With so many of us now working from home, I have realized that home offices or video backdrops need some real help! I find myself perusing the backdrop of local and national news personnel, COVID experts, TV talk show hosts and more. I couldn't tell you what they were talking about if they had an unattractive or revealing background. I was trying to figure out how to help them improve their surroundings and present the image they wanted to present. I can say that there are very, very few that are up to snuff and ready for viewing by clients, colleagues or the general public.

I found that I was becoming consumed, ok obsessed, by the lack of not only design but editing. I saw photos, book titles and clutter that was taking focus away from the message. When we give advice in staging for an occupied property, we request the homeowner edits anything in the home that is religious, political or personal. And it goes without saying that anything of a controversial or private nature should be edited from a home for sale, as well as a backdrop for virtual communication.

So first, let's explore what your home office says about you? Do you even use it or do you find yourself working from your kitchen table, living room or bedroom? I have an extra bedroom that is used as an office/guest room and I almost never chose it to work. There were too many things going on in the room and it just didn't feel like an office dedicated to getting any work done. The other issue is that it is in the back of the house and has only one window. I love light filled rooms and it wasn't checking that box. So I scrapped the idea of working in there and was working on my bed or in the kitchen. If I had a video call, I would run around and "fix" a background to take the call usually with my laptop on my lap, and not on a desk. I would try and find something close by to adjust the elevation so people weren't seeing me from the bottom of my face looking up or the opposite. Neither are great looks. The items I would use to prop up my laptop came from various categories and were always on the verge of toppling in the middle of my call.

The next step toward a home office was getting a new glass topped desk in my bedroom. I like my bedroom and I have a large area that needed to be purposed. I have a mounted TV with a reticulating arm (love to use that word) and I can move it around so when I am working I can see the news in the morning or late afternoon.

Still, it wasn't calling my name. I was basically staring at the wall between my two windows and my bed, which is comfy, was 5 feet away calling my name. One day, the lightbulb you see in cartoons, appeared over my head I am certain. Why didn't I think of this before? I moved my desk in front of one of my bedroom windows so I could look outside and see the goings on while I was on a call, or working on my computer. That was the answer! I felt drawn to the desk because I had a view and I could see people and not feel like I was alone in the world. I've worked at the desk more in the last several weeks than in years because its beautiful and inviting and I have a view. If you look hard you can see the mountain range which I am not quite certain isn't a higher elevation of trees in the distance that looks like a ridge line but let's go with a mountain view.

With that issue resolved, next came the issue of what people would see behind me when I was on a Zoom call. So I staged my background. Imagine that, a stager staging their own background! I have to give credit to my cousin, who is an attorney, and has a Zoom meeting with her colleagues once a week. She asked me to help her find the right background for her virtual meetings. She did not want to reveal too much about her surroundings but wanted her background to be visually to scale and make sure she didn't have a plant behind her that looked like it was coming out of the top of her head. So we played with the angles on a few FaceTime calls. In the end she figured it out on her own and she accomplished the look she wanted. My background is a large brushed gold framed white board with my logo on it. I have flowers in a vase off to my left shoulder and always make sure I gave my goals listed and that I don't have client information

So here are my recommendations for those of you who do video, or Zoom meetings or have any other reason to have a curated background:

1) Sit in front of your computer, phone, tripod etc. Look at the angle and what others will see. Are you too low, too high or backlit? Is there too much light on your face or not enough? Get a ring light that attaches to your tripod or one with a tripod which will give you flawless TV lighting. Trust me. I'm 109 years old but I don't look it.

2) Carefully look at any photos, book titles, awards, or anything personal that you want to either hide or conversly, highlight based on your audience. Can you imagine if my background wasn't staged and I was asking people to hire me to stage the homes of their clients or their own homes? Also keep in mind safety by not revealing expensive collections of art, silver, or other collectibles.

3) Declutter the background if needed. If it's a bookshelf, which many newscasters and celebrities use, take out 50% of the books if it resembles the photo below. Spread the remaining books around leaving some empty shelves. I usually stage every other shelf in a zig zag pattern and then you can add some accessories you already have displayed or items you have around the house. You would be surprised what you can find to use. Decorative bowls or pots can sit on a stack of books and make a great accessory.

See the difference between these two bookcases? The one above has too many books and presents a cluttered environment while the bookcases on the right are clean and organized.

4) Make sure everything in the background of your view is carefully selected and portrays the image you want to convey to your co=workers, clients or prospects.

Most importantly make your home office a place you enjoy and want to conduct your business. Your computer screen is now the window into your business soul. Make sure it represents you well. And pass my name along to some of these TV folks who need an office makeover. I'm ready!