100+ Flat Lay Backgrounds for Bloggers
October 1, 2019I love flat lay photography. Not only do I love viewing flat lay photography, but I love styling flat lays for my blog. At first, I felt discouraged at the quality of my photos. But I keep improving my flat lay skills. Lighting and featured products play a vital role in creating the perfect flat lay, but unique flat lay backgrounds set the mood for the entire photo. In today’s post, I’m sharing 100+ flat lay backgrounds for bloggers.
What is a Flat Lay?
A Flat Lay is typically an aerial, product-focused shot. Moreover, these shots can feature a wide variety of products. However, flat lays were popularized within the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle community.
Contrary to popular belief, ”luxe” looking flat lays are often just a trick of good lighting, photo editing, and a lovely background. However, lovely backgrounds do not have to cost much or anything at all. Keep reading today’s post for 100+ flat lay backgrounds for bloggers.
Clothing & Accessories
Clothing and accessories make great backdrops for flat lay photos. In fact, these articles work whether the viewer knows that another featured product is laying on clothing or not. The below are amazing clothing and accessory pieces that work as flat lay backgrounds.
- Bandanas
- Beanies
- Blouses
- Canvas or cloth bags
- Coats (planed, patterned, bold, neutral, textured, etc)
- Delivery Boxes
- Jeans
- Large Headbands
- Leggings / Sweatpants
- Pants
- Paper/canvas shopping bags
- Reusable bags
- Scarves
- Shawls
- Sweaters
- Sweatshirts
- T-shirts
- Tank Tops
- Tote bags
- Winter hats
Ariana Grande Merch, Vogue Cover, & Clear Handbag
Indoor Furniture
In-door furniture are great backdrops for flat lays. Many of these are already in your home, so need to spend money on fancy props!
- Bar Carts
- Bathroom Counter
- Bed
- Bookshelves
- Bureau
- Couch cushions
- Coffee Table
- Desk
- End Table
- Floor Rug
- Flooring Samples
- Furry Rug
- Kitchen Table
- Kitchen Counter
- Marble Table Top
- Mirror
- Nightstand
- Shoe Bags
- Storage Lids
- Tapestry or Accent Rug
- Vanity
- Windowsill
- Wood Flooring
- Yoga Mats
Close up of the Natasha Denona Sunrise Eyeshadow Palette
Home Decor / Home Essentials
These home essentials are often overlooked as great sources for flat lay backgrounds for bloggers. But they shouldn’t be ignored! Whether they are used to set the color palette for your flat lay or used to enhance texture, these are awesome backdrops!
- Acrylic Storage Drawers
- Aprons
- Baskets (wooden, wicker, metal)
- Bedding (sheets, blankets)
- Bathmats
- Blackboard / Chalkboard
- Bulletin Board
- Cutting Board
- Decorative Blanks / Throw Blankets
- Decorative Napkins
- Decorative Plates
- Empty Boxes
- Food Trays / Magazine Trays
- Jewelry Holder / Jewelry Plate
- Hot Plates
- Metal Basket
- Paintings
- Photoboard
- Pillows
- Place Mats
- Storage Boxes (decorative or functional)
- Table Cloths
- Tin boxes
- Towels / Washcloths
- Wallpaper / Wallpaper Samples
- Wooden storage boxes
ColourPop x Halo Top Collection Shot on a Doily Napkin
Outdoor Backdrops
Outdoor backdrops are obviously the easiest and least expensive flat lay backgrounds. Air, grass, sky, etc. are all free!
- Beach / Sand
- Beach Towel
- Brick surfaces
- Grass
- Garden area
- Hammock Chair
- Haystack
- Lawn Chair
- Outdoor bridge
- Outdoor stoop
- Park Bench
- Patio Table
- Pavement
- Picnic blanket
- Picnic Table
- Sidewalk
- Sleeping Bag
- Stone surfaces
- Treehouse
- Wooden Porch
- Patio Table
Beach Flat Lay on Towel & Sand shot in natural lighting. Featured products: Sol Body Shimmering Body Oil and Kabuki Brush and Kylie Lip Blush Liquid Lipsticks
Mixed Media
Not only do books enhance our ability to learn and explore diverse POVs, but they make beautiful flat lay backgrounds!
- Books
- Canvas Paintings
- Cards
- Coloring Books
- Design Printables
- Ipad
- Newspaper
- Magazines (my all-time favorite backdrop)
- Photographs
- Photograph Album
- Photo Tent
- Postcards
- Scrapbook
- Vinyl record cases
ColourPop Guava Have It Lip Tint Duo Shot on a Magazine Spread
Stationary
- Burlap squares/bags
- Backdrops
- Contact Paper
- Doily Paper
- Folders
- Notebooks/Notepads
- Planners
- Posterboard (plain, patterned, or colorful)
- Stock paper (plain, patterned, or colorful)
- Tissue Paper
- Wrapping Paper
Juvia’s Place Nubian 12-Pan Eyeshadow Palette
How to Stage the Perfect Shot?
