President Obama Puts His Own Stamp on the Oval Office

Like nearly every president in American history, President Obama has redecorated the Oval Office. Gone are the Bush-era golds that many Americans considered gaudy. In their place are soft neutral tones. Many have described the new aesthetic as being den-like, and criticized the President for being disrespectful of the room where world leaders meet to discuss events. In looking at the pictures, however, the Oval Office’s new togs are still very stately, even if they do tend to put visitors more at ease.

The new carpeting is the color of wheat and features a large medallion of the Presidential seal in the center. Quotes by Lincoln, JFK, Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., and FDR encompass the rug from all around the edge border. The result is a room size rug that is pointedly inspirational and puts the office of the American president at the heart of the ideals that are presented in the quotes.

This is no vintage rug. Gone are the darker colors of other Presidents’ antique rugs. The new room size rug in the Oval Office was designed specifically to honor President Obama’s vision for the country. It was produced by Scott Group in Grand Rapids Michigan. The field of wheat carpeting set the precedent for all of the new décor to be made in America by American countries. This policy reinforces the White House’s dedication to creating work for Americans.

The wallpaper was handmade in Amagansett, N.Y. Even the paint is an American brand–Benjamin Moore. The modern styled coffee table is made of mica and American walnut wood. The new couches, which offer a softer aesthetic and more comfortable seating than world leaders previously enjoyed in the Oval Office, feature beige backgrounds with red, white, and blue threads running through the fabric. The upholstery for the couches was woven in Pennsylvania and the couches were made in New York.

Also adorning the room are blue ceramic lamps with cream shades, and a large bowl of fresh fruit on the coffee table is regularly replenished. Being a world leader is hungry work and having fresh fruit readily available is a great way for the President to eat healthily on the go. It is also a nod to the First Lady’s commitment to creating a culture of health and encouraging children to eat properly.

The iconic Resolute Desk is still in place in front of the windows, where it has been for decades. The chairs are now covered in soft brown leather. While many have criticized the makeover for overly relaxed in aesthetic, it is actually a room that works to put people at ease. The comfortable seating options encourage world leaders to sit back and consider things more slowly. The quiet, muted colors prevent the décor from interrupting thought processes. Who says international business has to be uncomfortable? Perhaps an Oval Office that puts leaders at ease will make conversations flow more easily and lead to a more unified planet.