Style BottomNavigationBar in Flutter

Dart Problem Overview

I am trying out Flutter and I am trying to change the colour of the BottomNavigationBar on the app but all I could achieve was change the colour of the BottomNavigationItem (icon and text).

Here is where i declare my BottomNavigationBar:

class _BottomNavigationState extends State<BottomNavigationHolder>{

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return new Scaffold(
      appBar: null,
      body: pages(),
      bottomNavigationBar:new BottomNavigationBar(
        items: <BottomNavigationBarItem>[
          new BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: const Icon(Icons.home),
              title: new Text("Home")
          ),
          new BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: const Icon(Icons.work),
              title: new Text("Self Help")
          ),
          new BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: const Icon(Icons.face),
              title: new Text("Profile")
          )
        ],
        currentIndex: index,
        onTap: (int i){setState((){index = i;});},
        fixedColor: Colors.white,
      ),
    );
  }

Earlier I thought I had it figured out by editing canvasColor to green on my main app theme but it messed up the entire app colour scheme:

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  // This widget is the root of your application.
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return new MaterialApp(
      title: 'Flutter Demo',
      theme: new ThemeData(
        primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
        canvasColor: Colors.green
      ),
      home: new FirstScreen(),
    );
  }
}

Dart Solutions

Solution 1 - Dart

There is no option to specify the background color of BottomNavigationBar but to change the canvasColor. One way you can achieve it without messing up the whole app would be by wrapping BottomNavigationBar in a Theme with desired canvasColor.

Example:

  bottomNavigationBar: new Theme(
    data: Theme.of(context).copyWith(
        // sets the background color of the `BottomNavigationBar`
        canvasColor: Colors.green,
        // sets the active color of the `BottomNavigationBar` if `Brightness` is light
        primaryColor: Colors.red,
        textTheme: Theme
            .of(context)
            .textTheme
            .copyWith(caption: new TextStyle(color: Colors.yellow))), // sets the inactive color of the `BottomNavigationBar`
    child: new BottomNavigationBar(
      type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed,
      currentIndex: 0,
      items: [
        new BottomNavigationBarItem(
          icon: new Icon(Icons.add),
          title: new Text("Add"),
        ),
        new BottomNavigationBarItem(
          icon: new Icon(Icons.delete),
          title: new Text("Delete"),
        )
      ],
    ),
  ),

Hope that helps!

Solution 2 - Dart

BottomNavigationBar could be either fixed or moving (shifting). It is fixed if there are 3 items and changes to shifting for 4 or more items. We can override this behavior by setting BottomNavigationBar.type parameter.

Fixed `BottomNavigationBar`

BottomNavigationBar(
  type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed, // Fixed 
  backgroundColor: Colors.black, // <-- This works for fixed
  selectedItemColor: Colors.greenAccent,
  unselectedItemColor: Colors.grey,
  items: [
    BottomNavigationBarItem(
      icon: Icon(Icons.call),
      label: 'Call',
    ),
    BottomNavigationBarItem(
      icon: Icon(Icons.message),
      label: 'Message',
    ),
  ],
)

Shifting `BottomNavigationBar`:

BottomNavigationBar(
  type: BottomNavigationBarType.shifting, // Shifting
  selectedItemColor: Colors.white,
  unselectedItemColor: Colors.grey,
  items: [
    BottomNavigationBarItem(
      icon: Icon(Icons.call),
      label: 'Call',
      backgroundColor: Colors.blue, // <-- This works for shifting
    ),
    BottomNavigationBarItem(
      icon: Icon(Icons.message),
      label: 'Message',
      backgroundColor: Colors.green, // <-- This works for shifting
    ),
  ],
)

Solution 3 - Dart

The accepted answer isn't entirely wrong. However, BottomNavigationBar does in-fact have a property of backgroundColor. As per the documentation

> If type is BottomNavigationBarType.shifting and the itemss, have BottomNavigationBarItem.backgroundColor set, the item's backgroundColor will splash and overwrite this color.

What this means is that the BottomNavigation's backgroundColor will be overriden by the individual items backgroundColor because the default type is BottomNavigationBarType.shifting.

To fix this, simply add the following property to the declared BottomNavigationbar widget.

type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed,

Note: If you do, however, want the shifting effect you will have to declare colors for each item, or wrap the widget that allows the overriding of the child widget(s) background color.

i.e Something like Container widget.

Solution 4 - Dart

can change by setting colors to backgroundColor property if type is fixed.

BottomNavigationBar(
          backgroundColor: Colors.red,
          type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed,
          items: [
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon:Icon(Icons.home, color: Color.fromARGB(255, 255, 255, 255)),
                title: new Text('Home'),),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon: Icon(Icons.work,color: Color.fromARGB(255, 255, 255, 255)),
                title: new Text('Self Help'),),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon:Icon(Icons.face, color: Color.fromARGB(255, 255, 255, 255)),
                title: new Text('Profile'),),
          ]
        )

If the type is shifting it will use color inside bottomNavigationBarItem.

