The Top Home Office Virtual Background Ideas When Using Zoom

This website is supported by its readers. If you click one of my links I may earn a commission. I am also a participant in the Amazon affiliates programme and I will also earn a commission from qualified purchases.

One of the things I’ve been doing a fair bit during the lockdown, is changing things up by adding backgrounds to my zoom meetings. Whilst seen as novelty at first, they can be a fun way of keeping things  exciting and connecting to the person on  zoom.  

The best background to use on a zoom call would be to upload an image of a home office. Not only does this look professional it can be a great way of making the room you work from look professional, even if you don’t have a home office for your space. 

So what are some great home office backgrounds for zoom? Should you ever use novelty backgrounds? and are other zoom backgrounds okay to use during conference calls? Keep reading to find out my recommendation on the top 40 zoom backgrounds 

Now it’s worth mentioning that this post has a lot of information and so if you’re curious about the best equipment needed to work remotely simply go to my resource page here. 

What are the best home office backgrounds for zoom? 

I personally found the following home office background images are the best ones to use when on a zoom call. All of these were found on Royalty free website Dreamstime which has affordable plans you can find more out about here. 

Open white office with window

I personally like this background a lot. Whilst a lot of us work from cramped spaces this image has a minimalist design that can lead the other person on your call to feel a little more open and relaxed. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Yellow walled office 

Yellow as a color is great at making people feel energized and active, and can be a great zoom background image to use if your role requires you to be active. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Empty laptop and plant 

This is another one of my favorites, especially as a way of introducing the company before you go into your chat. I love how this background has an empty space you can put your company’s logo in making it seem more professional. 

This background also looks like an office someone actually owns so kudos to this designer. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Big Windowed Office 

This is a great choice if you want to show how exuberant your home office is, eleven if you don’t actually have one. Just be careful with any meetings that might have people who are sensitive to fur as the fur carpet may throw them off. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Grey office and lounge 

Whilst grey isn’t the color I would recommend to paint an office with, the bright and contrasting colors of the orange and brown blend in perfectly to make this background a nice place to look at. 

For anyone interested in the colors of their home office and the difference that can mean to things like productivity you can check out my blog post here. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

The white lounge 

Not everyone works from an office when rocking remotely and neither should you. If you want to change things up use the lounge office background as a nice way to represent who you are. 

Word to the wise however, be sure to avoid wearing white as it could cause you to blend into the background on this image 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Formal brown office 

This office I think would suit the likes of teachers, lecturers and anyone who passes on knowledge for a living. 

I don’t know about you but this one strikes me as a office an older person would be happy with and so if your video call involves someone slightly older, this could be a good option to use 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Plant covered office 

I love this office. 

Not only does it have a bunch of greenery which has been scientifically linked to a better work environment it is also incredibly clean and easy on thees and so makes for a great background to use. 

Speaking of plants, if you’re interested in finding out what I recommend you can check out my plant page here. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Big red office 

So I don’t think I’m brave enough to ever paint my home office burgundy red but hey, the good thing about backgrounds is that they are only temporary right. 

This can be a great background to use on a video call if you use it in front of the right person. Just be careful who you use it in front of. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Empty white office 

If you just want an empty clean background to work from then this is definitely the choice for you , simple lines, plenty of light, what more could you want!

You can get it from: Dreamstime 

Grey wall with pictures 

I’m definitely getting a nordic vibe from this home office and the pictures on the wall do a lot for me. This is a great option if you want to show off a little of your personality in your home office. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime  

Double grey office 

Whilst this home office zoom background has a little bit too much grey for my liking, if you want to blend into the backgrounds of your meetings then this could be a great option for the background. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime  

Clean blue office 

Blue in an office can make you more productive and so what better way to implement this then with a zoom background. 

I personally love the clean lines of this office and it’s minimalistic approach. 

