Decorating living room, centering/focal point dilemma

12 years ago

The living room in my colonial home has a fireplace as the focal point. Across from the fireplace is a long wall that has two openings at each end. One is from the entry and the other is to the kitchen. The openings are different sizes, causing the center of the long wall to be 17" to the left of the center of the fireplace. I have two couches flanking the fireplace that I do not want to get rid of, but would like to decorate the remainder of the room, particularly the large blank wall across from the fireplace but cannot figure out how to balance out the 17" discrepancy in the centers of the two parallel walls. Any recommendations? Ty!

Featured Answer

Carolina

12 years ago

To give you an idea of how it would look to have a sofa table, a round mirror above the fireplace and art on the long wall

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Comments (18)

Carolina
12 years ago
That's a lovely room with really nice furniture.
I would not put furniture on the long wall but hang some lovely paintings there.
I'll see if I can find some inspirational photos for you.
Have you considered placing a sofa table at the back of the sofa on 'this' side of the fireplace?
Carolina
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
A row of pictures like this, but in white frames could be nice:
Living Room · More Info

Or
Tanglewood Residence · More Info

Or different sizes canvas paintings like in this photo:
Hillgrove · More Info
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PRO
Aggie dba Aggie Designs
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Room for Beautiful "Lath Art" of course!

http://www.pinterest.com/nhorwich/lathe-art/
PRO
Rachel @ Ethan Allen
12 years ago
What is the measurement from the end of the sofas to the long wall across from the fireplace? I would definitely put art on that wall, but depending on the clearance you may be able to put a narrow depth 14-20"d bench under the artwork.
groveraxle
12 years ago
You don't really have room for a bench or table or plant on that side. A sofa table behind the near sofa and great big art should do it. A little color wouldn't hurt.
PRO
JudyG Designs
12 years ago
I would design a wall of mirrors....no furniture, as you need that walkway clear. Hang a great painting over the fireplace and panels of a neutral fabric on the windows.

Game table · More Info
she11belle
Original Author
12 years ago
I would love to hang an oversized piece of art (notably, an abstract), but my confusion is where to hang it on the wall. If I center it on the wall, it will not be centered to the other focal point of the room: the fireplace. It will be about 17" off center.
she11belle
Original Author
12 years ago
The black tables in the 2nd picture mark the edges of the fireplace on the facing wall, if that of any assistance.
groveraxle
12 years ago
Hang a grouping of art, a gallery wall. Then there won't need to be a center point.
Eileen Ritchie
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I would put one of the sofas along the wall between the 2 doors :) So u get and L shaped sofa arrangement
preinholz
11 years ago
The center of the long wall should be directly across from the fireplace. Collection of mirrors would be nice. That will give you the symmetry you are looking for.
decoenthusiaste
11 years ago
[https://www.houzz.com/magazine/off-center-art-hits-the-mark-for-energizing-design-stsetivw-vs~5497885\[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/off-center-art-hits-the-mark-for-energizing-design-stsetivw-vs~5497885)

I see this as an opportunity to energize your neutral space. Here's an article about how off center placement of art can do just that. Treat the dilemma wall as a free standing gallery and don't worry about what is opposite it or balancing it with the FP wall. This will provide you with the fun challenge of finding art to add color and interest to the room. Take your time and it will flesh out nicely to become even more of a focal point than the FP. Take it to the floor and don't worry about adding any furniture there.

In collaboration with Elizabeth Cross-Beard, Associate at Jenkins Baer · More Info

Mary Prince Photography © 2012 Houzz · More Info

Stacy Weiss: Shadyside, Pennsylvania · More Info
71hotrod
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

I would put a large decorative mirror on that wall and then put a nice painting over the fireplace. its a nice room and you have decorated it well. another commenter posted to put a table behind the sofa and that would also tie everything in. good luck. would like to see a photo of the final decision.

large mirrors can be very expensive but I bought this one for $150 at a consignment shop. the retail on this was over $500

also you might want to put some different colored pillows on the sofas.
anne dee
11 years ago
old post
note the 2014 date
miacometlady
11 years ago
Why doesn't date show on iPad, am I missing it?
tgb1
11 years ago
The only date that shows on my kindle is the original date of posting - no dates on comments. Very frustrating.
71hotrod
11 years ago
it shows the minutes and after a full day then It should show the date. this posting was done almost a year ago so I hope they have come to a conclusion by now.