There is such a wide variety of potential backdrops for flat lays. Moreover, these flat lay backgrounds range from totally free to super luxe. But how to stage the perfect shot?
Ultimately, you don’t need to spend a ton of money to stage the perfect shot. Using items that you already own can drastically reduce costs without sacrificing quality. In fact, with just a little bit of good lighting, and proper editing, even the most common background can look luxurious.
Moreover, good lighting and a little bit of editing can enhance the vibe of any photo. The right filter or shadows can make plain white bedsheets look luxe. Once you start to develop a unique flat lay style, it may be worthwhile to invest in new props or backgrounds.
Luxury Beauty Flat Lay Shot over a Magazine & Bedding
My favorite flat lay backdrops? Personally, I’m a huge fan of flat backdrop paper, rugs, and magazines!
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Do you enjoy creating or viewing flat lays? Where is your favorite place to shoot flat lays? Please let me know in the comments below.
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This is so helpful, so many great ideas here – I didn’t realise how much I already had that I could use, thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you found this helpful. I thought my flatlays would never improve because I didn’t own luxury things, but between at-home props and editing, very inexpensive and common props and backgrounds can be made to look more luxe! 🙂
I’ve been abusing my blog because I felt so discouraged when it came to taking nice photos, and I don’t particularly have a creative eye that others have – but this has given me some inspiration to just keep trying new things! I’ll definitely be using your list in future 😊
Aw I’m so sorry to hear that you have felt discouraged but I can totally relate because that was how I felt for the longest time. Wish you all the best with your blog and hope that this list was helpful for you!
You’re absolutely killing it with the flatlay game, girl!! I really need to up mine haha.. I have stuff lying around but most of the time I’m just plain lazy to take it out. I also need to do it during the morning / early afternoon but now that I’m at school it’s really difficult to do so and by the time I’m home, I have awful yellow lighting! Thanks for sharing the tips girl!
ooo girl, if I had your design skills I wouldn’t even be thinking about flat lays lol! Ps how did I just find your art IG account??! It is so freaking cute!!
I actually take most of my photos at night because I invested in a ring light. It was the biggest game-changer for me since I am not home often during the day.
Love this post! So helpful. I feel like I could never get the right haha xx
I’m so glad that you found this helpful. Wishing you the best with your blog & flat lays!! 🙂
I’ve been looking for a post like this for god knows how long. Your flat lays are always creative and varied, which I love! I never know what props to use for my photography but you’ve given such a handy list of products that I’ll deffo be using going forward. Thanks so much for this extensive list!
I’ve been looking for a post like this for god knows how long. Your flat lays are always creative and varied, which I love! I never know what props to use for my photography but you’ve given such a handy list of products that I’ll deffo be using going forward. Thanks so much for this extensive list!
Ah thank you girl!!! I always felt so discouraged that my flat lays couldn’t compare to the luxe looking ones that I saw on IG, but I learned that inexpensive items can look really lovely and luxe in photos!! I’ll have to do another post on my favorite flat lay props!
I love these ideas and inspiration, LP, and more than anything, I have loved watching your pictures evolve. The above- they look like professional! ♥️
Thank you so much, Jennifer!! Your bookstagram posts are always on another level. I’m always impressed by the vibrancy and how varied each photo looks!!
So sweet, LP. Thank you! I get burned out on them and comment like that keep me going!
I really appreciate this post. Thank you
Your flatlays are the best so when I saw you made this blog post, I was so excited! Love your ideas and I’m definitely using this when creating flatlays.
ahh thank you girl! You’ve been killing it with your flat lays – everything always looks so elevated and luxe in your photos. <3
Aw thank you so much! ❤️❤️
You really do have fantastic flatlay! I need some of these tips too because I have a beauty account that I’m always racking for ideas on how to create something visually stimulating!
aw thank you! <3 I hope this was helpful for you 😀
I love that you made this list. I’ve been riding the struggle bus with my flat lays- though I do love taking them outside in my back yard most recently.
OMG girl, your outdoor flat lays are always so gorgeous and unique looking!! I love seeing them pop up in my feed.
I started reading this post yesterday while I was at work and OMG this post is so helpful. I have loved seeing your growth with flatlays. Your IG is so beautiful. I always have a hard time with gathering props because I don’t know what to use lol. So, thank you for sharing this list!
Much love always,
GABBY | http://www.gabbyabigaill.com
Ah thank you so much girl, I always appreciate your kind words so much. 💜 I know I have more to learn, but I’m proud of how my photos have improved over the last year! ☺️
I LOVE your flatlays, they are always so perfect & pretty. I get a backache just from taking a picture of one product though lol I don’t have “the eye” for adding in details & moving everything at the exact right angle, you know?
I love all these ideas! I have to get back into photographing flat lays. Thanks for the inspo girl 😁