BottomNavigationBar(
          backgroundColor: Colors.red,
          type: BottomNavigationBarType.shifting,
          items: [
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon:Icon(Icons.home, color: Color.fromARGB(255, 255, 255, 255)),
                title: new Text('Home'),
                backgroundColor: Colors.red),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon: Icon(Icons.work,color: Color.fromARGB(255, 255, 255, 255)),
                title: new Text('Self Help'),
                backgroundColor: Colors.blue),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon:Icon(Icons.face, color: Color.fromARGB(255, 255, 255, 255)),
                title: new Text('Profile'),
                backgroundColor: Colors.amber),
          ]
         
        )

You can see even though I have set backgroundColor property it does not apply that colors and the background color inside BottomNavigationBarItem widget will override that.

Found from here

Solution 5 - Dart

Set following properties to change the background, selected and unselected colors

bottomNavigationBar: BottomNavigationBar(
        backgroundColor: Colors.blue,
        selectedItemColor: Colors.black,
        unselectedItemColor: Colors.white,
        type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed,
        ...
)

Solution 6 - Dart

You can currently style them BottomNavigationBar directly from the Theme, like this:

ThemeData(
    bottomNavigationBarTheme: BottomNavigationBarThemeData(
        backgroundColor: Colors.grey[900],
        elevation: 10,
        selectedLabelStyle: TextStyle(
            color: Color(0xFFA67926), fontFamily: 'Montserrat', fontSize: 14.0
        ),
        unselectedLabelStyle: TextStyle(
            color: Colors.grey[600], fontFamily: 'Montserrat', fontSize: 12.0
        ),
        selectedItemColor: Color(0xFFA67926),
        unselectedItemColor: Colors.grey[600],
        showUnselectedLabels: true,
    ),
)

Solution 7 - Dart

The title is deprecated. We use label instead.
For label, we can use corresponding attributes: selectedLabelStyle, unselectedLabelStyle.
For example:

bottomNavigationBar: BottomNavigationBar(
          type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed,
          selectedItemColor: Theme.of(context).accentColor,
          selectedFontSize: 0,
          unselectedFontSize: 0,
          iconSize: 22,
          elevation: 0,
          backgroundColor: Colors.transparent,
          selectedIconTheme: IconThemeData(size: 28),
          unselectedItemColor: Theme.of(context).focusColor.withOpacity(1),
          selectedLabelStyle: Theme.of(context).textTheme.bodyText1.merge(TextStyle(fontSize: 12)),
          unselectedLabelStyle: Theme.of(context).textTheme.button.merge(TextStyle(fontSize: 11)),
          showUnselectedLabels: true,
          currentIndex: widget.currentTabIdx,
          onTap: (int i) {
            this._selectTab(i);
          },
          showSelectedLabels: true,
          // this will be set when a new tab is tapped
          items: [
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_HOME) ,
              activeIcon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_HOME, color: Theme.of(context).accentColor),
              label: 'Home',
            ),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                label: 'Categories',
              icon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_CATEGORY),
              activeIcon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_CATEGORY, color: Theme.of(context).accentColor) ,
            ),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_ORDER_HISTORY, ) ,
              activeIcon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_ORDER_HISTORY, color: Theme.of(context).accentColor ) ,
              label: 'Order History',
            ),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_CART,) ,
              activeIcon: SvgPicture.asset(IMAGE_ASSETS_ICONS_CART, color: Theme.of(context).accentColor) ,
              label: 'Cart',
            ),
          ],

Solution 8 - Dart

Try wrapping your BottomNavigationBar in a Container then set its color.

Example:

@override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      body: pages(),
      bottomNavigationBar:new Container(
        color: Colors.green,
        child: BottomNavigationBar(
          items: <BottomNavigationBarItem>[
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon: const Icon(Icons.home),
                title: Text("Home")
            ),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon: const Icon(Icons.work),
                title: Text("Self Help")
            ),
            BottomNavigationBarItem(
                icon: const Icon(Icons.face),
                title: Text("Profile")
            )
          ],
        currentIndex: index,
        onTap: (int i){setState((){index = i;});},
        fixedColor: Colors.white,
        ),
      );
    );
  };

Solution 9 - Dart

Just follow the given below code to customize according to your requirements. You just need to set the parent of NavigationBar with Theme and set canvasColor to change the background color

      bottomNavigationBar: Theme(
    data: Theme.of(context).copyWith(
      canvasColor: kOrangeMaterialColor
    ),
    child: BottomNavigationBar(
      type: BottomNavigationBarType.shifting,
      currentIndex: _currentIndex,
      onTap: _onTapItem,

      items: [
        BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.home,
        color: kWhiteColor,),
        label: ''),
        BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.notifications,
        color: kWhiteColor,),
        label: ''),
        // BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.favorite_border,
        // color: kWhiteColor,),
       // label: ''),
        BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.account_circle,
        color: kWhiteColor,),
        label: ''),
        BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.settings,
        color: kWhiteColor,),
        label: ''),
      ],
    ),
  ),

Solution 10 - Dart

Simply add the backgroundColor property to BottomNavigationBarwidget.

