download it as a PNG (great for sharing) or PDF Print (if you want to print a mockup for your desk!).
You can use your design to:
Add to your writing journal or vision board
Post a “sneak peek” on socials
Motivate yourself every time you open your writing app
Even include in your email newsletters or website!
💌 Join My Mailing List for Freebies + Creative Prompts
Want a free character profile template to get started?Join my email list and get:
A printable + digital character sheet
Monthly creative freebies and Canva tips
First access to new Etsy launches
Encouraging emails for your writing + storytelling journey
Let’s make writing feel like a cozy adventure again. ✍️✨
🛍 Browse Bookish Templates + Creative Goodies
Need more than just a cover?
I’ve created Canva templates for:
Journaling pages for writers + readers
Mood board templates
Printable reading logs
Sticker kits + scrapbook paper for storytelling vibes
They’re perfect for bookworms, authors, dreamers, and anyone who loves a good aesthetic moment.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Creating a book cover before you’re ready to publish isn’t silly — it’s smart.It helps you visualize your story. It keeps you inspired. It makes your project feel real.
So give yourself permission to play.Make the moody romance cover. Make the fantasy epic. Make five versions if you want!There’s no wrong way to create — and Canva makes it so easy.
And who knows? The cover you make today might just end up on the front of your published book someday. 🥰
Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures
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