10 holiday backgrounds for Zoom or MS Teams and what your choice says about you
All of the following images you can use for your Zoom/MS Teams/Google hangouts/whatever virtual meeting tool you prefer. They are all FREE, high resolution images from Unsplash – a great place to find license-free images for blogs or anything else. #notsponsored
1. Snowflake close-up
Do you work with a Karen who you suspect calls liberal Millennials and Gen Zers ‘snowflake’ when they set boundaries or communicate their needs? This might be the background for you. Or maybe you just like the fact that each snowflake is unique and looks like a beautiful crystal up close. That’s what I call a two-for-one.
2. Wine collection
Why keep your love of wine a secret when you can tell your colleagues through subliminal messages like this? Well, maybe it’s more obvious than subliminal, but whatever. Tell me you love to drink during the holidays and get drunk with your cousins, without telling me. (I really hope you get that reference.)
3. Pine leaves and lights
Keep it simple and neutral with this festive pine leaves background. This says that you want to show a little holiday spirit, but you don’t want anyone to make any comments about your background during meetings. Honestly, this is kind of a boring choice, but maybe you’re sick of chaos and just want something simple. I can respect that.
4. Vintage signs
If you’re going for a bit of a rustic but still fresh and fun look, then maybe you’ll like this background with the vintage signs. Who could help but smile while looking at those rosy-cheeked images of Santa Claus? If you stare too long though, you’ll remember that Santa was popularized by capitalism and start questioning it too much. Or maybe just enough…
5. Jingle bells
I like this one because it’s subtly obnoxious to those viewing it, but not obnoxious enough that they can tell you and be in the right. I think it’s also pretty neutral, so if you’re not super into Christmas or other holidays around this time, this background can get your colleagues off your back if they all want to plan a fUn BaCkGrOuNd.
6. Snowy lights
You can’t really go wrong with this one. The colorful string lights say, “I’m colorful and festive, but not obnoxiously so.” You don’t mind the cold weather, but it definitely shouldn’t be gray and boring. I have a feeling you’re also the type of person who loves those cheesy holiday films that they churn out every year on Netflix. I definitely can’t relate to that 👀
7. Sunset on the beach
This one is actually a bit evil, but why let all the good guys have fun? Just to mess with people, you could use a background of a totally different kind of holiday. Be a little bit of a grinch and remind colleagues what people in the southern hemisphere are experiencing around Christmastime. Bonus points if you are going somewhere sunny and warm for the holidays and you can remind everyone that you’re better than them.
8. Candles and cranberries
This one looks a little stilted, yes, but it says that you know balance. You may be a bit of a chameleon and possess the ability to match the energy of the people around you. If you’re in a group and there seems to be a need for a leader, you’re willing to step up to the plate. If you’re in a group of loud and obnoxious people, you’re also fine with hanging back and enjoying the ride without feeling like you need to push your way in. You’re not a doormat, but you also don’t need to constantly have the attention on you. People like this are clever and indispensable.
9. Reflective snowy lake
It’s a safe choice, but not because you’re boring or have no holiday spirit, rather because you don’t have the time to invest in finding a better background. You’re not afraid of risk, but you also have better stuff to do, like respond to emails during meetings and make it look like you’re taking notes and paying attention. You also might be a capricorn.
10. Book and tea
You’re a church girl, but you don’t want to necessarily shout it from the rooftops. It looks quite like a bible, but there’s room for reasonable doubt that it could actually be any book. However, you know that other church girls will recognize it and you can relate to this later on in a private chat. Now you can talk about your favorite hymns and use the praying emoji unironically with each other.
