How to Use Canva Templates: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

If you’ve ever opened a blank Canva project and thought, “Where do I even start?”—you’re not alone! That’s where Canva templates come in to save the day.

Canva templates are pre-designed layouts you can customize in minutes, helping you create polished, professional-looking designs even if you’re not a graphic designer.

Whether you’re making social media graphics, digital products, printables, or Etsy listings, learning how to use Canva templates is one of the fastest ways to level up your content and save a ton of time.

In this post, I’ll walk you through:

• What Canva templates are

• How to find and use them

• How to customize them to fit your brand

• And where to find done-for-you templates you can start using today

Let’s dive in!

✨ What Are Canva Templates?

A Canva template is a ready-made design that you can open, edit, and customize with your own text, images, and colors.

They’re like design “shortcuts” that take all the guesswork out of starting from scratch. Templates are available for just about anything:

• Pinterest Pins

• Instagram Posts

• Facebook Covers

• Etsy Product Mockups

• Flyers, eBooks, Journals, Planners… and more!

Canva has thousands of built-in templates, and you can also purchase templates from Etsy, Creative Market, or directly from digital creators (like me!).

🔎 How to Find Canva Templates

There are three easy ways to find templates in Canva:

1. Use the Homepage Search Bar

Type in what you’re looking for, like “Instagram post,” “planner template,” or “boho Pinterest pin.”

2. Browse by Category

Click on the “Templates” tab at the top of the homepage and choose your category (social media, business, marketing, education, etc.).

3. Use a Shared Link from a Creator

If you’ve purchased a Canva template or grabbed a freebie, you’ll receive a direct link to a template. Click it, and it will prompt you to make a copy into your Canva account.

✨ Note: You don’t need Canva Pro to use most templates, but some elements may be Pro-only. If you're using a free account, just swap out anything with the little crown icon.

🛠️ How to Use a Canva Template (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Open the Template

Click the link or choose a template from the homepage. Canva will open a copy that you can edit.

Step 2: Customize Text

Click on any text box to change the wording. Update headlines, captions, or product descriptions with your own content.

Step 3: Swap Images or Backgrounds

Drag and drop your own photos, or use Canva’s free image library. To change the background, click it and pick a new color, texture, or image.

Step 4: Change Colors and Fonts

Click on any element (text, shapes, icons) and use the top toolbar to update fonts and colors to match your brand or product.

✨ Design Tip: Use Canva’s Styles panel to apply your brand colors or font pairings across the entire design in one click!

Step 5: Download or Publish

Once your design is ready, click Share > Download, and choose the format you need (PNG, JPG, PDF, etc.). You can also schedule it directly to social media or add it to your website!

🎯 Why Use Canva Templates?

• ✅ Saves time

• ✅ Boosts design confidence

• ✅ Keeps your visuals on-brand

• ✅ Great for beginners and pros alike

• ✅ Easily repurposable—create once, reuse many times!

📦 Where to Find Beautiful Canva Templates

Want to skip the scrolling and grab templates that are already styled for digital products, social media, or scrapbooking?

👉 Check out my [Etsy shop/website link] for:

• Scrapbook paper previews

• Product listing templates

• Pinterest pins

• Journaling page layouts

• And seasonal content kits!

Each template comes with step-by-step instructions and is beginner-friendly—even if you’ve never used Canva before.

🌼 Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a graphic designer to create beautiful, professional content. With Canva templates, you can work smarter, save time, and still show up consistently with stunning designs that feel like you.

So go ahead—open up that template, play around, and watch your creativity come to life!

💌 Want Free Canva Templates?

Subscribe to my email list and get access to a rotating library of freebies, including seasonal content planners, social media graphics, and digital paper mockups—made just for creators like you.

Have any Canva questions or want to request a specific template style? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear from you!