The rapid rise of video conferencing has opened a new window onto our homes — and into the lives of coworkers, celebrities, and news correspondents. What does your Zoom background say about you? How far will people go to tidy, stage, or disguise their spaces before joining a call? In this episode we talk about how video calls have changed our approach to home decor, how a family trip earlier this year nudged our decision to move to Florida, and why there’s a shiny new object on our kitchen counter. Sherry also shares an awkward story from her New York City days that remains a running joke.
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What’s New
- That photo is from one of the Airbnbs we stayed at during our family trip to Costa Rica in January. The mood and materials we liked there have informed our thinking about the future pool and outdoor vibe for our Florida home.
- Traveling in smaller homes and Airbnbs helped reinforce our interest in downsizing. If you’re considering a smaller place, think about test-driving the lifestyle by spending time in more compact rentals to see what truly works for you.
- During the trip we met a family operating a butterfly sanctuary and building an amazing treehouse-style Airbnb. Their blended US–Costa Rica lifestyle left a strong impression and added to the feeling that a move could be the right next chapter for us.
- If you’re curious for more travel tips and tours from our trip — including kid-friendly advice and video tours of both Airbnbs — check the related trip post for full details.
Decorating For Zoom
We could definitely still improve our Zoom background, but our current home office lighting is already miles better than the dark silhouette setup we used to have when calling from a large desktop screen. Good front lighting, a clean background, and a few well-placed décor elements can make a huge difference on video calls.
- There’s a playful online culture around judging video backgrounds. Accounts like Room Rater highlight what works — and what doesn’t — in a tongue-in-cheek way. Their examples are helpful for anyone wanting quick, practical guidance on staging a camera-ready space.
- Design publications offer simple styling tips for video calls: use layered lighting, keep the camera at eye level, avoid cluttered shelves, and add one or two personal touches like plants or framed art to convey personality without distraction.
- We also asked listeners to share how they’ve upgraded their video-call spaces — from lighting and paint choices to shelving and background art — and invited honest feedback on what worked and what didn’t.
We’re Digging
- After posting a kitchen photo, listeners noticed our Berkey water filter on the counter. It’s been a reliable countertop water solution for us, and several people asked about it in the comments.
- To make our setup more functional we purchased a stand that lifts the filter, making it easier to fit large bottles underneath — a simple tweak that improved daily use.
- We also started using a compact Shark Wandvac because of its small footprint and handy attachment storage in the charging base. It pairs nicely with our long-standing cordless Shark stick vacuum for quick cleanups around the house.
If you’re trying to remember a product or recommendation we mentioned in a past episode, we keep a master list of everything we’ve been digging, plus a separate Book Club page with all our book recommendations.
A quick note of thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They’re offering 20% off mattresses, cooling pillows, and more with the code COMFORT20 at checkout.
Thanks for listening! We appreciate you following along as we’ve been sharing updates about our move, home projects, travel inspiration, and small appliance finds. If you’ve got tips for video backgrounds or downsizing, we’d love to hear what worked for you.
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