“Our Cornonavirus situation is certainly not ideal, but these websites are out to make this new experience of distance learning and working a little easier (and more fun) for us all.”

by Abigail Mering

Gari Melchers home and studio — **Gari Melchers** home and studio

The Coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot about the way we all go about our day-to-day lives, but one restriction that has had a major impact on society is the closing of schools and public work places.

Suddenly, we have all had to adapt our schedules and studies to a new environment, which for many is a significantly less professional one. We were used to the organization of working from a particular desk or classroom, and the routine of being around peers or classmates (and actually wearing dress pants and shoes).

Now suddenly we live in a world of video calls. Zoom has played a major role for all of us in keeping up with our work and studies from the safety of home, and at this point, most have gotten more used to the rhythm of it.

As helpful as it has been, we’ve all had that moment during the video call where you realize that the dirty laundry or toys have made an appearance in the corner of your screen.

While we’d certainly like to be showing off how beautifully we’ve kept our living spaces during quarantine, that’s not always realistic. More often than not, home tends to consist of the dirty laundry and little Jimmy’s race cars and Legos.

Luckily, there are a few art museums and websites coming to the rescue. They are offering free Zoom backgrounds during quarantine to those who may want their environment to look a little more professional or compelling than daily domesticity; instead, you could be sitting in the Dining Room from Lansdowne House at The Met.

After a design by Robert Adam, English, 1728–1792. Dining Room from Lansdowne House (detail), 1766–69. 17 ft. 11 in. x 24 ft. 6 in. x 47 ft. (5.46 x 7.47 x 14.33 m). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1931 (32… — After a design by Robert Adam, English, 1728–1792. Dining Room from Lansdowne House (detail), 1766–69. 17 ft. 11 in. x 24 ft. 6 in. x 47 ft. (5.46 x 7.47 x 14.33 m). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1931 (32.12)

Or perhaps you might want to work from The Met Cloisters courtyard?

Cuxa Cloister (detail), ca. 1130–40. Catalan. Benedictine monastery of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, near Perpignan, France. Marble, 90 x 78 ft. (27.4 x 23.8 m). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1925 (25.120.398–.954) — Cuxa Cloister (detail), ca. 1130–40. Catalan. Benedictine monastery of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, near Perpignan, France. Marble, 90 x 78 ft. (27.4 x 23.8 m). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1925 (25.120.398–.954)

There are also options to enter your next meeting with whimsical wallpaper, or a work of art behind you.

Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858). Teahouse at Hirokōji (detail), ca. 1835–42. Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, 9 7/8 in. x 14 1/2 in. (25.1 x 36.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Rogers Fund 1919 (JP1166)

The Huntington is offering this as well, featuring snapshots from their famous gardens or artwork from their art museum.

Chinese Garden. Photo by Martha Benedict.

Strawberry Thief (ca. 1883) designed by William Morris. Credit line: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. — *Strawberry Thief* (ca. 1883) designed by William Morris. Credit line: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

We might dream of living in an architectural marvel in a gorgeous setting, but while that may be unrealistic in actuality, Dwell has got us covered in the meantime. You’ll be calling into your next meeting from a dream house or a beach vacation in the Bahamas.

Our Cornonavirus situation is certainly not ideal and is a struggle for so many, but these websites are out to make this new experience of distance learning and working a little easier (and more fun) for us all.

Abigail Mering is a student at Thomas Aquinas College. She has a background in writing and social media marketing.