I use my small guest bedroom for Zoom meetings. I have a small desk in there. I close the door which is great for no interruptions. People see the back of the door behind me. The only downside is I have to take off the back-of-the-door shoe rack. I really favor a neutral background, not something artsy. Also something businesslike. Those bookshelf backgrounds make me focus on the person's reading list!

Edited to add I have enjoyed some kitchen backgrounds, if they are simple with simple cupboards. Again, art on the walls makes me focus on the art . . .

Depending on where the light is, I either pivot so you see an old workbench covered with plants in front of a window , or i sit where you see an oversized fpl and mantle in the back ground. I don't use a ring light because the room has a lot of sources of light and dimmers too, so easy to adjust. I do elevate my laptop on a "zoom box."

Oh yes, I discovered how vital good lighting is. I look absolutely grim in some settings due to light. Harsh shadows can be a problem too.

For formal meetings, I sit at my dining table, and the background is a baker's rack with a few art and decor items, along with a large plant on one side. Nice, neutral, pleasant.

For informal, I sit in my office with rather messy bookshelves in the background that need organizing.

In both scenarios, laptop is perched upon books so I'm at eye-level with the camera (no looking downward). Also in both scenarios, natural lighting either ahead of me or off to the side and--and I cannot stress this enough--no overhead lighting. I repeat: No Overhead Lighting.

Most of the time I am in one of our spare bedrooms where I have a small desk. Not much clutter behind me except a chest.

Were some of you aware there is a ’blur background’ mode available for Zoom now? I have not been able to figure out how to do it in settings. I dont Zoom as much as I did last year, but some I know have done this. Maybe a new software version or something, idk.

I take all meetings in my Room of Abundance

If my meeting agenda bores you, at least there’s always something interesting to look at!😂

Scenic wallpaper.

I am retired and feel I am missing out on Zoom meetings. I admit I would love to peek into co-workers' homes.

I love interviews with experts or talking heads or celebs in the Zoom-era; seeing where someone lives adds context.

OutsidePlaying, yes, Zoom offers several features to enhance background, and there's even a feature in the settings to "touch up" your appearance.

All, if you want to explore these options, go into Zoom (you don't have to join a meeting), and in the upper righthand corner you should see your account initials--click and go to settings.

seeing where someone lives adds context

Mtn, totally agree. And it humanizes them. There's always a little giveaway that proves they're a real person.

My Zooms don't have an image to put forward. I Zoom from my kitchen table with my kitchen in the background. I always make sure the dishtowel on the stove handle is folded and all empty wine bottles are put away.

I have been in several Zoom meetings with a volunteer organization that I belong to. How I wish that people would check out how they look on Zoom, and adjust their computer/camera! Many times I only see the tops of people's heads and their ceilings!

I have teams or zoom meetings morning to night these days but thankfully very few of them are video meetings... maybe one or two a month unless I am hiring staff..

I keep my background simple. I sit in front of a large rustic chest (42 x 60) where there is good natural light much of the day -- i tend to rotate what I have on the chest but a video meeting is always an excuse to make sure I have fresh flowers. I will be setting up a new office space this winter but I haven't really thought about decor ... or zoom meetings yet.

Love the twitter link! That took me down a rabbit hole for a good chunk of time!

DH says most of his are 'camera off'. Band width is really sucked up when camera's are on. I was SHOCKED. At school we fought diligently to keep student camera's on during our quarantine teaching. I would GLADLY go with an icon over live feed of me!! LOL

I could curate a hell of a bookshelf wall - but I’d need to buy bookshelves. And I just got rid of a bunch of bookshelves.

Not too messy....I did this in DH's office.

But most of the time I'm sitting in the chair in the corner so all that's behind me is the back of the leather chair and a blank wall.

When I was teaching (grade one) on Zoom everyday, I was in my bedroom (there were 4 of us doing online at the time and private space was at a premium).

I didn't change anything significant in the room, but I put one of those wooden bed/lap tables on the bed behind me and I changed up the vignette on it slightly each day. I inherited a china tea cup collection, so I would put out a different tea cup each day and drape a different scarf beside it. My students loved seeing what was different each day. The real thrill for them, though, was when one of my cats would wake up from their napping space on the bed, stretch, change positions and go back to sleep. The furry, little attention hogs.

Could you do something similar? Even a Command hook or two on the wall behind you with fancy scarf and hat changed up daily or weekly (if you're meeting with the same people) or just done artfully and left the same, if not.

ETA: Just reread your OP and realized you've ordered art (do tell what is coming) so aren't necessarily looking for ideas, but thought I'd leave my comment in case anyone else is.

I think it depends on the message you want to send. Studious? Fun? Colorful? Minimalist? Tidy? Homey? Bold? Modern? Traditional? You want it to distract or do you want to be the star? It's a great opportunity to send a message however subliminal.

I have not yet ordered art! So I’m wide open. I have a blank wall that will be light pink and not too far behind me (another room rater “no no” - they like depth).

I have a few colourful flower watercolours by this Etsy seller in my office at work and people always comment favourably on them. So something in the same general ballpark I’d say.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WaterWorksbySumiyo?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=57325570

My friend found that the only space left at home when her family zoomed was her oversized master bathroom where she taught her middle schoolers on zoom. She fashioned some free standing bulletin boards around her. Her students never realized; they thought she was in a classroom. She was happy to work in a bright airy space that was far from the kitchen.

I use the blur feature as my office space is also in our master bedroom. Otherwise you'd see a wall and the side of a cabinet with a TV on top and a giant pink unicorn in the background on top of a cedar chest ;) Left over from my daughters younger days, but I'm not allowed to get rid of it yet. It's all good though as she is in that awkward in between of wanting to be grown, but also being a little girl, so sometimes it still gets snuggles.

I think one of those neutral scenery art pieces would be a great thing to put on the wall behind you. I also think they would be nice when not "zooming" so win win. I don't have one because my walls are already chock full of art. I see them around and am always so tempted to buy . . .

I took some people's advice and took a photo of my office so my Zoom background now looks like I am sitting in my office when maybe I am not, LOL.

GS that is brilliant!!

I have my messy (i.e., working) bookshelves behind me when I zoom from my home office. DH has the window drapes showing in the background in his.

GS, just make sure if you are Zooming from the car you take off your seat belt (you’ll be parked, of course!). DBIL had a business Zoom call. One of the guys tried to pretend he was at the office, but he still had his seat belt over his shoulder! 😂

i have a bookcase behind me. On a sude note, yes it is fun so etimes seeing glimpses of others lives, but whatbInreally dislike is when they put an artificial background like the brooklyn brige, I find it distracting.

If I have to zoom from the car I will just call in vs use the video.

Mine is a nondescript piece of art. Jonathan Capehart‘s on PBS Newshour is my favorite background.