Home office: Room decoration

Introduction

I redecorated my new office room. I added an acoustic sound panel wall, painted all other walls and the ceiling for a new fresh look!

Collecting the materials

With my created virtual room design, I went looking for matching real life products and materials to realize the photo idea to reality. This isn’t 1-on-1 possible because you depend on which products are available on the market.

walnut color If you want to use different products but made from one kind of wood, in my case walnut, they must match colors as much as possible. An online product photo can really mislead how it looks in real life. A small difference in light color can change the look already. For this reason, I wanted to buy as much product in a physical store, so I can compare the colors myself. The first and one big thing I bought online was my desk top. Based on the color of it, I went shopping for the other big parts like the floor and acoustic panels.

I bought also already a small wooden drink coaster which match exactly the color and motif of my desk. This was more manageable to take to the store to use as reference instead of taking the complete desk top with me :)

For the floor, I visited a few local stores and compared my coaster to different floors. When I hold it at different angles, the color looks already different, so this was a good choice to take some material to compare. At one store I found a perfect match, and there they had also skirting boards in the matching color.

The stores I was visiting they had only a few basic light and dark wood wall panels. They didn’t match exactly, but one was good enough.

Also, for the dark green paint, it was hard to choose, how it will look like for real. I found online a color I liked, and on that site they had many customers photos who used that same paint. Which gives a good impression how it will look like.

Room design

I have taken care of the entire room. I added an acoustic sound panel wall, painted all other walls and the ceiling for a new fresh look!

Green wall

The green wall had to be a dark moss-like green. I end up for the wall behind the desk, with Histor Perfect Finish muurverf mat Still Searching.

At this site I found a set with customers photos. This gives a good impression of how the color could look like.

This color is available at different Dutch hardware stores:

The white color I used for the other walls and the ceiling is Histor Monodek muurverf RAL 9010 gebroken wit It’s also available at the earlier mentioned hardware stores.

Acoustic sound panels

The advantage of these panels is that the wall doesn’t need to be perfectly smooth. You saw them with a jigsaw to the right height, for each panel you need a single tube special panel glue. Press them to the wall, and then you’re ready to place the next one. The only tricky parts are if you need to cut out a part for the power outlet or a lamp switch.

The panels really absorb sound due to the felt background.

Most of the wood bars are not fully made of solid wood but are pressed wood with a thin layer of veneer. This makes it cheaper to create, but also it’s easy to damage this thin layer. I don’t advise to drill a hole in this wood.

I end up with the 3D Akoestisch paneel walnut from Hornbach. The size of a single panel is: 2600 x 560 x 18 mm

Hornbach NL - walnut

There was also an even darker version available smoked oak but for me too dark.

Hornbach NL - smoked oak

Floor

On the floor, I used laminate. It looks like a wooden floor, it’s strong and easy to install.

The most matching floor with my desk was the Valley warm bruin eiken met V-groef aka Valley warm brown oak with V-groove from the Dutch hardware store Karwei NL. You can feel the structure on the laminate planks.

Karwei NL

I bought there also the matching skirting boards.

Karwei NL

Under this floor, I add an isolation layer to reduce the sound to the floor below and avoid losing heath.

Ceiling lights

smart bulb

As I automated my home, I did it also for this room.

I keep the original ceiling lights but replaced the lamps with colored Zigbee bulbs. With these bulbs, I can automate them based on occupancy of the room, the part of the day and the amount of light from outside. Based on these conditions, I can automatically set the light strength and change the color.

Curtains

The curtains are custom-made of thick velours material with an extra isolation layer to keep the cold/warm/sound outside. At the Leen Bakker NL they can make curtains in any size, material, type of pleat, add extra isolation/darken layer, add automation to it etc.

The Velours with extra dark layer curtains I have are not available anymore.

Closet

Ikea Pax closet

For a basic closet, I bought two Ikea Pax closets. With straight plain white doors. It’s a basic clean looking closet. When I’m in a video call, the background is clean white without any distractions.

With the online Ikea Pax closet planner you can design your closet, store it for later and order it. It automatically select all the right elements in your basket which you need.