As spring gently taunts me with its warmth, I find myself eyeing my home office. This is a room in which I spend a lot of time. However, I haven’t put much effort into decorating it. The black sofa and red pouffe were just plopped in there without much thought. And the rest of the office furniture, desk and storage, is all white. Not exactly a stunning canvas to base your career on. Given that I love the outdoors, and particularly the tropics, I decided to take the matter in hand and create some tropical therapy in my home office.
Before
The sofa and pouf had to go, but what should be done with the long white wall? I wanted ambience. I also wanted to add some natural elements to create a tropical vibe. One day, while sourcing floral wallpapers for a client, I decided I wanted a floral motif myself. And not just small florals. Big ones. Large, make-a-statement florals. Maybe even tropicals. A few days later Photowall contacted me and the idea for my office was born. Talk about divine timing!
Photowall has so many beautiful options, it took me three days to choose one. It has a palm theme. Instead of doing just the back wall, I decided to extend the paper to the window, which would allow me to enjoy tall palm leaves above both of the sitting areas that I planned to create.
Process
The wallpaper was easy to order. Quick tip: Europe uses the metric system while the US uses the imperial system. So, the paper is measured in centimetres rather than inches.
I wanted the tall palm sections to flank the window, and at the end of one of the walls. All panels are numbered so it was easy to plan.
The panels are not pre-pasted, so the next step was to mix paste. It was a bit of a learning curve because I’d never used wallpaper paste. However, I soon discovered that a hand mixer, (I used a Braun) is effective at mixing it as long as you didn’t add too much water at the beginning. The rule is to add just enough water to make a thick paste, as if you were making lump-free pancake batter. Then slowly add the rest of the water while continuously mixing.
I recommend applying the paste to the wall using a paint roller rather than a paint brush, which is messy and slower. The roller allows you to control how much paste is applied so you don’t get it on the wallpaper.
Hanging the paper, which took about six hours, was easy once I got the hang of it (pardon the pun). I worked alone, so had to use a ladder. Having a helper would have shortened the process.
Reading corner
Once the wallpaper was applied, I created seating areas. For reading, I found a chair that wouldn’t occupy too much room. My new Poang chair from IKEA with a black cushion has clean lines and doesn’t take up much visual space (I didn’t want the furnishings eclipsing the wall). On the floor, I added a textured jute rug – IKEA Lohals – in natural, and an Ugilt flatwoven rug in black/beige. Two Alseda stools double as foot rests and side tables, depending on my need.
Desk Corner
By the desk, I added a simple white chair from Zone Maison and a cork box (a gift from a friend). This space will be used by my assistant, who comes in twice weekly to help me.
It’s now a beautiful space. Sunlight pours through the window and highlights the tropical scene. All that is missing is the piña colada!
Thank you Photowall for giving me the opportunity to use your beautiful wallpaper to redecorate my office. I am so happy with the results!
Photowall
Photowall not only sells wallpaper and murals, but also canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. You can also upload your own image and create your own wallpaper, canvas print or poster.
If you would like to spruce up a room or simply add a cherished photo or two, I am happy to announce that Photowall is offering a 25 per cent discount to all my readers! Just use the code traceymckenziepw2020 at checkout. This offer is valid until the end of May 2020. •
