20+ Cool Virtual Zoom Backgrounds: Ideas to Elevate Your Meetings

20+ Cool Virtual Zoom Backgrounds: Ideas to Elevate Your Meetings

  • A woman in a Zoom meeting.

    Make virtual meetings fun and engaging by selecting cool backgrounds for Zoom. While it’s so common to choose from Zoom’s preset backgrounds or use the blur feature, there are tons of background options to elevate your meeting experience.

    With Zoom, switching backgrounds before or during the meeting is easy. Download its free version today to get started.

    Browse this gallery for my recommended Zoom virtual background images for categories like aesthetic and modern, outdoor and nature, pop culture and entertainment, abstract and artistic, and thematic.

    Image: Zoom

  • Image of a living area with colorful walls.

    Aesthetic & modern backgrounds

    1. Contemporary room

    This stylish background with a pop of bright red color is perfect for expressing creativity without causing too much distraction.

    Image: Livestorm

  • Image of a living room with earth tones.

    Aesthetic & modern backgrounds

    2. Cozy living area

    With neutral tones, this virtual background is eye-catching and refreshing. Though it’s simple, this image creates a warm and inviting ambiance.

    SEE: How to Create a Virtual Background in Zoom

    Image: Livestorm

  • A nook with vibrant colors.

    Aesthetic & modern backgrounds

    3. Vibrant colors

    Perfect for creative individuals, this image will make you stand out with the choice of bold colors and an artistic gallery wall.

    Image: Owl Labs

  • A minimalist living room with an urban view.

    Aesthetic & modern backgrounds

    4. Minimalist with an urban view

    The clean lines and neutral colors give a relaxed yet professional vibe. Moreover, the plants accentuate this cool and modern Zoom background image.

    Image: Owl Labs

  • A picture of a bookshelf beside the window.

    Aesthetic & modern backgrounds

    5. Stylistic lighting

    As one of the cool backgrounds for Zoom, this image exudes a dramatic sunset-like scenario. It’s not your typical bookshelf background; playing around with shadows and lighting to make your Zoom video stand out.

    Image: Unsplash

  • An image of a pool overlooking the open sea and mountains.

    Outdoor & nature backgrounds

    1. Seaside vacation

    The crystal blue color of the pool, sea, and sky evokes a grand holiday out of town. Keep that adventurous vibe going by choosing this image as a cool Zoom background.

    SEE: How to Turn on Virtual Backgrounds in Zoom

    Image: Livestorm

  • A picture of mountain ranges.

    Outdoor & nature backgrounds

    2. Alpine landscape

    Use this majestic alpine landscape as your Zoom virtual background to create a sense of natural calm. While rich in shades of green, it doesn’t overpower the eyes, having just the right amount of visual appeal.

    Image: Livestorm

  • An image of the open sea and waves.

    Outdoor & nature backgrounds

    3. Shades of blue

    Take the sea with you even when work gets hectic with this image of the waves. Inviting as it is, this virtual background for Zoom exudes relaxation that everyone craves from time to time.

    Image: cruisecritic

  • A picture of the Mt. Fuji.

    Outdoor & nature backgrounds

    4. The mountains are calling

    This virtual Zoom background image shows Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji. Cherry blossoms in full bloom complement their captivating beauty, another reason to choose this image as your next online meeting background.

    Image: Canva

  • A picture of a mountain range.

    Outdoor & nature backgrounds

    5. Earth tones

    Whether you love adventure or are simply in awe of nature’s beauty, there’s a Zoom background for you. This image combines warm shades to form a picturesque view of the mountains.

    Image: Livestorm

  • MGM logo for Zoom.

    Pop culture & entertainment

    1. Hollywood blockbuster effect

    Featuring the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) logo, this Zoom background works for those who like to add a little entertainment to their day. It can be a conversation starter or just simply a mood booster.

    SEE: Zoom 101: A Guidebook for Beginners & Business Pros (TechRepublic Premium)

    Image: Krisp

  • The set of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

    Pop culture & entertainment

    2. Talk show set

    Who doesn’t recognize this iconic setup from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? Whether it’s a casual team catch-up or a late fun Friday Zoom call, this background image is worth a try.

