Struggling to create a video-worthy home office background? A careful, clutter-free setup will not only improve your energy and efficiency, but make you look professional on screen. Read on for the best home office background ideas that your coworkers will fall for!
Why Home Office background matters
In a video call, you home office design always works. Viewers form an impression in the first seconds and the setting shapes it. In a related survey, professionals rated the background as more important than the clothes on the screen, and its strength is often compared to a new business suit.
This applies to planning the space behind you with a little care. It also raises the question of the digital background. A virtual background hides a messy room and travels with you, which has its appeal. But the upside is that it relies on even lighting and a clean edge to hold up and can blur or shimmer around the contours of your hair when it glides. Plus, do you really want to look like you have something to hide?
A planned, real background bypasses the risks, and the evidence shows the same way. Given a speaker’s real room, viewers rated it well for confidence and authenticity, over a blank wall or virtual padding. A background that you arrange yourself reads as genuine and gives the camera real depth and light to settle on.
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Best home office backgrounds
It is not unusual to have to work from your kitchen or bedroom. What you don’t want to show is too much of your home life. So, once you have the right environment, consider the whole background. Aim for an uncluttered area with lots of character but little or no intimacy. It’s not just suitable for a Zoom video conference – it’ll also help you focus and prioritize.
1. Wallpaper wrapped home office background
You can use any existing wallpaper spot as long as it’s not too fussy or outdated. If your walls are painted, check out the possibility of adapting an area as a formal home office backdrop with a carefully curated piece of wallpaper. Another solution could be wall stickers, either as branded pictorials or designed textures. Vinyl backdrops are very affordable and you can get them in almost any design you want, including your brand logo.
Designer Insight: Avoid glossy or shiny finishes as this doesn’t work well on camera and draws the eye away from your face. Sit a few feet in front of it so the print remains soft behind you.
2. Real or fake brick home offices
A barren brick wall can be a great home office video background in the right setting. The industrial style interior with brick walls communicates productivity and sends a message accordingly. Plus, furniture placement is mostly cheap and easy to install. If your wall is plain white and you want your background to be more dynamic, try sticking and peeling textured white bricks and arrange them in an interesting pattern.
Designer Insight: The brick reads darker on camera than it does in person, so add a lamp near it to increase the tone. A small distance will prevent the texture from flattening into a solid block on the screen.
3. Home office accent wall video background
If you’re not ready to fully commit, refresh your wall decor with peel-and-stick wall tiles or install a decorative panel. Built-ins are fantastic, but they can also be expensive, and even a little tinkering can turn a boring home office video background into something fresh and exciting. Choose purposeful color, texture and style to refresh your conference setting with a cute yet professional appeal.
Designer Insight: Turn the desk so that the accent wall fills the frame behind your shoulders, where it does the most work for the camera. A shadow with a little depth keeps your outline clean.
4. Best colors for home office video background
Now, speaking of colors – white is a common choice, but what about something more obvious? Don’t be afraid to add a pop of color to yours home office designespecially in the form of an accent wall. Consider applying some color psychology to boost your mood and productivity during the work day. Here are some nuances to keep in mind for their added effects:
- Green: Fresh, also easier on the eyes.
- Blue: Brain-friendly and calming, as well as promoting communication and efficiency.
- Yellow: Brings a burst of positivity, creativity and happiness.
- Red: Represents courage, strength and enthusiasm. Use this color for a stimulating effect.
Designer Insight: Cameras increase saturation, so a slightly muted version of your chosen color looks truer on screen than the swatch suggests. Record a short test clip before committing, as the webcam’s white balance can change the hue.
5. Ready to zoom textured home office background.
Sitting in front of anything that isn’t a bare wall can add more character to your look. Curated surfaces, a combination of prints/patterns or fabrics will serve as an adequate desk background. But be careful: it’s good to make it impressive, just not too dominant. 3D artwork can also work well here, placed tastefully around the perimeter or as part of your wealth of shelves.
Designer Insight: The texture is only captured on camera when the light hits it at an angle, so a side lamp relieves that flat lighting washout. Keep the textured area behind you where it quietly frames you.
6. Home Office fabric video conference backdrop
Fabric panels are affordable, lightweight and fairly easy to set up and remove. You don’t even need to cover the entire wall (although this is great for sound insulation). For a quick DIY solution, use a pole coming out of a central hub in the corners of the fabric and a hint of creativity. You can also stretch the piece, anchored firmly at two points.
Creating a branded banner adds a deep layer to your professional look and you can use it literally anywhere. Depending on your position and the rest of the house office layout, you’ll probably need to do some testing to make sure the fabric banner is large enough to fill the landscape.
Designer Insight: Choose a matte weave, which softens the glare and at the same time reduces the echo. Steam it first, since the camera catches every crease and fold.
7. Studio built-in cupboard
Space can be precious, especially when every inch counts. Your home has a function before and after work, so if floor space is at a premium, consider built-in cabinets or shelving for your home office background. Built-ins will also give your workspace a welcoming charm. At the same time, they offer practical and ample storage space where you can keep all your belongings and reach them at any time.
Designer Insight: Decorate the shelves loosely, with books and few objects and lots of open spaces. Keep the busiest shelf out of the frame directly behind your head, where clutter is the most distracting.
Caution: Avoid backlight
Get the light right in Zoom-ready workplace is necessary. First, you must avoid a prominent backlight, as it will cover your face with dark shadows. Natural light from a window is great as long as there is no direct sunlight—the effect of the sun’s rays could be the same. If your virtual meeting is scheduled for the evening, set a lamp facing you, but adjust the distance to find the optimal position.
Designer Insight: Hold the main light in front of you, at eye level and slightly angled to one side. If a window of light must remain in the shot, move the camera closer to crop it.
Still not sure about the right Home Office background?
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