I love this photo, the mix of the fabrics, colors, materials–it makes my house look so cozy. But here’s the cold, hard truth…
I’ve got this wall in our family room that I’m not crazy about. Actually, I have two walls out of 4 in this room that I’m not crazy about. It feels obvious that I had to find something to try to fill the space. People do actually sit in those chairs from time to time so that part is nice but they seem crammed together. Part of the problem is what is on the wall it’s not balanced. And one of the culprits is that light switch next to that blue shelf on the right. See it? Why, WHY? It’s a switch that we use too.
When I have a place in my house {usually many} that doesn’t quite feel right here’s what I do:
- stare at it a lot
- think about how we need to use it
- ask myself why it’s not working
- think about what we have that could possibly work there
- move stuff around until it feels right
- put it on the blog and ask you for ideas
By the way, lots of you have asked about painting those shelves. They are the Southern Living at Home things that I could never afford when everyone had them years ago, but then last year over the course of a month I found 3 {$1 each} at yard sales. I just painted them with my armiore paint.
Anyway, back to my walls. I’m not looking for perfection, otherwise I’d have to burn everything I own and start over, but sometimes, I just get the feeling that there is a better way, use, idea for a certain area. A way that I will love, will serve our family, and that will actually feel right. I really love this wall in my sister’s house. Lucky her, she doesn’t have a ding a ling light switch. She gets everything.
UPDATED::
Here are the chairs straightened and junk down from the walls–I need an intervention with the red plates, I put them everywhere. Somebody stop me.
Is this better? Is there too much space between the top of the chairs and the bottom of the frames?
Here goes, what would you do? Please don’t tell me to burn everything and start over.
You’ve got so many comments here, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that will work perfectly!
I’m an interior designer and have these same sort of issues at my house, too! When I look at the far away photo what I see is that the light is sort of interferring with the composition. If it was gone, you could lower the photographs. Now, that being said, I love accent lights all over the place, so I can see why you’ve got it there. Good luck, with enough tweaking you’ll find it!
Good heavens – 214 comments. I don’t have time to read them all so this maybe a repeat…
I think the table is too tall for that space. Something shorter would work better with the lamp.
Also, I think there are two many chairs in that small spot. Could you rearrange the other furniture in the room to allow only one chair by the fireplace? Or one on either side? It looks a little crowded. Two forced.
AND I think (OK I have said that 3 times too many!) that when you are done using the fireplace for its functional, seasonal purpose, you should try – just try – clearing it off and putting the armoire in front of it as the focal point of the room. It looks like it would just fit in the diagonal space of that wall. Would it?? Then you can really have space to spread out the furniture a little and the fireplace and armoire won’t be fighting for all the attention.
Can’t remember how that room looks in 360, but is it possible next winter to have two focal points that aren’t in the same view. Like could you put the armoire on an opposing wall from the fireplace and have a seat grouping in front of the fireplace and the sectional facing the tv? or vice versa? Maybe not, but I have always thought that it looks as if there are 2 big centers of attention and that makes it restless.
Just my two cents worth.
I love your ideas and your constant rearranging by the way. You inspire all of us to make our homes reflect who we are and to make them a welcoming place for our families. :) Thanks!
I would take one of the chairs away. Scoot the table/lamp a bit closer to the fireplace and angle the chair a little. It will make the whole vignette seem more spacious and that way the lamp isn’t so symmetrical under the artwork. But I think it looks great with what you’ve done! You’re so talented! :)
lots of comments from all us “experts” but you asked for it. I would move the red wing chair over to where the plaid chairs are, angle it so it faces the couch area and replace that tiny table and too big of a lamp with a floor lamp. Then move the two plaid chairs on either side of your round table,get rid of the wooden armchair, replace the plaid ottoman coffee table with something larger and not so matchy matchy. Would also remove the urn from the mantel, keeping just the shutter backdrop and the painting. Dont worry bout the light switch. they are an evil sig of progress that we tend to overlook after a while. cute room though, just a bit too much stuff.
Maybe at some point when you are ready to repaint the walls, you can have the light switched moved over nearer to the fireplace so it won’t be in the middle of that wall. Then patch the wall and paint. It might cost about $100 to do that but at least you won’t be hating it all the time. I think the less is more. I like Dianne’s suggestions above. Regardless your room is cuter and cozier than most….oh why do we always feel the need to change things? :)
Much better. Those blue things were bugging me. I actually didn’t notice the light switch because I was thinking it would look better with just the photos. Too much for a small space and too symmetrical before (minus the switch!).
Your cozy, fun decor makes me smile! :)
I love the way it looks after. Before it was a bit too cluttered and your eye couldn’t really focus on anything. Altho I did like the chairs angled.
I’m pretty sure that me giving you decorating advice would be a bit like me trying to teach Lindsay Vonn how to ski!
Your home is lovely. The joy is that it is your real lived in space. And those 3 precious faces are the real deal!
Have a blessed day!
Stacey
so much better! I would suggest bringing the pictures higher though. How about a series of 4 or six. You know place the first row 2 inches about that dang light switch and then the second row 2 inches above that. ….that way it is sorta mimicking the wall you love so much of your sisters.
The table you have placed by the window, I would love to see a picture of it closer. I struggle with arranging the tables in my home.
Do you really need 227 suggestions?
OK…here is #227
Move the 2 checkered chairs on either side of the decorators table or one on each side of the fireplace or center the armoire and put one on either side.
Move upholstered chair to face couch even though it would block the fireplace or move to another room.
I would center the armoire no matter what.
ok, just because it is fun to play with your pretty things with such low committment since I don’t live there… I would move the two chairs you are working with over to the window with the round table between them. i would then bring that pretty red chair over to the armoir and use the little blue table and lamp there. Keep the pictures on that wall, but move the table and lamp to offset with the red chair so it doesn’t compete with the pictures. Put those red toile pillows back on the blue chairs, the colors are too good together. While I love red plates, no more here for a bit. And this means you have to move the one other chair that is currently by the window to another room. While giving this advice, of course I could live in your house with none of these pretties and still be amazed at how welcoming it always looks. Thanks for letting me play!
Never hang a picture so low behind seating that your husband or kids bang their heads on it when they sit. If you do no one will sit there or they will kill your picture. That is one of my rules.
One of the things that caught my eye was how the photos look kinda like they’re crammed in there, and the middle one is getting all the light from the lamp while the other two are in shadow, so maybe you could try raising them a bit or offsetting them by raising the one in the center. Then maybe you could place the shelves in the open spaces (above the side photos and under the middle one.) That’s just something that struck me. :)
May I please have those chairs? There, problem solved.
232 replies and opinions…I bet you’re sorry you asked. ;-)
Your home is so gorgeous and it’s ‘yours’…you have to do what fits for your family and life..
Ok, I’m no decorator…how about scooting the armoire to the middle of the wall and put a chair on either side. Can’t wait to see what you do!
I love the updated pictures! — Very elegant! With homeschooling 4 children of my own, I love shelves! Have you thought about finding a low bookcase and replacing the chairs with that? (I know sometimes a person needs to keep all the seating space possible…)
Love reading your thought process in making your house a home!
~Dana
Well, I’m not going to offer you any advice, I think you have enough of that to pick from. I just want to say that no matter WHAT you decide, your home is STILL beautiful and cozy, no matter what you decide! I will be honest, the first picture you posted was so warm and inviting, I had to pop over and see what was going on. Love the black and white plaid chairs with the red pillows.
Can’t wait to see what you decide!!
There already have been so many comments but I thought I’d chime in. I didn’t really like the first set up you had. There was something that wasn’t right. I love the way you have it now. It looks great. Just my two cents.
Ruth
Nester,
I don’t have time to read 238 comments, but I know what the problem is:
It’s the armoire and fireplace. They are fighting to be the Center of Attention, and your eyes go back and forth between them, unable to rest.
Since you can’t get rid of the fireplace, i’m sorry, the armoire has to go.
I have read you and your sis for a long, long time and have become very good friends with Sandy Coughlin. I’ve rarely commented, because you are usually ‘way, ‘way ahead of me, and I don’t have a blog, and therefore, credentials. But on this …
deb meyers
I love the idea, and have a similar layout in my house. I agree that there is too much space between the chairs and the artwork. They seem disconnected. Also, everything is the same height…the armoire, the photos, the vases on the mantle. I would add 2 more photos and arrange the 5 photos similarly to the photo of your sister’s house. Just leave a blank space on the bottom row for the lamp to fill. I think you would get a similar vibe, but with the added interest of varying heights in the room.
everything looks great, but I would probably keep the center picture where it is and drop the 2 on either side about 2″ lower. love your blog:)
Nice chairs. Looks a little squished in that area. Try one chair and hanging the three photographs vertically – closer to the fire place. Maybe less symmetry. It would be fun to just come and push furniture around a bit. Sometimes a friend can bring a fresh perspective. I need my decorating friend to come in and say things like, “I never liked that, ” and “Looks perfect, ” and “Let’s try. . . ” etc. Good luck!