@override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return new Scaffold(
      appBar: null,
      body: pages(),
      bottomNavigationBar:new BottomNavigationBar(
        items: <BottomNavigationBarItem>[
          new BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: const Icon(Icons.home),
              title: new Text("Home")
          ),
          new BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: const Icon(Icons.work),
              title: new Text("Self Help")
          ),
          new BottomNavigationBarItem(
              icon: const Icon(Icons.face),
              title: new Text("Profile")
          )
        ],
        currentIndex: index,
        onTap: (int i){setState((){index = i;});},
        fixedColor: Colors.white,
        backgroundColor: Colors.black45,
      ),
    );
  }

Solution 11 - Dart

use

BottomNavigationBar (
backgroundColor: Colors.red,
)

If not changing color with this wrap with material widget.

Material(
child:
BottomNavigationBar (
backgroundColor: Colors.red,
),
)

Solution 12 - Dart

You can use this code :

BottomNavigationBar (
backgroundColor: Colors.red,
type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed
)

Or warp BottomNavigation with Theme widget and change canvasColor.

Theme(
    data: Theme.of(context).copyWith(canvasColor: Colors.green),
    child: BottomNavigationBar(
      // add your code ...
        )
      ],
    ),
  ),

Solution 13 - Dart

// it will work like this backgound color

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:pedometer/widgets/const.dart';
import 'package:pedometer/widgets/const.dart';
import 'package:pedometer/widgets/const.dart';
import 'package:pedometer/widgets/icon.dart';

import 'dashbord.dart';

class MyStatefulWidget extends StatefulWidget {
  const MyStatefulWidget({Key? key}) : super(key: key);

  @override
  State<MyStatefulWidget> createState() => _MyStatefulWidgetState();
}

class _MyStatefulWidgetState extends State<MyStatefulWidget> {
  int _selectedIndex = 0;
  static const TextStyle optionStyle =
      TextStyle(fontSize: 30, fontWeight: FontWeight.bold);
  static const List<Widget> _widgetOptions = <Widget>[
   DashbordScreen(),
  DashbordScreen(),
  DashbordScreen(),
  DashbordScreen(),
  ];

  void _onItemTapped(int index) {
    setState(() {
      _selectedIndex = index;
    });
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      body: Center(
        child: _widgetOptions.elementAt(_selectedIndex),
      ),
      bottomNavigationBar: BottomNavigationBar(
         backgroundColor: const Color.fromARGB(255, 6, 17, 93),
         type: BottomNavigationBarType.fixed,
        items: const <BottomNavigationBarItem>[
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
           // iconFun(path:Icons.home,context: context )
            icon: Icon(Icons.home,color: Colors.white,size: 35,),
            label: 'Home',
          //  backgroundColor: Colors.red,
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.auto_graph_outlined,color: Colors.white,size: 35),
            label: 'Business',
            backgroundColor: Colors.green,
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.health_and_safety,color: Colors.white,size: 35),
            label: 'School',
           // backgroundColor: Colors.purple,
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.settings,color: Colors.white,size: 35),
            label: 'Settings',
         //   backgroundColor: Colors.pink,
          ),
        ],
        currentIndex: _selectedIndex,
        selectedItemColor: Colors.white,
        onTap: _onItemTapped,
      ),
    );
  }
}

Content Type	Original Author	Original Content on Stackoverflow
Question	spongyboss	View Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - Dart	Hemanth Raj	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - Dart	CopsOnRoad	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - Dart	MagicMike	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - Dart	Ishan Fernando	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - Dart	Rahul Panzade	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - Dart	ObiWanKenobi	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - Dart	Mr Special	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 8 - Dart	Billybogz	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 9 - Dart	Abdul Mateen	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 10 - Dart	mjhansen3	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 11 - Dart	Mr Rock	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 12 - Dart	Fateme Afshari	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 13 - Dart	Nomi	View Answer on Stackoverflow

Style BottomNavigationBar in Flutter

Dart Problem Overview

Dart Solutions

Solution 1 - Dart

Solution 2 - Dart

Fixed `BottomNavigationBar`

Shifting `BottomNavigationBar`:

Solution 3 - Dart

Solution 4 - Dart

Solution 5 - Dart

Solution 6 - Dart

Solution 7 - Dart

Solution 8 - Dart

Solution 9 - Dart

Solution 10 - Dart

Solution 11 - Dart

Solution 12 - Dart

Solution 13 - Dart

Check battery level of connected bluetooth device on linux

How to map over union array type?

Attributions

Dart Problem Overview

Dart Solutions

Solution 1 - Dart

Solution 2 - Dart

Fixed BottomNavigationBar

Shifting BottomNavigationBar:

Solution 3 - Dart

Solution 4 - Dart

Solution 5 - Dart

Solution 6 - Dart

Solution 7 - Dart

Solution 8 - Dart

Solution 9 - Dart

Solution 10 - Dart

Solution 11 - Dart

Solution 12 - Dart

Solution 13 - Dart

Check battery level of connected bluetooth device on linux

How to map over union array type?

Attributions

Fixed `BottomNavigationBar`

Shifting `BottomNavigationBar`: