The One Decor Item That President Biden Wanted In The Oval Office

After dominating the presidential elections, the President-elect gets to redecorate the Oval Office, including the draperies, carpets, displayed artwork, and furniture, to their liking as long as they follow the White House home decor rules. When the current US President, Joe Biden, enlisted his brother, James Biden, and presidential historian Jon Meacham's help to set up his official office based on his personal taste, he wanted the royal blue rug with the yellow and red trim gracing the floor.

However, the President didn't just get a new rug delivered to the office. He went to the White House collection (read: warehouse) in suburban Maryland and chose the blue rug favored by former US President Bill Clinton. Even though the choice might seem insignificant, especially when compared with the President's other design choices (goodbye the portrait of Andrew Jackson!), the rug's pattern and shade are tied to the president's vision. The rug also makes it easier for the new officeholder to put their mark on this famous room of the White House.

As mentioned, a rug in the Oval Office isn't merely there to provide comfort underfoot. It's a bold statement the new officeholder makes to send a message regarding their administration and personalize the historical room. Exhibit A: President Biden replaced the cream-colored rug favored by his predecessor, Donald Trump, with a rich blue one to customize the room per his preferences. The presence of the Presidential Seal on the rug further highlights its importance.

So, while the current President might have chosen the blue rug just because he appreciates the tone and wanted a pop of color in the office, the royal shade could also represent President Biden's ties to the Democratic Party (ventures House Beautiful). This is because the color blue is often associated with the Democrats. The fact that the President chose the area rug personally while trusting his brother and the presidential historian to finalize the other details in the room is hard to overlook.