How To Make a Video Conference Privacy Screen

Protect your privacy (and your mess!) from your co-workers with a DIY video call background.

Karen Kavett sitting at table on laptop with privacy screen behind her

Privacy Screen for Video Chats

HGTV Handmade's Karen Kavett made this privacy screen out of recycled cardboard to disguise household eyesores for video conference calls.

Working from home already offers enough challenges — worrying about your co-workers commenting on that stack of dishes on the coffee table shouldn't be one of them. Avoid distractions with this easy DIY privacy screen; it comes together quickly with just cardboard, duct tape and contact paper.

DIY Video Call Privacy Screen
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Materials + Tools

  • 3 large cardboard panels
  • duct tape
  • contact paper
  • scissors

Gather Cardboard Panels

Line up three large cardboard panels or similar sturdy boards. These should be stiff enough to stand up on their own. Ours had been used as packing material for a new piece of furniture.

Karen Kavett Holding Cardboard Panel

Gather Cardboard Panels

Line up three large cardboard panels or similar sturdy boards. These should be stiff enough to stand up on their own. Ours had been used as packing material for a new piece of furniture!

Tape Together

Line up the three panels and tape them together on one side to make a tri-fold board (Image 1 + 2). You can use duct tape, packing tape or any other sturdy tape that you have.

Cover With Contact Paper

Cover the front of the boards with contact paper. (Be sure to buy enough contact paper to cover the entire thing!)

Karen Adding Blue Contact Paper to Cardboard Panels

Cover With Contact Paper

Cover the front of the boards with contact paper. Be sure to buy enough contact paper to cover the entire thing!

Finish Edges

Wrap the sides with duct tape for a more finished look and to hide any uneven edges (Image 1 + 2).

Stand It Up

That’s it — stand the board up behind your chair, and you can go from a messy, busy background to one that is professional and simple.

Before: Workspace Without the Divider and After With the Divider

Before and After: DIY Privacy Screen

HGTV Handmade's Karen Kavett made this privacy screen out of recycled cardboard to disguise household eyesores for video conference calls.

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