"Wallpapering" With Maps

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My latest project?  ”Wallpapering” my office niche in maps!  I put the word wallpapering in quotations because I didn’t exactly wallpaper the maps.  I wasn’t one hundred percent sure I was going to eighty percent love it so I decided to just go for it as a semi permanent option.  I’ve had minimal experience with removing wallpaper, but it was enough to know that I never wanted to do it again!

The little office niche, used by my kids as a computer and art room, is located in a hallway near my kitchen. I’ve been trying different colors on the walls but just hadn’t made any decisions and then…..voila! Blank wall, extra maps, it was so obvious!

I used to have all their art supplies in a bookshelf under the counter.  My mother says to me, “In a house with so much storage, I don’t see why you would need extra.”  Well, okay mom… I’ll refigure it.  …and I did, ….and I’m glad.  Getting rid of that alone made the room better.  I just reorganized the drawers and low cupboard that are easily accessible and I made it work.

There is a train that runs through this room from my son’s room.  My clever husband put this together last Christmas and I have yet to blog a decent post about the production.

We have tons of AAA maps.  Some are from locations where we used to live, some are from road trips.  I set my iron to medium and ironed the wrinkles and folds.  The creases are still evident, however this technique helped to minimize them.

Using a thick double sided tape on all four corners, I just started smoothing them against the wall and attaching them.

I think it’s busy, but cute.  At first I was kind of like “wo — that’s a lot going on” ….but now I really like it.  …and yes, that is the Pottery Barn Kids table and chairs I got for fifteen bucks at a thrift store.

My whole family is very into map reading so this is very entertaining for us ‘cool nerds’.

I’ve been collecting globes.  …well, I plan on collecting them.  So far I have two.  I know that you need at least three of something to consider it a collection, but in my head, I can see the ten to fifteen that I imagine will look great all together.

After all was said and done, I added thumbtacks to the edges of the maps to keep them secure and finish the look.  I’m tempted to go through with a red pin here and there and mark all the places where we’ve lived.  What do you think?