How to Zoom Your Room: Room Rater's Ultimate Style Guide

by Claude Taylor, Jessie Bahrey

The ultimate users' guide to curating your Zoom background from Room Raters, Twitter's foremost experts in on-screen décor. From the virtual office aficionados and Twitter superstars who brought the world the dreaded embarrassment of “cord violations,” comes a fun, informative guide for everyone who now finds themselves having to endure the endless onslaught of digital meetings and calls.
 
Packed with beautiful how-to illustrations that demonstrate visually stunning set-ups and tips from celebrity zoom rooms, Room Rater packs an amusing punch while offering advice on how to up your game and not be embarrassed by your surroundings. Included in the book are examples from TV host Jonathan Capehart, former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, Senator Mazie Hirono, historian Michael Beschloss who takes readers on a tour of historic presidential rooms, and many more.
 
Chockfull of practical advice that speaks directly to the home office user, the book offers guidance on how to create good lighting, use the perfect camera angle, get rid of clutter, add aesthetically pleasing touches, and avoid appearing as if you are in a hostage video. Whether we like it or not, the remote workplace is here to stay and this book serves as an essential guide to navigating that new normal. It’s a valuable tool for everyone who wants to appear professional, competent, and composed.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Interior Design

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2022

Reviews

[Clay Fernald · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 pineapples for this fun and amazingly illustrated book about our favorite pandemic layover — the ultimate zoom background! Followers of the twitter account are already familiar with cord violations but the authors and illustrators lay out how to keep your calls from looking like hostage videos. Spoiler: digital backgrounds are out!

[Mary Lynn]

Quick fun v current read. For people who are still working or doing lots of socializing from home.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining and informative book. I sat down and read it in one sitting. It's quick and yet they provide practical information on how to get your background reflecting yourself on zoom.They don't overthink it which I like. They don't expect you to run out and spend money, which I think is realistic. Most of us just need some guidance as we do a 360 of a room and say OK where in here should I set up my zoom. This book tells you.

[Amie Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Nice collection of tips for setting up zoom from home, could even be useful for those just needing home design tips. Colorful and aesthetically pleasing, simple to follow, a quick read. The organization of the book seemed whimsical and I stopped reading the testimonials halfway through because I felt they did not add anything. Overall I liked the book, I took away a few tips, but it is not a book that will live on my shelf

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how I missed the Room Rater craze but maybe I was too busy during the pandemic being a bat-shit-crazy-busy nurse. I’d been vocal from day one about the joy I felt in seeing the bookshelves of my favorite commentators and the artwork on their walls. OMg- I think it’s half the reason I watched the news every night.

I was late to the room rater game, but had fun reading this book as an alternative.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical and humorous. I don’t know how much longer we’ll be dealing with remote work spaces, but until we’re all back in the office full time, let’s avoid those cord violations.

[Liz Harmath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and useful. Excellent illustrations!

[Paul Mashack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun little read, and provided motivation to update my Zoom environment.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly political.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cake recipes were a fun surprise.

[Tej Dhawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read and a fun one. The book brings the thought process behind this wildly popular Twitter series to print and was a great reference. Now to put some of its lessons into practice!

[Clay Fernald · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 pineapples for this fun and amazingly illustrated book about our favorite pandemic layover — the ultimate zoom background! Followers of the twitter account are already familiar with cord violations but the authors and illustrators lay out how to keep your calls from looking like hostage videos. Spoiler: digital backgrounds are out!

[Ronda Canary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5