OMG! LOL I have those shelves from Southern Living, and I have never even thought of painting them! I’m passed the red wall phase, so I need to whip out the paints!
Your room looks great!
It looks perfect now. The problem was those cones. I think they need to live somewhere by themselves. I don’t think they play well with other accessories.
Nester, I think that table is too small for the space. What about a bigger table, and move one of the plaid chairs to the other side of the fireplace? I think you have too much stuff in there, and the little table is what is throwing it off.
I like the wall better without the blue things.
Angie
I vote you raise the 3 framed pics up higher on the wall. Maybe it would open it up a bit? Those coney shelf things were too crowded in there, it looks better without them (lovely as they are, of course!). I think the lamp just needs some headroom. It is feeling squashed.
I’m no expert, but can’t resist tossing in my 2 cents. I love this idea of getting design comments from blogland – I should try it for my bathroom!
I love your room and your furniture. It is one of my inspiration rooms for our next house. As far as changes. I would like to see a large plant on top of the armoire. I’ve done that before and I think it fills that blank wall look and cozies things up. I would add something over the photos. a wall saying perhaps or something long. I love the red wingback chair but I think it is a little heavy. Replacing it with a chair similar to the one on the other side of the table would be nice.
Nester,
I struggle with the distance needed between artwork and chairs like yours. I know it doesn’t need to float, but I don’t want the sitters to hit their heads on the artwork either! Thanks for your blog! Love this after photo. It looks better to me!
I, too, would move the pictures UP more, not down, if anything.
Am feeling the two chairs and table in the space between the large armoire and the fireplace is just too crowded. I would take one chair away, and place it on the other side of the fireplace, where the rocker is currently sitting in front of the window. Still close enough together to be a pair. Angle the remaining chair away from the fireplace, more towards the main conversation area. Could still leave all three frames where they are, with the one chair and table with lamp centered underneath them. If leaving the setting as is, I would raise the middle print to hang higher, above the lamp, creating a “step down” or “pyramid” effect. :-)
lower the chandelier a few inches, or more if you can. It’ll make a huge difference.
After looking at your photos for a while I have a couple suggestions. The first is to drop the three photos down a couple of inches. They would be more centered between the height of your armoire and fireplace creating more of snug feel for that little area. The problem with lowering them is that the lamp would need to go lower as well. The other option I saw adding one more smaller pillow to each chair in a complimentary color to the reds you have. The color pop will make the eye drop and no one will notice the light switch.
….I just took another glance and am certain that I like my second idea the best. lol
I want your room! I want your house! You did a great job fixing up that wall. What a beautiful home you have.
What if you:
1) put the two plaid chairs where the two chairs are with the round table and keep the round table where it is
2) move the armoire over a little bit toward the fireplace and put the stuffed chair and the little table on the right side of it
3) put the other chair on the left side of the armoir
I love all your pieces! So homey and pretty and cozy feeling!
I think it’s the lamp that’s really messing up the space~ it looks awkward and creates too much space b/tween the top of the chairs and bottom of the frames. Maybe try losing the lamp and putting another row of frames under the ones you have.. stack some old favorite books on the little table instead – - or favorite childrens books to go w/ the “theme” of your kiddo’s pictures!! LOVE your home~ and always feel inspired when I visit here.
Love your colors. It looks great to me, but I do agree with smaller lamp or maybe a small simple floor lamp- all metal if light is needed and lose the shelves. Looks better w/o plate too. AND where did you get the sectional. It’s great!
I know this is an ancient post (at least as far as blogland is concerned ;o), but I wanted to chime in. I think it looks awkward because the center frame is kissing the top of the lamp, and the side frames are floating a little too high above the chairs. If there were two more frames under the ones on the sides, the arrangement would feel a lot more comfortable, I think. Layering, you know . . .
As it is, I would raise the center frame until there were a few inches between it and the top of the lamp, and then drop the frames on the sides until they were about 1/3 lower than the center frame. (Or something like that . . . think pyramid.)
I’m looking forward to seeing what you ended up doing with this spot, as I slowly crawl through the rest of the archives towards your most recent posts. Thanks for the great reading material!