    Image: Krisp

  • A Super Mario-inspired wallpaper.

    Pop culture & entertainment

    3. Gamers at heart

    This Zoom background — a Super Mario-inspired photo — is just one of the many video game-inspired images you can choose for your next online meeting. Zoom backgrounds like this don’t just add fun and personality but are also a way to spark connections with fellow gamers.

    Image: Wallpapers.com

  • release-2-ww-gryffindor-house-pride.jpg

    Pop culture & entertainment

    4. Harry Potter – Gryffindor house pride

    While this is mostly for Harry Potter fans, choosing a “house” or a group as your Zoom virtual background (not limited to this movie) is a great way to introduce yourself. Depending on the type of meeting, experiment with other movies or TV shows that might resonate with others.

    SEE: Home Video Setup: What You Need to Look & Sound Professional (TechRepublic Premium)

    Image: Wizarding World

    Image: Wizarding World
  • Star Trek background for Zoom.

    Pop culture & entertainment

    5. Star Trek fans

    This type of Zoom virtual background instantly tells people how much of a Trekkie you are. In general, you can showcase your sci-fi interests by choosing an image related to it, like a spaceship or a scene from Star Wars, among other things.

    Image: Krisp

  • An image of neon lights as a Zoom background.

    Abstract & artistic backgrounds

    1. Edgy neon lights

    Choose a background image with vibrant colors to make a statement. This works best for those who want to express their artistic flair or even interest in futuristic style.

    Image: Pexels

  • An abstract painting with pink, blue, and green shades.

    Abstract & artistic backgrounds

    2. Bold colors

    The bold, contrasting colors exude playfulness and creativity. At the same time, the image’s clean visual style also reminds you of modern minimalist art.

    Image: Freepik

  • A comic-inspired virtual background.

    Abstract & artistic backgrounds

    3. Abstract painting with blended hues

    You can never go wrong with an abstract painting because it always represents creativity and uniqueness. There are countless versions of this type of artwork that you can use for your next Zoom virtual call.

    SEE: Video & Online Conferencing Policy (TechRepublic Premium)

    Image: Stencil

  • A comic-inspired virtual background.

    Abstract & artistic backgrounds

    4. Comic book art

    Using a comic book-inspired virtual meeting background can bring a different kind of energy. This is just one example of how you can make meetings livelier, especially if you’re participating in thematic online activities.

    Image: Pinterest

  • Customized office-type background.

    Abstract & artistic backgrounds

    5. Customized Zoom background through Canva

    Create your own customized background to take uniqueness and design to a whole new level. It may sound time-consuming (or intimidating, even), but there’s no need to worry, as free design platforms make it easy.

    Get creative and start customizing your own Zoom meeting background. Sign up for free and experience Canva’s easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.

    Image: Canva

  • Thanksgiving theme Zoom background.

    Thematic Zoom backgrounds

    1. Seasonal themes

    Change your style with the seasons and switch up your virtual Zoom background into something more fitting.

    Image: Wallpapers.com

  • New Year's Eve Zoom background.

    Thematic Zoom backgrounds

    2. Festive celebrations

    Get into a festive mood, whether for the New Year, Christmas, or a birthday. Choose this Zoom meeting background to kick off celebrations virtually.

    SEE: 5 Tools to Help Content Creation Professionals

    Image: Canva

  • An image of a football stadium.

    Thematic Zoom backgrounds

    3. Sporty

    Activate your sporty side by choosing a huge football stadium as your background. You can experiment with the type of Zoom background depending on your choice of sport. Basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts all make excellent options.

    SEE: Zoom 101: A guidebook for beginners and business pros

    Image: Livestorm

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Jameli Jimenez

Jame is a Senior Content Editor at TechnologyAdvice.com, specializing in VoIP and office technology. She leads developmental edits on topics related to business communication solutions, cloud-based phone systems, and workplace technology trends. With a background in corporate communications, her work has been featured in publications such as CNBC, Medium, and Thrive Global.