What a difference a year makes - from being our sanctuary, our homes are also now our working spaces. Some of us will be going back to the office but a lot of people are still working from home - and what better time to fully utilize our space to create a more meaningful, inspiring, and Zoom-worthy design that motivates in these trying times.

Virtual meetings are now the norm, be it in Zoom, Google Meet, or your provider of choice you might have to join a meeting these days in one of these platforms. While this can mean dolling up for a change, it also gives people a peek into your home and personality as it will be slightly visible through the call.

You can opt for the solid wall colour but why not take a chance and spruce up your space for an eye-catching virtual meeting background?

Lights, camera, action

Lighting is everything for photographers, directors and videographers and the same applies to virtual meetings. Take a look into your home and find an area with the most natural lighting as this looks best. Video-conferencing platform Zoom notes that great lighting is crucial and notes a few more tips in this blog. If not, find a light source that’s in front of you and not behind as this will create a silhouette effect. Ring lights are great options if you have a minimal source of natural light in your home.

Camera Elevation

What looks best on virtual calls is if your camera is at eye level. If it’s too low, most people will see half of your face and the ceiling. Show off your workspace and feel as if you’re actually talking to a person by elevating your camera at eye level. Be it a stack of books or a laptop stand, this trick is also good for your posture.

Goodbye Clutter

As the first step on the KonMari method would say - commit yourself to tidying up. Get rid of unnecessary things that make a mess of your virtual frame. Make sure that shelves are in order, pens and papers are in their place and no cords are dangling over. Not only does this make your space look more organized it also frees up a lot of space to better move around your desk.

One tip is to set up your electronics and charging stations. During these times most of us are on laptops, headphones, and cell phones for a work or learning session so a charging station is also important. Designate a place for ports and plugs for an easy and organized workspace.

Stylish Shelving

Have a collection of books? Now is the time to let them shine. Bookshelves are great storage pieces and styling assets too! Showcase your books alongside gorgeous homewares pieces like vases and objects. Open shelving or floating shelves are great options with this design.

Fresh and Light

Set your beautiful background with nature’s blooms - keeping the space incredibly fresh and beautiful. Flowers on vases, hanging plants on delightful pots and planters makes a space more alive and benefits you too. A study has proven that house plants can lift your mood and actually make you more productive and in a 2020 Plant Life Balance Report 2 in 5 Australians bought a low-maintenance plant. So bring nature in and enhance your workspace and your whole home.

Dynamic Background Layers

Take your background up a notch by layering elements into the wall. Take a gorgeous wall print and create a gallery wall and mix them with the latest colour trends like in our 2021 Autumn/Winter interiors forecast to create a background that’s eye-catching and has many elements. Don’t forget to overdo it though! You should still be the focal point during your call.

When you’re all set and done designing or refreshing your space for a better virtual meeting experience, don’t forget to try it out. Open your camera and take a look at your video frame if everything looks good and in its place.