As seen in last week’s episode (okay fine, blog post) we talked about keeping virtual backgrounds in our “fun” or “social category” instead of professional because of its fake vibe. Being inauthentic is a huge body language no-no because keeping things in alignment helps build trust and likability.
I already hear you shouting, “But virtual backgrounds are so eeaassyy, Kristin! And they hide my mess! How am I supposed to keep it real?”
Well darrhhlling (said in a smooth tone while thoughtfully sipping my coffee), we’ve been transitioning to our work from home environments for close to 9 months now which means if you haven’t given time and effort into curating your professional video background, it’s go time!
Admittedly, I spent the first 2 months of my work from home life in our family living room (surprisingly not a beloved idea with my husband and kids) so I moved into our guest bedroom. Since we didn’t have any overnight guests, and because I didn’t remove much from the bedroom, my office ended up looking like a hastily packed suitcase. In an effort to make it a professional setting and make a good virtual first impression, I decided to get serious.
A few makeover tips you can do on the cheap:
1. A coat of paint.
Yes, a fresh color and some sweat equity can go a long way! Last month I took a weekend and painted my office walls. One wall I painted my brand color of blue (hello blueprint!) and the remaining three walls I painted a light white gray (yes, I actually took the brand color guide given to me by my logo graphic designers and had the paint store match them as closely as possible). I’ve had many compliments on my blue wall and even had someone recently type in a Zoom Chat that my background looked “Very Profesh”.
Exhibit A
Don’t want to paint? Consider purchasing a roll of paper for your background. It’s quick and easy and can be affordable at $60 a roll of paper and about another $60 for a three roll wall mount. Or you can purchase a room divider that has the added benefit of being able to be moved around very easily!
And the potential bonus of these options is that you can still hide things behind the roll or screen which means you don’t have to clean up the clutter! Check out this site for ideas.
2. Good lighting matters.
Lightning is especially important on a plain wall. Note the difference when a light source is added behind the person. See Exhibit B.
Exhibit B
Adding gradient light adds more interest and depth and makes your background look more “profesh”. This lighting kit is similar to my setup and costs $70.
3. Add some personality.
Part of the appeal of being on a virtual call is the fact that you can see a slice of someone’s life. From a body language standpoint, seeing glimpses of someone’s office gives us clues about who they are. Knowing this, it’s time to start curating your look. Think about what you can display to showcase your awesomeness and remember that less is more. Consider removing a few items and or pictures from your background to keep the focus on you while still providing some interest and personality. To help demonstrate my brand, I purchased some speech bubble shelves and am keeping things simple by displaying a few books and a friendly sign.
Exhibit C
Tip: Having a unique object that can serve as a talking point can be helpful if you are wanting to build rapport with someone (for example, my snail vase is from my grandpa and it just makes me smile). It’s your big opportunity to display a favorite item so get creative!
4. And, of course, remember your body language basics.
- Look at the camera to simulate real eye contact.
- Stand about an arm’s length away to respect the person’s space (yes, this matters online as well!)
- Put your computer or device at eye level so you aren’t looking up or down on someone (Use your manners, please!)
- Smile and wave to show you are a friend, not a foe.
5. Ask a friend for feedback.
What do they notice and/or think about your background? Has anyone ever commented on something (i.e. “What’s the blue thing on your shelf?”) These clues can give you insight into how you are being perceived. Feeling adventurous? Send me a picture of you with your background and I’ll happily give you my thoughts!
Your co-pilot (who is considering a third background because she wants more options!),