You can get it from: Dreamstime  

Painting office 

For any of you who are artistically included look no further then the painting office

This is a great option if you want to highlight your creative side without showing off your work directly 

You can get it from: Dreamstime  

Garden office 

What better way to get some greenery on your zoom call then with the garden office background on your zoom calls 

This background really does help bring the outdoors in so if you’ve been on a zoom meeting for a few hours and at getting a little frustrated, this is a great option to make you feel like your on the great outdoors 

You can get it from: Dreamstime  

Dark blue office space 

You can’t go wrong with a dark blue office and this zoom background image takes it one step further 

Consider using this background for any zoom meeting that you may need to have where you really focus in on busy work, for example if you are using a zoom meeting to do admin work together 

This background should help get it done much faster 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Chalk board office 

So for anyone who wants to have an old school teacher vibe consider using the chalkboard as a zoom background,  it’s a great way to bring the school into the home office especially if you have  one to ones with your students. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Classic Mahogany office 

If you want to give off a classical yet experienced look even if your office in reality looks like a cupboard under the stairs consider the mahogany office. 

Whilst it’s a little bit too brown and dreary for me in certain situations it can definitely work wonders. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Shelved open office 

The shelved open office is a fantastic option for a zoom background,, position yourself towards the left of the image and let the shelving and doorway frame your body. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Minimalistic chair office

Finally, if you are interested in a minimalistic look but want everyone to marvel at how open your office is, consider using the minimalist chair office which definitely helps give a nice professional breeze. 

This office is great as it can highlight both your work and home lives nicely. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

What are some alternatives to home office backgrounds for zoom? 

Home office backgrounds are easily the best background to opt for if you would like to be seen in a professional manor. The idea is to not be distracting in your meetings, however if you do not want to use home office as a background in zoom the following are what I would recommend. 

Nature

Human beings love to be out in nature and what better way to do this than changing up your zoom background to be something a lot more scenic. 

Certain colors in backgrounds such as watching the sunrise or looking into a rainforest can actually have a direct link to modd. 

My personal recommendations then would be the following: 

Stardust

Who doesn’t love looking up in the night sky gazing at the sense of wonder the cosmos brings. Why not change things up by opting to go for a picturesque star background. 

The only caveat, ensure you’re not wearing any colors that might contrast the bring colors of the background. 

Sharp blacks can sometimes be affected by this so ensure you test this one out. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Purple sunrise 

Sunrises are one of the more common backgrounds you are likely to see on zoom backgrounds so why not do something different and opt for a purple sunrise. 

Not only are the sharp colors easy on the eyes, purple is known to be a color of productivity so you will get a lot more done on your zoom meeting. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Rainbow

You can’t go wrong with a rainbow. 

Why not take this up a notch by opting for something that has been purpose built for zoom meetings. 

Great if you want to lighten up the meeting!

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Mountains and stars 

Another one of my favorite zoom backgrounds has to be this stars and mountains peace. The colors are distorted and definitely give me a feeling of calmness. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Rainforest banner 

Why not get close to nature by opting to go with a rainforest background. Most of us don’t wear clothes so you should be able to stand out effectively against the backdrop nicely and can help if you have been locked in zoom meetings all day and are craving the great outdoors.

 You can get it from Dreamstime 

Ocean 

The ocean calms us down on a good day so why not make it even better by choosing to go with an ocean background. 

I’m particularly a fan of this nighttime ocean background as the color blue is one of the most productives people I can look at to feel productive. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Mountains and forests

For any wannabe pioneers out these consider looking at the mountains and forest background. 

I think this is a great idea for geography teachers or anyone who is typically outdoorsy who is now forced to work from home. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Bright Beach 

Let’s face it, most of us would much rather be on a beach then working from home. If your vacation is around the corner and you want to blunt your craving for a beach trip consider using the bright beach background as a way of staying focused. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Sand dunes 

Sand dunes have no real strong lines and so make for a great zoom background. Especially if you are wearing darker colors to help you stand out from this background. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Leafy green background 

Another great zoom background as an alternative to home offices is bringing the outside in with the leafy green background. 

It might not be dense but is a great neutral background to pin yourself against. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Light ray through forest 

Another terrific background to project yourself against would be the light ray through forest zoom background. 

Simply position yourself in front of the light and you’ll soon find yourself having an angelic like appearance. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Waterfall 

One of the reasons this background works so well for zoom is because it is both striking and can very easily sink into the background. 

Just looking at it gives me a sense of the great outdoors. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Flowerfield 

Another great flowerfield that can be great for therapeutic purposes. 

Consider using if therapy is a part of your profession. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Egypt 

Who needs to travel when you have zoom backgrounds? Consider using the giza background as a natural background to appear on that everyone will recognize 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Dubai Skyline 

No one can go wrong with this zoom background. It’s super versatile and can be used pretty much for every occasion. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Novelty backgrounds 

So if you really want to change things up on your zoom backgrounds from your home office and don’t want to use the ones I’ve suggested above, why not consider using a novelty take on the zoom background. 

The following are my choices: 

Flag 

If you work for a particularly patriotic company, why not use a background flag as a way of enge those on your zoom call further. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Batcave 

For any superheroes amongst you why not change your background to make it look like you are in the batcave, photoshop a batmobile in there and you’re good to go

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Lightspeed 

Who doesn’t love star wars!

Why not change things up with a lightspeed background to make you zoom meetings (ahem)… out of this world!

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Explosion 

Who doesn’t want to be an action hero, now you can ke it look like your diving at the last second from an exploding building with this zoom background – your inner Arnie will be happy for you

You can get it from Dreamstime 

Catwalk 

Relive your inner model by opting for the catwalk zoom background, just don’t be afraid to strut. 

You can get it from Dreamstime 

FAQs about home office virtual backgrounds for zoom 

So hopefully this post has given you a fair bit of insight into my recommendation for zoom backgrounds, both home office and novelty alike. 

It’s  worth noting that people also have the following questions about zoom backgrounds so I thought it would be good to answer them here too: 

Why do people use zoom backgrounds? 

People who work from home often use zoom backgrounds on zoom video calls in order to improve upon their existing backgrounds. When working from home people can have messy offices or little room to work from so want to appear professional when working from home. If selected properly, home office zoom backgrounds can do this.  

How popular are zoom backgrounds?

Zoom backgrounds are incredibly popular with almost one in every 5 zoom users at my place of work using these on a regular basis. If you were to extrapolate this out zooms 300 million meetings per month  to around 60 million users who use zoom backgrounds every month. 

Are zoom backgrounds free? 

Zoom only has a limited number of free stock images you can use in your background. Instead opt for either using your own images, or use royalty free image providers like pixabay, getty image or dreamstime to purchase your background images from. 

What are the most professional zoom backgrounds? 

The most professional zoom backgrounds would be a home office. This allows you to give the impression as though you are in a strict working environment regardless of your location. If you are unable to use a home office background. Consider option for a nature or natural color background. 

Dpo zoom background work on mac? 

Zoom background work on Linux, mac windows and ios devices. Certain devices such as chromebooks will allow you to participate in zoom meetings but not allow you to amend your zoom background. 

Should you use zoom backgrounds for every conference call?

Avoid a zoom background for any meetings with senior managers or leadership teams or very important meetings of organisations that you are trying to do business with. 

Your should access it if you should use a zoom background before every meeting. Certain people will not take kindly to you using background so you should anticipate this in advance. To do this, make a list of your interaction with the person and gauge if they are positive, negative or natural to the idea of you having a zoom background. 

Are there any alternatives to a zoom background? 

A great alternative to Zoom backgrounds would be to invest in led lighting which can change the colour of your background whilst feeling more natural as it is in camera. 

My recommendations for all my lighting can be found on my recommended products page here. 

What are some alternatives to zoom backgrounds? 

Google hangouts has a great array of backgrounds you can use, including images you can upload yourself. Directly, they also have more images to use then zoom has to offer. 

Where to download royalty free images from zoom from? 

Dreamstime, Getty images, Canva and Shorpixel all have millions of royalty free images you can use for your zoom backgrounds, all at an affordable rate.  

How to get the best results out of your home office zoom backgrounds 

To get the best results you want to make sure your background is bright and evenly lit 

Don’t wear any clothing the same color as your background. Using an external HD camera will  be more beneficial than the built in camera on your laptop.  

home office virtual backgrounds for zoom

So hopefully this blog post has helped give you some insight into the best home office backgrounds for zoom calls.

Finally a lot of people reading my blog want to know what products I recommend for a home office/remote working. You can find out my recommendations here and learn how I make money whilst working remotely on the side here.