Mini DIY Office Makeover [Photowall Review]

Photowall was kind enough to send me this wallpaper for my project in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% authentic and my full opinion.

My style is pretty simple and clean. I don’t love a mix of patterns or designs in any of my rooms, especially one where I have to concentrate and focus hard in. I prefer clean lines, neutral colors, and classic styles. So I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I decided a few months ago to do away with a separate playroom for our son and convert it (partially) into my home office.

I didn’t want anything oversized or cluttered. It’s a small space and my home office is only taking up about 25% of the room – the rest is designated for my husband and I’s dressing room/closet and a few stray toys that didn’t fit in our son’s bedroom. It needed to be professional, but not overwhelming. I needed a place that I could focus in while getting a ton of work done and still have it zoom-call ready at all times.

Prior to make the transition, whenever I would schedule a call with a client I would have to scramble to hide things in the background, move pictures around so that it looked nicer and stash my papers on the floor so that I didn’t look to overwhelming and cluttered. I hated it. I wanted something that looked polished, professional and was ready at a moment’s notice.

I found an old desk at my office and decided it would work just fine. It was the perfect size and it was free! I also grabbed an old waiting room chair from the office. It’s actually really comfortable and the style fits my personality. I wouldn’t mind if the fabric was a different color, but only one project at a time for now.

I decided after bringing home the desk and chair that I need to start with the wall directly behind me. I didn’t want to face the wall while I worked, but I didn’t have a big, beautiful window to face either. So I picked a nice small corner where I could easily design a wall that worked for me. I toyed with the idea of painting the wall, but honestly that seemed like a big job for such a small wall. Then I thought about wallpaper and honestly, I had never hung wallpaper before.

I do remember being a little girl and my mom attempting to hang it on our home. I don’t think it was a pleasant experience at all and then fast forward a few years when it was time for an update and I spent days taking that paper off our family room walls. It was awful. But I couldn’t get the idea of wallpaper out of my head. It was such a small wall that I convinced myself it wouldn’t be that terrible to do. Plus, I wasn’t looking for a crazy pattern so hard could it be to hang…?

That’s where Photowall came into the picture. They have so many different designs, prints, and even photos that you can choose from to create your space just as you want. I knew I wanted to go with a neutral gray color, but wanted something a little more interesting than just a solid color. So I went with a watercolor version. The ordering process was so easy – I measured the wall in inches and then headed over to site to add them in. From there it allowed me to select which portion of the piece I wanted. I chose one that was bit lighter in the middle.

I ordered the design and within a few days the shipment arrived. It was packaged perfectly in a long cardboard box with the glue, the pieces and directions perfectly inside. I was shocked by how fast it came!

Now before I share just how easy this whole process was, let me share with you a cringe worthy picture of how it looked before. It was just so boring. It lacked any creativity, any thing. My hangings just looked and felt out of place. And below you can see a nice after picture – the hangings are back, but with the colored background they just don’t feel out of balance any longer.

This project was just so easy to tackle. It took me less than 2 hours from start to finish – it probably could have taken even less than that, but I was doing it by myself. I’m not the tallest girl in the world, so even on the step ladder I struggled to reach the top of the wall. Plus, every time I turned around a dog was under my feet or laying on a tool or trying to carry a tool off so that added time.

Photowall made the whole experience super simple. Inside the box was the numbered sheets for the wallpaper so I knew exactly which piece was next and which direction to put it on the wall. The glue was easy to make – they send it in powdered form, you mix with a gallon of water and let sit for 5 minutes then voila – you can get started. I didn’t even tough 1/10 of the glue that it made. Then the directions were easy to follow and they have a video on Youtube I found that made it look really simple.

I did purchase a wallpaper kit off amazon, but Photowall does sell them. I had this for another project that I didn’t end up doing so I just used what I had.

I even added an art piece I had ordered from GraceLaced and a knit creation I made with some yarn I ordered from Hobby Lobby and this gold circle off Amazon. I was tired of having piles of paper on my desk from current projects, upcoming projects, and just endless to do lists (you know what it’s like) so I found this great fabric drawer chest from Amazon for under $30! I also have one more piece to add, but it is still at the framers and I could not wait to share my final space with you. So I’ll do an update once that gets in.

For someone who has never hung wallpaper before, I have to say it turned out great. You can’t even see the lines between two pieces. Every speck and piece of watercolor art lined up perfectly. It was easy to trim off the excess and the quality is outstanding. I have to give a huge thumbs up to Photowall. Not only was the ordering process super simple, but the customer care has been fantastic. I highly recommend working with them on your next project! I’m already planning my next wall (hint hint – the master bedroom), too!

They even were kind enough to send me a discount code for you, too! You can use merelynne25 for 25%off your order until July 31, 2020. So as you’re staying home these days, now is the perfect time to work on some DIY makeovers to those tired rooms you’ve been staring at.

Let me know in the comments which room you’re going to makeover first!