Hey friends!
Today, I’m thrilled to share the first step in my big office transformation project. When we first built our home at SVF, I planned to have an office just for myself. But, as they say, once you have kids…. haha! So, I decided to turn my personal office into a multifunctional space that will serve as a cozy playroom for Nolan, a welcoming guest room, and of course, a productive workspace for me. It’s a project that’s both exciting and a little daunting, but I’m determined to make it work.
The very first thing I tackled was one of the most fun aspects: painting a DIY mural on one of the walls. When I started planning this transition, I toyed with a few ideas for the room’s aesthetic. Initially, I considered using wallpaper or wall decals—both of which have their merits. But then I thought, why not create a mural myself? It felt like the perfect way to add a whimsical, personal touch to the space, not to mention it was a lot more affordable!
Here are a few of my initial inspo pics from various wallpapers and wall decals online:
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So, I rolled up my sleeves and set out to create a colorful mural of row houses inspired by charming European cities. Think cobblestone streets, pastel facades, and an array of window boxes bursting with flowers. The mural idea seemed like a fantastic way to introduce a playful and vibrant element into the room.
Getting Started
I began by sketching out the basic shapes and outlines of the row houses with a pencil right on the wall. It was a bit like creating a giant coloring book—fun, but requiring a bit of precision! I used a level to get the houses nice and straight. After that, I just sketched things generally – think windows, doors, etc. I used a light touch with my pencil to make sure I could easily erase and adjust as I went along.
Choosing the Colors
One of the most enjoyable parts was selecting the colors. I wanted the mural to be bright and engaging, so I chose a palette of mostly pastel shades, with a few brighter pops. I got all 7 colors in quart-sized containers from Sherwin Williams, in the Emerald line of paint in a satin finish.
Painting the Mural
With the sketches in place and the colors selected, it was time to start painting. The process was surprisingly therapeutic! It took several days (7 to be exact) to complete, but seeing the mural come to life was incredibly rewarding. I spend 20+ hours on it total, so it was definitely a labor of love!
And here’s the final result!
I’m absolutely delighted with how it turned out. The mural adds such a unique and joyful element to the room, and I can’t wait to see Nolan imagine all of the people and pets and stories that live within these colorful houses. 🙂
Next Steps
With the mural done, the next steps in the office transformation is my built in bookshelves (IKEA hack, anyone?!). I also ordered a pull out sofa so that the space can accommodate both work and play (and guests!) I’ll be sharing more updates as the project progresses, so stay tuned!
Thanks for joining me on this journey. If you’ve been inspired to tackle a mural or any other DIY project, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.
Happy painting!
XO, Ana
P.S. When I was working on this project I found these AMAZING paint pens that allow you to store paint for easy touch-ups later. Because I mixed several custom colors for this project, these paint pens are SO handy to have for any touch-ups I might have to make down the line. Trying to mix new paint to match a custom color perfectly is a nightmare, so I love having my paint save and ready to go!
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