Inspiration

If, like me, your desk is a temporary space in a less-than-tidy setting, then simply move your laptop to a better styled one when you know a video meeting is approaching. This is a tip I’ve picked up from Neptune’s marketing director, Fiona: while one early video call featured her box room – named, literally, for the slightly higgledy-piggledy collection of storage boxes it contains – others have been taken from an armchair with characterfully-styled Pembroke shelves behind. Other Neptuners have been sat with their backs to antique headboards and garden planting schemes. You don’t even have to move rooms – product designer Elise has simply moved an armchair so it sits in front of a pretty view out the window (if you do this, make it a not-too-sunny window). Personally, I think I’ll make my George armchair on the flipside of the aforementioned dividing bookcase my next meeting spot.

…to give a plain-Jane spot a little love and claim it as your new home office. Lots of us have those in-between spaces (such as on landings) or even whole forgotten rooms that we’ve always meant to do something with. And all it would really take is a lick of paint (even if you’re not ready to commit, this might be the time to crack out those tester pots that have been piling up and experiment) and a picture hung on the wall. Then, either place a desk and dining chair in this spot (console tables make great makeshift desks) – with your back to the wall – or an armchair and side table depending on how you like to work. All of which could be done in a weekend. It’s just what our stylist, Meaghan, has done in her recently-moved-into home, quickly transforming a yet-to-be-used bedroom by simply painting the walls in our dramatic Ink shade. 

With so many of us living (and now working) in open plan spaces, no wonder it’s an uphill battle to keep video call backdrops looking good. One way to combat the problem is to take a leaf (pun intended) out of Neptune graphic designer Krystle’s book and surround your setting with greenery. By placing a Chichester console table back to back with her Olivia sofa (her morning workspace of choice) and topping it with potted plants, she’s screened her exercise area behind and created a backdrop that’s a vision of serenity. Not all of us have a house plant collection as impressive as Krystle’s, but you could achieve much the same effect with piles of hardback books or (tasteful) family photographs instead.

If all else fails, a blank wall as your backdrop may be a tad dull, but it’s certainly an improvement on an untidy and distracting scene, and is nothing if not professional. Add in a vase of flowers, a lamp or a candle (make sure to light it before meetings) to your side and hey presto, you’ve got yourself a background that says, my home is a place of calm not chaos, and none of your colleagues need know otherwise.