Guides

Whether you’re a YouTube star with millions of views or just starting out, there’s one thing you likely have in common: you want your videos to look their best. 

While the background might be easy to overlook, it makes all the difference in drawing viewers into your videos and keeping them engaged with your content. 

The right background can set the tone and mood of your video, and the wrong background can clash with your subject matter and distract your viewers from what you are trying to show them. 

So, where do you find inspiration for YouTube background ideas? What kinds of backgrounds work best for different types of videos?

20 Best YouTube Background Ideas

1. Solid Color Backdrops

This effective but simple idea is great for creating a clean, professional look. You can use many colors, but black or white is the most popular. 

You’ll also find various materials you can employ to achieve solid color backdrops like seamless paper, fabric backdrops, and vinyl backpots. The choice of background will vary depending on your video subject matter, so it’s best to experiment with different options.

2. Curtains

Curtains serve as another good backdrop option since they come in many shapes, sizes, and designs. They provide a versatile design solution since they come in all sorts of lengths, from short curtains to long curtains.

You’ll want to consider where your viewers will see the video, as curtains with vibrant patterns may not work well when seen close up, whereas dramatic drapes may be perfect for videos seen in full-screen mode.

Curtains are often made from heavy-duty polyester and lace, but lighter fabrics like silk can make beautiful backdrops.

3. Patterns

Another background idea is patterned backdrops which are a bit more complicated but offer many more design options. 

If you go with a pattern, choose one that will be appealing and complement your subject matter. Be sure it isn’t too busy since it can easily distract viewers from your content. If you’re using a pattern, you should also avoid using too many contrasting colors because it can cause them to blend together. 

You could buy a patterned background and then hang it behind you as you film, or purchase a pre-made backdrop with the same pattern as your camera lens.

4. Use Any Fabric

Fabrics like cotton canvas, muslin cloths, linen, gauze scarves, and satin sheets can create interesting backgrounds. 

Consider the fabric you’re working with before choosing this option, though some fabrics will wrinkle while others won’t allow light to pass through. Lighter colors like whites, creams, blues, lavenders, and yellows work better than darker colors like blacks and reds. 

You’ll also want to measure how much fabric you need before cutting it down into the desired size. One way to do this is by figuring out how wide each side needs to be so that you have enough space on each side of your frame to place lights and other accessories if necessary.

5. A Blank Wall

Sometimes, all you require is a blank wall to shoot against. Instead of using something too colorful and distracting, you can focus on the person speaking rather than their surroundings. 

To make this background idea work well, paint your wall flat white or cover it with a sheet of butcher paper. This approach gives off a neat, minimalistic vibe that could be used for corporate videos or testimonials. 

It’s also the easiest and cheapest idea, but it can get monotonous after a while. You can spruce things up a little by painting the walls with colorful murals or hanging art to add a touch of personality to your scene.

6. Bookcase

Another background idea is placing books behind you. Books come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so you’ll have many options when choosing them. 

However, there are a few drawbacks, such as creases that could distract viewers. Also, books are heavy, making it more difficult to move around your space when filming. You’ll also want to use hardcover books since the pages are thicker and stand up better when propped open. 

You can prop open a book in front of your camera and set it at the right angle for best viewing. This is an excellent option for those who don’t have many expensive props or fancy pieces of furniture that they’d like to show off.

This is a perfect backdrop idea for videos that cover topics such as Business and Finance.

7. Use TV As The Background

Another great idea is using a TV as your background. If you have an extra television set in your home, remove it from its stand and prop it up in front of your camera. 

This adds some atmosphere to your video since viewers will see what you’re watching during filming. You can also play on-screen notes behind you if you’re covering a song and want viewers to be able to follow along easily. 

You can find free or paid screensavers online with various color and style choices. You could also have multiple televisions showing different screensavers or movies, thus creating a more cohesive look to your footage.

8. Office

Adding an office background is another excellent YouTube background idea. You can simply position your desk, chair, and table in front of your camera. 

Place a whiteboard behind you for notes or writing down song lyrics. You can also add some props, such as a globe or company logo, that viewers may not be expecting in a video. 

You can have your computer or laptop on your desk and a coffee mug with the company logo on it. You can also place folders and documents on the desk to give it a business feel. When it comes to office background ideas, you have endless possibilities.

If you’re a realtor or you make real estate videos, using your office as your backdrop is a perfect idea.

9. Conference Room

If you have a company logo, you can add it to posters placed behind you. If not, simply use some letter stickers, add your company name or slogan onto the white posterboard, and hang it on a wall behind you. 

