Video conferencing has rapidly become an everyday part of life, offering a new glimpse into our homes — and into the homes of coworkers, friends, and public figures. The backgrounds we choose for calls say a lot about us, and many of us are taking extra steps to present a tidy, intentional scene rather than accidentally sharing something awkward. In this episode we talk about what our Zoom backgrounds convey, how far we’ll go to curate them, and a few practical tips we’ve picked up along the way. We also realized that a family trip earlier this year played a major role in our choice to move to Florida, and we explain the curious shiny object that lives on our kitchen counter. Plus, Sherry shares an embarrassing New York City story that she may never live down.
What’s New
- That photo was taken at one of the Airbnbs we stayed at during our family trip to Costa Rica in January. The relaxed, tropical vibe influenced our thinking about what we want from a future pool and outdoor space in Florida, and in hindsight the entire trip helped clarify our desire to relocate.
- We’ve shared tips for traveling to Costa Rica with kids and video tours of our two Airbnbs in a dedicated trip post. The experience of staying in compact, well-designed spaces also reinforced our interest in downsizing to a smaller, more intentional home.
- During the trip we met an American family who runs a butterfly sanctuary and were building a unique treehouse Airbnb. Their lifestyle — splitting time between Costa Rica and the U.S. — and creative design choices left a strong impression on us.
If you’re curious about testing downsizing for yourself, we discussed several low-commitment ways to “try on” a smaller lifestyle in a previous episode, including staying in small Airbnbs to see how the space and routines feel.
Decorating for Zoom
We’re still working on upping our Zoom background game, but at least the lighting in our current home office is much better than before. In our former setup we often appeared as silhouettes on video because the light source was behind us. Improving front-facing lighting and decluttering the visible shelf space makes a dramatic difference for calls.
There are lots of tongue-in-cheek resources that rate the aesthetics of home video backgrounds and a number of thoughtful styling articles with practical tips. Small changes — a curated shelf, a single framed print, and consistent lighting — can elevate a background from distracting to professional and welcoming. If you’ve made changes to your video backdrop, consider what worked and what didn’t: soft, diffused light; a tidy foreground; and a neutral color palette are good starting points.
We’re Digging
- After people noticed the water filter on our counter in a post about our Florida kitchen, we started getting questions about it. We now use a dedicated stand that makes room for large water bottles underneath and keeps the counter organized.
- We also picked up a compact wand vacuum whose attachments sit neatly in the charging base, which has been handy for small cleanups in tight spaces. It complements the cordless stick vacuum we’ve relied on for years.
- Small, practical tools that save time and reduce clutter quickly become favorites in a kitchen or office, so investing in a few thoughtful accessories can make daily life smoother.
If you want a quick reference to things we’ve recommended over time, we maintain a master list of items and books we’ve mentioned on the podcast. It’s a useful place to find past favorites and revisit product picks that stood the test of time.
Finally, we want to thank the sponsor of this episode. They offered a promotional discount on sleep products, and we appreciate partners that align with our everyday needs and routines.
Thanks for listening and for following along. We always enjoy hearing how you’ve adapted your spaces and routines — especially new ideas for creating better backgrounds for video calls and smarter, simpler kitchens.