If you’re tired of thoughtfully nodding at your coworkers’ suggestions or furrowing your brow in concentration, consider ditching the standard Zoom background for something fun. Of course, you’ll still take notes and continue to exercise social distancing, but why not add a little pizazz to your virtual meetings?
The first step to blinging out your Zoom background is selecting the right image. Look for high-resolution images with a 16:9 aspect ratio to avoid visual noise (ie: lots of details, patterns, and rhythms). A simple, clean background is best so you can focus on your conversation and the participants in front of you.
Next, choose an image that reflects your personality or workplace. For example, you could use a photo of your favorite plant to represent your green office or add a picture of yourself posing in front of a white toilet for a lighthearted touch. You can even add your company logo to your background for an extra professional touch.
Finally, you can select a short video as your Zoom background for more creativity and movement. Just be careful with the movement and try to keep it slow so it doesn’t distract from your conversations.
Of course, a fully staged workspace environment with signage and carefully curated decor is the creme de la creme of Zoom background options, but it’s also unrealistic for most people and can be costly to build. For those who are ready to go big, Zoom recently launched a blur option that hides everything behind you during your meetings and webinars.