# You're President. How do you decorate the Oval Office? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248 "2022-01-22T22:13:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/1 "2022-01-22T22:13:47Z")
Drapes, carpet, busts, paintings, etc.? My taste in color would probably be considered horrid by many; I like gaudy red, orange and yellow and the drapes and carpet that I’d pick would make the Oval Office look like some modern avant-garde museum display. Chair? I need something to support my lower back with my lumbar problems, I would have to get a customized one, not the stately leather one. Resolute Desk can stay. I would go with a bare minimalist approach and get rid of ALL busts, paintings, books on shelves, etc. - only leaving a globe, USA map and world map. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/2 "2022-01-23T00:57:14Z")
Skulls. Human. Well, maybe just [Atilla Hejja’s “Cape Winds”](https://kiekebusch.com/en/aviation-art/cape-winds-detail), some choice Robert McCall works, and some Frederic Remington and James Bama paintings. But I’m still not taking skulls off the table—figuratively or literally. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/3 "2022-01-23T01:09:44Z")
Make it much less “stuffed shirt:” recliners to sit in, a decent sound system, fridge/bar, maybe a pool table – not the complete “man cave” experience, but Jeez, lighten up a little, White House! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/4 "2022-01-23T01:10:38Z")
Six pinball machines, an isolation tank, and a spinner rack that says, “Hey Kids! Comics!” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/5 "2022-01-23T01:11:37Z")
^ Yeah, what _he_ said! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/6 "2022-01-23T01:12:29Z")
Tie dye. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/7 "2022-01-23T01:24:15Z")
Is the bowling alley still in the White House? ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/8 "2022-01-23T01:29:17Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Six pinball machines, an isolation tank, and a spinner rack that says, “Hey Kids! Comics!” Good start. Next we need pool table, foosball, Pac Man, a pizza oven, and of course this drink dispenser by Pininfarina: > **[User Experience is Everything: The Pininfarina Coke Machine - GoCanvas](https://www.gocanvas.com/content/blog/post/user-experience-is-everything-example-the-pininfarina-coke-machine/)** > > As engineers we often get lost in what works, which may not be completely intuitive. ‘The Pininfarina Coke Machine is an amazing example of UX that is not only intuitive, but also delights.  ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/9 "2022-01-23T01:37:40Z")
To honor a great president from our past, I would put a bust of Donald Trump in one corner. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/10 "2022-01-23T01:48:06Z")
Only if it was part of an indoor shooting range… Otherwise, I’d probably go super modern, a really high end gaming chair with built in stereo speakers, massage and ergonomics (I’ll be in that chair a lot). Multiple screens with news feeds available, solid lighting, and an amazing sound system. I’d probably go light on the in-room snacks and drinks if I have an executive chef on order though. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/11 "2022-01-23T01:56:06Z")
Nobody is going to care or remember how the Oval Office would be decorated during my Presidency.I’d have lots of better things to spend my time on, If the previous President had used personal possessions I’d give them back of course. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/12 "2022-01-23T02:28:12Z")
[![](https://metropolismag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Urban-Cowboy-Lodge_Fireplace_Ben-Fitchett.jpg) ](https://metropolismag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Urban-Cowboy-Lodge_Fireplace_Ben-Fitchett.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/13 "2022-01-23T02:56:22Z")
I’d have the whole thing done in mid-Roddenberry, right down to the biggest wall of screens ever seen indoors. [![](https://trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/modelmaker-tngbridge-head.jpg) ](https://trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/modelmaker-tngbridge-head.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/14 "2022-01-23T02:58:54Z")
[![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/6a/63/1e6a6372a39265cde11e6095e50f4bc6.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/6a/63/1e6a6372a39265cde11e6095e50f4bc6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/15 "2022-01-23T03:10:09Z")
Not quite sure what that is. Looks like the basement from That 70’s Show maybe? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/16 "2022-01-23T03:13:18Z")
Replace the doors with hippie beads, place lava lamps all around, put black light posters on the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/17 "2022-01-23T03:39:45Z")
This remind me of The West Wing scene when Mrs. Landingham is telling President Bartlet he can borrow items from the Smithsonian to decorate the Oval Office. He asks if he can get Apollo 11. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/18 "2022-01-23T04:03:55Z")
That’s exactly what it is. Forman’s basement. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/19 "2022-01-23T13:18:18Z")
1970s Swingers Pad. Bright pink & orange Shag carpets. Inflatable sofas. A Disco Ball. Lava Lamps. A Waterbed. And a marijuana leaf poster on the wall, behind the courage desk. Groovey, _baaaaaby!_ ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248/20 "2022-01-23T13:48:57Z")
I see what you did there. I would want a bust of Trump, facing the wall with a dunce cap on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-president-how-do-you-decorate-the-oval-office/958248.md?page=2)