To add a texture to your document background, switch over to the “Design” tab on Word’s Ribbon, and then click the “Page Color” button. In the dropdown menu, click the “Fill Effects” option. In the Fill Effects window, switch to the “Texture” tab, pick a texture, and then click the “OK” button.

To add a gradient, texture, pattern, or picture, select Fill Effects, and then go to Gradient, Texture, Pattern, or Picture and select an option. Patterns and textures are repeated (or “tiled”) to fill the entire page.