A Big Blank Wall!

12 years ago

This is my living room. We just moved in this summer, so it is a work in progress. We will be keeping the same furniture, but it is lacking in color, curtains, and ANYTHING on the walls. This room is open to the dining room and kitchen, which means the overall wall color stays the same. Blue is what I'm trying to use throughout the main living area, and splashes of other colors are okay, too. We really like natural elements, and I'm not afraid of something a little fun! The lovely brown shag carpet unfortunately has to stay until budget allows for new flooring, so we have to do our best to make it work. :-)

The biggest issue I'm having is what to do with the large blank wall. I have some photos and wooden signs I thought I wanted to use in this space, but the wall is so HUGE I'm afraid they would look tiny. What can I do to fill this blank wall with character?

Another issue: Curtains! I have no idea what kind of window treatments would work in this space.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and expertise! I'm excited to see what the Houzz community comes up with!

Featured Answer

abbyjean

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

I cannot quite get a feel for the layout of the room, but is it possible to move the tv to the other side of the window? And move the couch from in front of a window to the big wall? Then your art can be over the couch instead of on a big blank wall. Art usually looks best when it is anchored with furniture under it.

The floor lamp would be better next to a piece of furniture. While I love the trunk under the tv....very clever and a great piece.....it would also be a great coffee table. It looks like the right height for one. Anything a bit taller for under the tv??? Even a dresser you could repurpose in here? Craigslist in your area maybe have something?

Would love to see the pieces you have and wish to use and we could try to figure out an arrangement for you, too.

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Comments (9)

hayleydaniels
12 years ago
Go with a large, oversized piece of art work such as these:

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Mossbrae-Falls-Sacramento-River-Shasta-Cascade-Dunsmuir-California-USA-Posters_i8703951_.htm

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Pohutukawa-Tree-in-Bloom-and-Hahei-Coromandel-Peninsula-North-Island-New-Zealand-Posters_i8685143_.htm

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Lake-Mountains-Matterhorn-Zermatt-Switzerland-Posters_i8704083_.htm
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mcgb44
Original Author
12 years ago
AbbyJean, flipping the space as you suggested might just work! We will have to give it a try! We are planning to put a bookshelf next to where the lamp is as soon as I find one that's tall enough. Thanks for the suggestions so far!
PRO
Diane Leone Design
12 years ago
If the wall being blank and large makes you crazy, what about one of the new, beautiful, and easy to remove wall coverings on this wall that would make it pop? You could still place furniture or the TV one that wall.
PRO
Artzila
12 years ago
I would avoid curtains and stick with art. Maybe 3 pieces side by side, or multiple pieces in various sized frames grouped together. The frames could be the same colour or all different. If you need help finding art, check out our site, artzila.com for limited edition art in various sizes.
PRO
Studio Arterie
11 years ago
we have beautiful artwork printed on custom order on wallpaper. please, have a look.. especially if you'd like to put in some colour
The Big Sur · More Info

Thermae · More Info

Avientame · More Info

Napoleon · More Info

thermae * reincarnation series - art wallpapers custom sizes · More Info

Delusion · More Info
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
11 years ago
You can try doing something like this
jonates5
11 years ago
Built-in bookshelves and lots of moulding will change your room drastically and wonderfully. It will really cozy it up!
Sylvia Carlson
11 years ago
These are all great ideas, but please don't make the same mistake I did when I moved into my current apartment. I got the walls and ceiling fixed up and painted, moved all my stuff in and decorated the place up, BUT I left the horrible, old, stained carpet to replace "later" because I ran out of money. Ten years later, I'm getting ready to move again, but that carpet is still there. I never could afford to get everything packed up again and moved into storage so it could be replaced. Also, wall-to-wall carpet is a nightmare to maintain if you have children or pets (or both). Eventually, it will accumulate enough damage that you absolutely have to replace it with something washable. Might as well deal with this first. Otherwise, it's going to drive you crazy every time you walk into your living-room, especially if you get it all decorated except for that 70's carpet!

Fake flooring made of plywood cut in strips and painted grey. (Not my photo, but I can't remember where I got it. Please link it up if you know.)

This is painted on wood, but you could do a similar pattern with linoleum tiles, which are really cheap and eco-friendly. (Also don't know where the photo came from. Sorry. Please add a link if you know.)

Built-in storage makes this huge room look cozy, adds office space for two and a reading nook under the window. Also, you could make a gallery wall over the sofa, if you don't like large artwork. You can use area rugs to define different zones in the room, like the seating area in the middle. (Photo source also unknown.)