Fill colors in Excel 2010 and 2013 usually fill each cell with a single solid color, no matter how large the cell in question. To add two background colors to one cell, use the Two Colors fill effect to create a gradient.
Step 1: Format Cells
Select the cell you want to fill, right-click the cell and choose Format Cells.
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![Format Cells in context menu](https://img.techwallacdn.com/375/ppds/68bea9f5-e39c-420b-be71-ef2f18e70398.png)
Image Credit:
Image courtesy of Microsoft
Step 2: Open Fill Effects
Open the Fill tab and click Fill Effects.
![You can't combine a two-color effect with a pattern, so leave the Pattern Style blank.](https://img.techwallacdn.com/375/ppds/de8b5218-665e-4dcb-b23d-d86fadb5502a.png)
You can't combine a two-color effect with a pattern, so leave the Pattern Style blank.
Image Credit:
Image courtesy of Microsoft
Step 3: Pick the Two Colors
Choose Two Colors, and then pick the two colors you want to use with the Color 1 and Color 2 selectors.
![Click More Colors and then Custom for a full RGB color picker.](https://img.techwallacdn.com/375/ppds/05aea815-fd7a-48d8-8a85-57b8ff9d1bd2.png)
Click More Colors and then Custom for a full RGB color picker.
Image Credit:
Image courtesy of Microsoft
Step 4: Pick a Style
Pick a shading style and choose one of the variants.
![Picking a style and variant](https://img.techwallacdn.com/375/ppds/95daa660-8568-4407-a3df-d84e3dc946ea.png)
Image Credit:
Image courtesy of Microsoft
Step 5: Apply the Colors
Click OK on both open windows to set the new fill colors.
![A Vertical style applied across several rows and columns.](https://img.techwallacdn.com/375/ppds/0d00a669-ab56-4af8-b3da-c9a8394c6a60.png)
A Vertical style applied across several rows and columns.
Image Credit:
Image courtesy of Microsoft
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