How to Set Up a Video Studio in Any Office (No Space to Full Buildout)

You're excited to start using video to build trust, shorten your sales cycle, and grow your business. But now you're staring at your office space and wondering where to even begin.

Maybe you tried a simple set-up in your office, spent hours trying to make it look just right, and it still doesn't look like you had hoped.

Maybe you started researching how to build a studio and felt your stomach twist when you saw the price tag on some of the gear. Between the cameras, lighting rigs, sound panels, and backdrops, it’s easy to assume you need a massive budget or a dedicated media room to get started.

You don’t.

In reality, the best studio setup is the one that works for your space and helps your team show up consistently. Whether you’re working with a borrowed desk corner or planning a full buildout, you can create a reliable setup that looks good, sounds good, and makes recording a whole lot easier.

In this article, we’ll walk you through three practical studio options (from beginner to advanced) with examples, tips, and a clear breakdown of what to expect at each level.

Let’s find the setup that fits your team.

Before you build anything, know this: 

If you didn’t believe a quality setup helps build credibility for your business, you wouldn’t be here. But before we get into lights, gear, and layouts, there’s one thing you have to remember:

Your studio is just the container. It is not what makes your videos succeed.

Success comes from the strategy behind the videos. Answering the right questions, staying focused on your buyers, and creating content that builds trust over time. That strategy is what separates the businesses that win from the ones that stall out.

At IMPACT, we’ve helped hundreds of companies use the Endless Customers System™ to grow revenue with buyer-focused video, so we've seen this firsthand.

When the right strategy and system are in place, we’ve seen every kind of setup drive results, from a borrowed desk corner to a fully built-out room.

Whatever your space looks like, your goal is simple:

Make it easy for your team to hit record and keep showing up.

Editor’s Note:
If you're the kind of business leader who’s thinking about how to use video not just for marketing, but to grow revenue, shorten the sales cycle, and empower your sales team, you’re exactly who we built the Endless Customers System™ for.

It’s a proven approach we’ve implemented with hundreds of businesses around the world to help them create content that builds trust, answers real buyer questions, and drives measurable results.

If that sounds like the direction you want to take your business, talk to us today.

The "Borrowed Space" setup (beginner)

This setup is perfect if you're just getting started. No extra rooms. No renovations. Just a clean desk, a quiet corner of the office, and a simple lighting setup that gets the job done.

Let's take a look at this example from our clients at CSI Accounting.

This setup is from one of their earlier videos, and it's a great example of how you can turn part of your office into a credible video backdrop. 

While the subject matter expert is filming in what looks like a conference room, most viewers wouldn’t know that because of the smart set design. A bookshelf and plant add depth to the background, and the accounting-themed props on the desk feel playful and on-brand without becoming distracting. The lighting is soft and even, helping the subject look polished without a lot of complicated equipment.

When you’re filming in a shared space like this, the biggest challenge is usually noise. Whether you're in a conference room or tucked into a quiet corner, it helps to block time on your team's calendar and give a quick heads-up the day before. That way, everyone’s on the same page and distractions are kept to a minimum.

This type of setup works well for shared office environments and small teams just beginning their video journey. It’s affordable and flexible, and it gives you a repeatable space that encourages consistency.

To make the most of it, choose a quiet spot with minimal background noise and film against a tidy wall or use a simple backdrop. Collapsible lights like a softbox or ring light can provide professional-looking results without a permanent setup. A wired or wireless lapel mic will improve audio clarity.

A great starter kit might include a tripod, a lapel mic, and one softbox or ring light.

The "Branded Wall" Setup (Intermediate)

This is when you’re ready to level up. You don’t need a full room, just one wall or corner that’s camera-ready, decorated intentionally, and always set for filming. It creates consistency without complicating your process.

Let's take a look at this example from our clients, Linta Roofing. 

They found a permanent corner to set up in and made this really cool roofing-themed backdrop built from wooden shingles. They even created their own neon sign with their logo and added some flair with accent lighting.

This is a perfect intermediate setup. It's a dedicated space where you can leave your gear set up, giving you easy access to record when you need to. They've put some budget into the backdrop and lighting to create a fun and recognizable background, while still keeping the setup simple and relatively inexpensive.

This approach works especially well for marketing teams that produce videos regularly or small businesses that want a clean, branded background that feels consistent from one video to the next.

