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Looking for some of the best Zoom backgrounds for your next Zoom meeting?

Whether you are working from home or socializing with family and friends, it seems that everyone is now using Zoom Video to abide by the social distancing that is the new normal. Between cooking three meals a day, entertaining your pets, home-schooling your kids and sorting Marie Kondo style, the last thing on your mind is cleaning up before powering up Zoom for your video call.

Enter the Virtual Background feature of Zoom. These free Zoom backgrounds will spruce up your home office setting and set the stage for a professional remote work experience for all of your conference calls.

If you haven't used the virtual background setting on Zoom yet, it's uber-easy to do. Here's the step-by-step process on how to use the best Zoom backgrounds for your calls:

Step 1: Go into Preferences/Settings of Zoom and click on "Virtual Background."

Zoom comes with some (pretty bad) default virtual backgrounds to use. That's where we come in. We're going to give you quick, free and easy backgrounds to use for Zoom.

Step 2: Download the Zoom background images you like.

Explore our mini-library of some of the best Zoom backgrounds and download the ones you like for free.

Step 3: Add your background to Zoom.

Add the downloaded image to your Zoom library. To add use the + sign.

We've included a few living room ones, which will help establish that you are at home, but perhaps at a nicer home (or at least cleaner) than you actually have.

And we've tossed in a couple of fun ones if you want to show off your non-moving model roommate. Who doesn't want to have a chiselled roommate hanging out on the couch?

Importance Of Beautiful Office Backgrounds On Zoom

Our homes are often not as well-organized as wed like them to be. If you have toddlers or if you're living alone who hasn't had the time to clean, there may be things in the background that you don't want your colleagues or clients to see. It is not exactly the ideal setup to sell oneself as being professional and trustworthy. But beautiful office background for Zoom (or Google Hangouts) solve this issue. All you have to do is pick a background you like (we've got a ton of Zoom backgrounds below that you can download for free) or have something branded that shows off your business and helps spread that extra awareness.

It's a great way to hide the mess and highlight what's important.

However, there are a couple of things to remember when setting up your personal background.

You need proper lighting.

You need to be in a very good lit room (this'll help you create a contrast between yourself and the background).

You want to reduce the distracting halo-effect that you have probably noticed in the past meetings.

Avoid having windows at your back so you do not present a dark silhouette.

Try to remain stationary. Anytime your webcam sees movement (color changes), it tries to adjust the lens creating an effect.

Avoid having people walk behind or around you.

‍Top Tips For Choosing A Zoom Background:

Pick a background image that matches your personal style, or alternatively, go for something that is completely the opposite and make people smile!
Dress for the occasion. Wear for a conference call the same outfit that you would wear to the office.
If you can, have a solid, one-color background image behind you. What works best is if you have a light or white-colored wall or curtain behind you.

All of the background images that we have included here are tested to work with the Zoom Video Virtual Background feature. You'll notice that there are no watermarks, and that we have focused on providing realistic backgrounds. No shots of the beach, the Milky Way or sunsets here. You don't want your background to distract your colleague or potentially have a client think that you are unprofessional in any way.

Installation Tips For Your Zoom Background:

For your computer or laptop: Scroll through the images here and simply click on one to download it to your computer. Then open Zoom and add it to the Virtual Backgrounds setting.

For your iPad: over the image, tap and hold your press and select "Add to Photos". Then go to your Zoom app and in the top right corner, click on the three dots / "More". Then tap on Virtual Background. A selection and mini menu will appear along the bottom of the screen. There are usually 3 default virtual backgrounds there. None of them are appropriate to communicate a work at home setting.

Tap on the Plus (+) sign to add the background image you've downloaded from here. A "Photos" box will pop up. If you have a lot of photos on your iPad you might need to wait for a while for the preview images to load. Your most recent image/photo should appear in the bottom row.

Tap on the background image you want to use, and then tap on "Done". There you go! Now tap on the X in the top corner to get back to the main Zoom page.

On your iPad or iPhone you'll want to click on the + on the right side of the bottom menu

For your iPhone: Yes, you can even use Virtual Backgrounds on your iPhone. Make sure the background image is saved to your Photos.

Then launch the Zoom app, sign in and start a New Meeting. You'll be the only one in the meeting. Tap on "More" and then on Virtual Backgrounds. Tap on the Plus (+) sign to add the background image.

A "Photos" box will pop up. If you have a lot of photos on your iPhone you might need to wait for a while for the preview images to load.

Your most recent image/photo should appear in the bottom row. Tap on the background image you want to use, and then tap on "Done". There you go! Leave the Meeting.

Go into Settings (of the Zoom app) and click on Meetings. Scroll down to "Keep Virtual Background For" and make sure that "All meetings" is selected.

Zoom Background Images Set Up Tips:

Try and use natural light coming in from a window to light the front and/or side of your face. Do not have a window behind you as you will be backlit and your face will be dark and shaded.
If you can, have a solid, one-color background behind you. What works best is if you have a light or white-colored wall or curtain behind you.
If you can, try to match the primary color of the background image to the actual background color that will be behind you. Try them out and let us know on Instagram or Twitter, which Zoom background images you like best.

Tips For Looking Your Best On Camera:

Face the camera

You want the camera pointing directly at your face. Not from the side, or from below. Try to have the camera at the same height as your eyes. When someone has their laptop sitting on the couch cushion beside them the angle is unflattering, and unprofessional. Just don't do it!

Dress for the occasion

‍Wear for a conference call the same outfit that you would wear to the office.

Don't be a 'floating head'

‍Solve this by having your camera capture all of your face as well as your shoulders and some of your upper body. We see a lot of people leaning in too close to the camera - sometimes you can't even see their chin!

Check on your lighting

‍Natural light is best. But if you have a dark room, or are doing a call in the evening, position your lighting to be coming from the top, side or directly towards you. You really want to avoid having your light source come from below. Let's say you have a lamp on the floor and the light is shining on your face from below your chin -- you'll end up with an unflattering look that can be solved by simply moving your lamp.

Like your mother said, sit up straight

‍Consider using a pillow behind your back to support your lower back. Slouching, or laying in bed or on the couch is just not acceptable. If you don't have a desk handy, then stand up. It'll keep you focused and attentive.

Use Airpods or small bluetooth headphones

‍The benefit is three-fold. Firstly you will avoid hearing an echo or feedback. The microphone in your Airpods or headphones will pick up a more natural sound of your voice. And thirdly, you will look better than if you use a massive over-the-head set of wired headphones.

Wear an outfit this is a different color than the background

You are sitting in front of. The Zoom software is working to differentiate you from the background you are in front of so you'll make it a lot easier for definitive capture of your whole face and body if you aren't blending in the background color of the wall behind you!

Just like a TV News Anchor, try to maintain virtual eye contact

Look directly into the camera lens, especially when others are talking. And of course, when you are talking. Looking at the camera communicates that you are listening to the person speaking. And looking at the camera when you are speaking helps you communicate your message to the person on the other side of the camera.

Here are some of the best Zoom backgrounds including professional home office backgrounds that you can use for your Zoom virtual background. Plus two backgrounds that are just for your friends. You'll know them when you see them.

Photo by Stanislav Kondratiev on Unsplash

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

Photo by Alberto Castillo Q. on Unsplash

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This minimalist home office backdrop by Samantha Gades is one of our favorite Zoom Virtual Backgrounds that we highly recommend:

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These next two background shots are of the same livingroom. Add realism to your background by interchanging these from day to day!

Photo by Devon Janse van Rensburg on Unsplash

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These last two are just for laughs. Not recommended for work conference calls , but rather for close friends who will share a laugh with you about your model roommates: