# Customizing the Header Empty Areas

Customize the default appearance of header cells by changing the color of the header empty area. Learn more in documentation.

## Content

By default the component displays a color in the empty areas not filled in with column or row headers. These are the header empty areas as illustrated in the figure.
![Header Empty Areas](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/346c9178-0ed8-4fb9-908b-1565b22fb408/artwork/hdremptyareas.png)
To customize the color of the header empty area, you can use the [SheetView](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-asp/FarPoint.Web.Spread/FarPoint.Web.Spread.SheetView.html) [HeaderGrayAreaColor](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-asp/FarPoint.Web.Spread/FarPoint.Web.Spread.SheetView.HeaderGrayAreaColor.html) property. You can add images to the empty area with the [HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-asp/FarPoint.Web.Spread/FarPoint.Web.Spread.SheetView.HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl.html) property.

## Using the Properties Window

1. At design time, in the **Properties** window, select the Sheets property for the FpSpread component.
2. Click the button to display the **SheetView Collection Editor**.
3. In the **Members** list, select the sheet for which you want to set the color of the header empty area.
4. Select the **HeaderGrayAreaColor** property (or **HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl** and select an image) in the property list, and then click the drop-down button to display the color picker.
5. Select a color in the color picker.
6. Click **OK** to close the editor.

## Using Code

Set the [HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-asp/FarPoint.Web.Spread/FarPoint.Web.Spread.SheetView.HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl.html) property.

## Example

This example code sets the color or image properties for the gray area.

```csharp
// Set a color or an image for the gray area.
FpSpread1.Sheets[0].HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl = "happy.bmp";
//FpSpread1.Sheets[0].HeaderGrayAreaColor = Color.BurlyWood; 
```

```vbnet
' Set a color or an image for the gray area.
FpSpread1.Sheets(0).HeaderGrayAreaBackgroundImageUrl = "happy.bmp
'FpSpread1.Sheets(0).HeaderGrayAreaColor = Color.BurlyWood 
```