To make it work, start by using brand colors, signage, or subtle decor to add personality and visual interest to your frame. If your space has a bit of echo, sound panels or even a few well-placed curtains can help absorb noise. Soft, even lighting is key, so consider using a 3-point lighting kit or large softbox to keep your subject well lit. At this level, it’s worth upgrading to a shotgun mic or wireless lav mic to improve sound quality. And most importantly, keep this space camera-ready at all times so you’re never scrambling to get set up.

A typical setup might include a tripod, a 3-point lighting kit, a wireless lav mic or boom mic, and a few foam panels for sound.

The "Scalable Studio" setup (advanced)

This is your full buildout. A dedicated room with mounted gear, sound treatments, and multiple filming zones designed to support consistent, high-quality content.

When we moved into our current IMPACT office, there was a garage in the back of the building that felt like the perfect blank canvas for a video studio. But like a lot of garages, it had some challenges. The ceilings were high, the floors were hard, and the echo was intense.

So we went to work. We hired a company to spray-foam the ceiling to dampen the sound. We added foam panels all over the walls and used black gaff tape on the garage door windows to control the lighting. We painted a corner of the room and built a set using simple IKEA furniture, a mounted TV, fake plants, books, and colorful accent lighting.

Today, that space is home to our permanent setup for filming the Endless Customers podcast. We shoot from three camera angles: a wide shot and one for each guest. Each wall in the room is designed as a unique filming backdrop, giving us flexibility for different types of content.

On the other side of the studio, we have an editing station and a green screen area. That means we can record thought leadership videos, interviews, and polished studio content all in the same space.

This kind of buildout is ideal for teams that produce high volumes of video or want to incorporate podcasting or green screen work into their process.

To make a space like this work, start by planning out multiple filming zones, having set-ups for seated, standing, and wide shot areas. You can even mount lighting from the ceiling or wall to free up space and keep things consistent. Use a teleprompter or tripod setup for the camera, and treat the space with acoustic foam or panels to minimize echo. Add cable management, soft furnishings, and a central control panel to make filming fast and repeatable.

A well-equipped setup might include multiple cameras, LED grid lights, wall-to-wall foam panels, and permanently styled sets.

Making a boring office look good on camera

Here are a few tips that apply to any of the setups we’ve shared. Whether you’re working in a borrowed corner, a branded nook, or a full studio, these ideas will help you make your videos look more polished and professional.

Something that helps any location look better is depth. The further you can sit from the background behind you, the more natural and visually pleasing your shot will feel. That extra distance helps create a softer, more cinematic look with subtle background blur. It gives your videos a sense of space and focus, instead of making it feel like you’re pressed up against a wall. Even just a few feet of separation can make a big difference.

Keep it visually interesting. Things like plants, lamps, and bookshelves can add personality and dimension to your space. These vertical elements help create contrast and visual layers, but be careful not to clutter the frame. Stick with intentional decor that supports your message. A consistent color palette, especially one that reflects your brand, will help make your content feel polished and cohesive.

Lighting is important. Soft, even light will always look better than harsh overheads. Use softboxes, LED panels, or a 3-point lighting kit to keep your subject looking sharp and natural. If you don’t have a permanent setup, consider collapsible or portable lights that are easy to bring in and out.

Think about how your shot will translate to both horizontal and vertical formats. If you're creating content for YouTube and short-form platforms like Instagram or TikTok, you’ll want a framing setup that works well in both orientations. Leave a bit of headroom and keep the focus tight so you can crop footage without losing quality. Avoid overly busy backgrounds that might feel cluttered in a vertical crop.

And lastly, keep your filming space clean and camera-ready. When your area is prepped and organized, you're far more likely to record consistently. A ready-to-go setup removes friction, and that’s the real key to getting your team on camera more often.

What gear do I actually need?

We get this question all the time.

Rather than overstuff this article with product recommendations, we’ve created a dedicated, always-updated list that covers cameras, lighting, audio, and more.

Create the studio that works for you

Every business is different. Every team has different people, schedules, and comfort levels with being on camera. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to building a video space. Copying someone else’s setup isn’t always the answer. The goal is to find the option that makes it easiest for your team to show up consistently and confidently. When you design your studio around your people, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success.

Every studio setup you’ve seen in this guide, from a borrowed desk to a fully built-out space, has helped a real team build trust and drive revenue through video. Not because the setup was flawless. But because the business committed to showing up with clarity, honesty, and consistency.

So now it’s your turn. Find a setup that works for your space. Make it easy for your team to hit record, and start creating the kind of videos your buyers are already searching for.

You’ve got everything you need to start. Let’s get to work.

Need help training your team or refining your video strategy? Talk to us at IMPACT.