You can also set up seating for two people on opposite sides of your table so that viewers feel like they’re in a meeting with you. This way, one side of your face will be lit by the window while the other side is lit by a lamp. This allows you to maintain depth in your face without any harsh shadows being cast. 

For even more scenery, bring a plant into the room. Potted plants work well because they won’t distract you too much from what you’re saying.

10. Use Peel and Stick Wallpaper

One unique background idea for YouTube videos is peel-and-stick wallpaper. This is a great option for creating a temporary backdrop. 

You can easily apply it to any wall, hang pictures, and remove it when you’re done filming your video. Additionally, many designs are available, so you won’t need to worry about a second roll. 

There are different textures, patterns, and motifs depending on what kind of mood you’re going for.

11. Windows

Some windows are transparent, while others are translucent. Using a video of a building with clear or translucent windows as a background can create some really beautiful effects. 

Keep in mind that there needs to be enough light in your scene for it not to appear overly dark.

12. Living Room

The color and style of your room will make a big difference in how your background looks. 

Keep in mind that, although it may seem difficult, try not to use too many different colors at once. They will all blend into an ugly brown mess if you do. 

The best thing you can do here is to use one main color and let that be dominant.

13. Trees & Forests

The forest makes a beautiful background if you’re looking for something more natural than cityscape buildings. Forests make everything look peaceful and tranquil, perfect for filming nature documentaries or romantic couples taking walks on crisp fall days. 

But because forests usually involve a lot of trees, you need to be careful what time of day you film the scenes; sunrise or sunset can work well. Filming during the day is also fine, but just make sure the sky isn’t too bright.

14. Night Sky

Stars make for stunning backdrops. For example, you could take a picture of stars while they’re projected on a backdrop of trees or mountains. The effect is beautiful and unique; it’s not something you often see in nature documentaries. 

Of course, getting a picture of an actual starry night can be difficult since there are no stars when the sun is out. So what can you do? You will want to wait until after sunset, but before it gets completely dark.

15. Kitchen

If you shoot food videos or how-to videos, there’s a good chance your background will be your kitchen. Since kitchens are generally white and bright, they don’t make great backdrops on their own. 

That said, you can use your kitchen in an interesting way by simply filming at night with some candles lit. This will give your shots an elegant look that stands out from most other cooking videos out there.

16. Plants 

There are so many different kinds of plants that you could use. If you need a little something that will provide a bit of color, consider using something in your own home, like a pink rose or an orange lily. 

Of course, if you want more dramatic colors, go for tropical plants and flowers found outside, like hibiscus or bougainvilleas. 

On the other hand, if you want something with more texture and greenness, shoot some footage in a greenhouse filled with ferns and cacti. If you’d like to experiment with textures even further, find pictures of plants on Google Images and crop them into squares. 

They’ll show up better when seen through the camera lens as long as they are large enough.

17. Maps

A map can be a great background for your next video, especially if it’s something like a travel documentary. You want to find an old-fashioned-looking map that shows all your location names instead of just a plain old country outline. 

You can usually find these maps online or at a local antique store. The best thing to do is to print it out and frame it, then place a sheet of glass over the top. This will make it look like you’re in front of the map, making your viewers feel as if they are right there with you.

18. Glitter

It may seem strange to decorate your background with glitter, but it can look quite pretty when you get it right. The problem is that plain old regular glitter doesn’t work so well because it’s too light and tends to flake off as soon as you touch it. 

Instead, try using something called metallic micro-bead gel or something similar (it has a variety of names). 

This special kind of glitter is usually silver or gold in color and much heavier than normal glitter.

19. Rainbow

A great background for the video is a rainbow. To get started, you’ll need to be somewhere where there are plenty of rainbows like in a national park or on an island filled with tropical flowers. 

If you want something more realistic, consider adding a semi-transparent colored piece of film over your camera lens so it looks like the light is passing through it.

This backdrop idea is perfect for travel vloggers.

20. Paper Butterflies

Last but not least, you can always create your own background with paper butterflies. You must cut out a bunch of butterfly shapes and glue them to the wall or a door. 

Once they are in position, you will want to put one square of transparent blue cellophane over the top and draw on it with an eye dropper, so it sticks in place. 

Then, you can add a few dabs of paint here and there to make it look like the butterflies are sitting on your TV. You should have a beautiful backdrop to make your videos stand out when finished.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, there are so many great ways to make your videos pop. No matter your niche, many creative ways exist to spice up your background and bring it to life. With creativity and experimentation, you can find a background that perfectly matches your videos.

You may also want to check these various tips on how to go viral on YouTube.