Making Room to Zoom

Video conferencing is the new normal for staying connected for work, school or socializing with friends and family. We get a glimpse of the personal homes of so many people from kitchens to living rooms to bedrooms to closets. Most interesting is the peek into a famous person’s private home and where they decide to be interviewed.

If you can’t dedicate a room to zoom, pick a spot and curate it. A small section of your house can be the backdrop of the video call. Here are some tips for making the most of your zoom room.

 

Curate the Blank Wall

Pick a spot to highlight a brick or colored wall, artwork, textiles or plants. It is ideal to avoid a family high traffic area to avoid interruptions and video bombs.

For lighting, use natural or a ring light. Place your computer at eye level. “Avoid nostril viewing by putting your monitor or laptop on a box to make it even with your face”, Brenda Fevrier.

 

N2010P21004H

Bookshelf Backdrop

Styling shelves can showcase your favorite books to make a creative or professional statement. Incorporate a few decorative accessories with the books. Don’t overcrowd the shelves. Tip: Remove book jacket to reveal the colorful book spines. For a more professional, neutral look, flip the books for a clean look of the pages side, not the colored spines.

 

The Classroom

“I am converting my son’s room into my home classroom. It’s been a challenge as I am inviting people into my home. It is set up like a little library with French books, artwork and I am in the process of painting the room. Virtually, my students see me online and I had a blank wall last semester. Zoom décor is a new reality. Now I have to sell myself like a consultant on CNN does.” – Mary Tetreault

“My dining room is my classroom. Picture came down and a white board is in its place. Materials spread out all over the table. If the sun is coming through, I hang a thin blanket over the window to prevent glare on the board. It is not pretty but it is functional. Zoom has a selection of backdrops users can choose.” – Maureen Collins Hyde

 

N2008P34009H

The workroom

“Since I moved and my office was in my bedroom while we sheltered at home amid boxes, it was unprofessional and inappropriate for people to see. A quick, easy, inexpensive solution was to place a drape over a clothes rack. Now that I have drapes hung, I can sit in front of them and it’s still private.” – Kathleen Cooper Downey

“I now work at my breakfast table. When I’m on a zoom call folks can literally see my kitchen counter. I put an upright waterfall sculpture and some books to block the clutter of the kitchen counter.” – Shannon Parker Wong

“My finished attic became my office. My must haves: candles, plants, stand up desk, memory foam chair cushion, footrest, daybed complete with throw pillows, white board, a cool coffee mug, air conditioning and a stuffed lab.” – Gloria Zuclich

My own zoom spot has a large piece of art in the background which almost always receives a compliment. An art background is an easy zoom solution.