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Update/decorate this fireplace/media wall on the cheap

12 years ago
I am out of ideas in how to decorate my living room. Specifically the fireplace wall. Two walls are all Windows and the other wall is very small because it is also a large opening to another room. This wall is pretty much the only one I have to do any decorating. Budget is tiny to non-existent, so I have to get creative. Eventually, we will be re-doing the entire Level (kitchen, flooring, bathroom) and reducing the size of the fireplace wall. The left side where the glass door is will be opened up as much as possible to the kitchen. I think to where the fireplace cuts back. I would love to also open up the right side of the wall where the TV is to the kitchen, but it could be a structural issue. The floor will eventually be tiled in a gray, concrete style large tile. I will also be buying a large driftwood/Teak Dining table and getting White chairs. Leather would be nice, but we have small Kids. The current Sofa is dark Brown Vinyl with beige and Brown toned microfiber. Ultimately, I would like to get a contemporary White leather Sofa, but again, Kids. Have to wait. I love ocean/beach Colors and while I lean towards monochromatic, would consider Pops of Color in turquoise, blue or even bright/fun green.

Comments (13)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Paint: Paint the fireplace and TV wall including the toe kick below with the vents a charcoal gray. If the budget allows, paint all the other walls a soft gray. For a pop of color, as the budget allows, add a colorful area rug under the table. Once you select an area rug, you can pull colors from that for art work on your fireplace walls.
    Lori B thanked Engrav's Decorating
  • 12 years ago
    Would a gray paint look alright with the 80's style Stone trim on the fireplace? I would love to rip that stuff off and do a smooth plaster, but can't at the Moment. I am avoiding rugs because my son has allergies. We will probably replace our Sofa sooner rather than later for the same reason. We just ordered him a new mattress as well. Same goes for curtains.
  • 12 years ago
    Here is the other direction in the room. There really isn't much wall to paint. The window walls are painted Wood on the bottom, no drywall.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I am thinking the charcoal walls would blend more with the brown trim and make it less noticeable. Contrasts like the white make it stand out.

    There is new data on rugs and allergies. The studies show that rugs hold the dust and it's not as likely to become airborn. It does require vacuuming of course. The study found that dust becomes airborne easier on hard-surfaces.

    My husband and son had the same problem and we found two solutions that worked so well they never had to use their inhaler at home any longer. 1. A special air cleaner - filer on our furnace.
    2. Put a special casing on the pillows and mattress.

    Good luck to you, it's a great room. Love the natural light.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    See the wood beam - same color as the trim you want to rip off
    with the charcoal walls. Compare that with your white walls.
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks for the tips! I hate giving my son his inhaler so often. If it isn't his allergies and asthma, he ends up with pneumonia. Poor kid. He is super active too. I will look into the info you mentioned. His doctor was the one that told me to avoid those things. I also Keep his bedroom Windows closed unless it is raining which for us is quite often. I would LOVE to have a nice rug to hide the ugly floor. I am ordering new bedding for my son too, and will look into the casings you mentioned. I don't know if I can talk my husband into a dark Color on the wall, but it sounds really nice. I am so tempted to accidentally on purpose chisel off some of the Stone on the wall. ha ha
  • 12 years ago
    I suggest a tall piece of art in the center of the H over the fireplace. Options include modern print fabric on canvas stretcher bars (you choose the lengths), prints from art.com or similar places, and enlarged photos, such as your kids on a beach. Ikea has prints similar to Marimekko sometimes.

    Many photo programs include options to customize prints such as changing the colors to Andy Warhol style bright colors or to sepia tones.

    Found art objects can also work; shop garage sales and flea markets. If you need squeaky clean objects to avoid potential allergens, shop the discount stores such as TJ Maxx and Home Goods or Target.

    Use a couple pieces of newspaper taped together to figure out what size looks good.
    Lori B thanked apple_pie_order
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Close up view.
    Lori B thanked Engrav's Decorating
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    In our son's bedroom had the basics. Bedding that could be washed weekly - no drapes for his room. One dresser and his boom box. We vacuumed every other day - no knick knacks for his room. We were fortunate to have another room we could put his special things on display.
  • 12 years ago
    In addition to the air filter and other steps, running a Roomba every day or two really keeps the floors clean. I don't know how much of a filter the Roombas have to prevent recirculation of dust as aerosols. Might be worth reading the Roomba webpages or asking their customer service people.
  • 12 years ago
    I like the suggestion of grey walls - lighter grey on the other walls of the room, slightly darker/richer on the fireplace wall.

    This one is tough because, for me, it's the tile that's throwing things off. Hard to do anything about that short-term, if rugs are not an option.

    That wall should be decorated with family photos, various sizes. Photo booths (antiquated term) can do neat things with color enhancements and effects if you want some flair.
  • 12 years ago
    I cannot stand the tile on the floor. Half of it is smooth and half of it is rough. Makes cleaning it a huge pain. Unfortunately, re-doing the floor has to happen when we re-do the kitchen since it all goes together, so the Price tag on that will be enormous. We have done most of the upstairs. (The staircase to the second Level, upstairs hallway, 3 bedrooms and our bathroom is almost done. We are also busy working outside and having a place for the Kids to Play is more important than a new kitchen and floor for me. If I thought I could get away with it, I would consider painting the floor, but it would still get expensive because it covers so much of the house. I would love to put some Family photos or stretched canvas prints on the fireplace wall, but I don't have any new ones yet and the Stone trim throws me off. I have plans to do new Family photos or at least ones of the Kids this summer.