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mimicarol60

Big EMPTY wall. Help.

10 years ago
We recently did a complete renovation of a lake home and while I think I did a pretty good job, I'm stuck on how to best display some artwork on this huge canvas. I thought about doing a chair rail with some paintable wallpaper below to take up some of the space. I have about four or five 2'x3' pieces of art that I would like to display. Thank you.

Comments (67)

  • 10 years ago

    Please post photos of your art pieces. You may simply want to hang them there with center points 5' above the floor. Distance apart depends on scale and frames they have.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    If you would like some excitement and color to brighten the room this Wave Diptych is a one of a kind or you can commission a piece to fit with different colors. These pieces are made of recycled polyethylene. The Wave Diptych is 72 x approximatelay 108" wide. This diptych is $5000.

  • 10 years ago

    Here's what I did after struggling with the same situation when we moved: On one huge blank wall I got one of those giant Howard Miller station clocks. It was from Bed Bath and Beyond and they ALWAYS have those 20% off coupons. It looks FABULOUS. (I measured and drew it on the wall with sidewalk chalk from the .99 cent store before I ordered it) On the other HUGE wall I got a giant book case/ wall unit from Craig's List. It only cost me $200 and was originally THOUSANSDS. It's good for books, objects AND art. The footprint on it is small but it's high. It works like a champ!!

    Good luck I'm sure it will be great once you're done. If you're anything like me you'll fix it till it's awesome :-)

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I would love to see your art - if you have 5 pieces, in the size you mentioned, it may be just perfect, with the right amount of space between. Can you lean them up along the front of the sofa and take another picture?

  • 10 years ago

    hi carol, not seen you since monday? have you decided?

  • 10 years ago

    I have appreciated all of the feedback. The reason I have kept the color somewhat monochromatic is that my artwork is extremely colorful. My dilemma has been that because we have a sunken living room coupled with very high vaulted ceilings, I was afraid the artwork would be swallowed up by the wall. My plan is to add a bit more color once the art is up. I believe what I will do is feature the wall with a color that I have in my dining room which is on the other side of the living space. In essence, bookend the accent color, then add the dynamic art straight across. Here is the dining room color.

  • 10 years ago

    You can also use a big neutral rug on the wall and then suspend your art in front of it in a grouping. The big rug will frame the art and soften the wall. A different color of paint on the wall with the art is also a way to soften and bring down the emptiness of the wall. Then hang your pictures or display them on a shelf with a few 3 dimensional objects like vases or sculpture.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    yes, a type of color block, sounds fabulous! Do you want me to remove my art hanging ideas? still have a day or two left. Love your colors! Brings to mind Snoopy and his great american novel! "It was a dark and stormy night...." lol

    Might have to steal some of that. Have you thought of some sort of silver technique on part? Not a lot just a little, could really add a touch of sophistication to it? I am not sure that is word i want. just all the brain burps are willing to give me at the moment.

    Have fun!

  • 10 years ago

    I would hang your largest, most colorful piece on the left side of your picture, eye level. The use of the many articles out there to add pieces to the grouping, moving towards the two chairs that compose a cozy seating area (add some lighting there). Always add a piece or two and live with a few days before you decide on more. The art should relate to each piece in some way-color, style, frame, subject and that way it stays somewhat cohesive, but interesting. Your own personal sense of space will tell "when" to stop. Some would want an explosion and others three or five pieces is the max. You have a lovely home. Have fun and love what you put up and it will turn out well.

  • 10 years ago

    uggh, and we have been doing so good too. Carol, all art goes with everything, having and hanging it is part of the artistic expression. It does not need to match anything in that room.

  • 10 years ago

    I agree with nixing the chair rail and I would hang one large oversized piece. Old maps are beautiful and it would be a bonus if you found a local one.

  • 10 years ago

    The tall, overgrown ficus (or such) tree in the corner can dress up this wall perfectly, provided that you find a large simple piece of Art that compliments the greens, grays, whites, blues (may be some light yellow) and represents your personality and taste. The tree will bring some life and softness to this environment.

    I would also clear the coffee table, get rid of the chairs and, please, get rid of these horrid pillows. The light is beautiful, but definitely needs to be lowered. I hope it is situated right over the coffee table.

    Well, since we are talking about changes, the rug is not doing anything for this room. It looks like it's ready to retire. The bench on the right side does not serve any purpose other than just taking value able space that can be filled with something more interesting and/useful.

    I would love to see the rest of the house, especially the dining room.

  • 10 years ago

    I love the calmness of the colors scheme. It is very relaxing. Chopping up the wall with a chair rail is a bad idea. Perhaps a large multi-tone metal wall sculpture, with a couple of your artworks to each side, if they are not too colorful, would work. we have a high ceiling room with gray stone walls, but it seemed cold. So I found a matching pair of large mid century hanging lights to hang at either end, and it really warmed up the room. You have done a wonderful job. It is just getting that final touch to keep it on track, but make it yours.

  • 10 years ago
    If you like the idea of big art... Use 3 long foam boards. Cover with wall paper, or fabric. That way you can find exactly the colors you want, and it's inexpensive enough that you can change when you tire of it. Depending on the pattern you pick you can make it a statement, or just pops of color. Have fun with it. Beautiful space! I love your choices in the room already.
  • 10 years ago
    I love "big" art! Not only does it make a statement... it will look more professional and and give the room the "awwww" you're looking for. Personally, my living room has a 140" x 120" commissioned piece that costed me $1200. It's net worth is over $6500....totally worth it!

    Food for thought...
  • 10 years ago

    although I like the panels jlin, she does have the art. I am totally with Jarid. So come on Carol, lets see!

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I believe you can place your art on the wall and choose the same sizes and make a double row. Especially for a vaction home, where you can display personal pictures rather than art. But if you like art better, then using complimentary pieces of art and using the wall as a gallery would be fine!

  • 10 years ago
    How about a MMura...
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    If all your art is the same size and the wall is wide enough, use the same plain narrow frame for each and line them up in one evenly spaced in a single row with the bottom several inches above the sofa height, and the center at approximately eye level, especially if the art represents a common theme.

    If, however, your art is of two or more drastically different themes but with at least two of the same theme, you could group the same themes together -- modern with modern, abstract with abstract, movie posters together, maps together, nature scenes together, etc. -- and put each theme on a different wall.

  • 10 years ago

    put them all up there.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    We're still waiting to see your art. Why don't you lean them all against that wall and take a photo close up (so we can see the subject matter and detail?) Then take another at a distance so we can see the size and scale with the wall. I think we can knock this out for you today if you'll do that.

  • 10 years ago

    Hate to disappoint, however I am traveling to Atlanta for work and won't be able to show you my art. I have about 11 posters from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival to choose from. You can go online to see the colors. I displayed all of them in my former home in a long hallway. They have been professionally framed in the same black frames with a complimentary border. That info is for the people that want to see what type of colors we are talking about. My partner and I attend this festival every year and music is a big part of our life.

  • 10 years ago

    Well i am done debating. i think you should just hang them, they all have the same subject matter so there is no doubt they go together. Here is an example

    Decorate Your Boring Walls: 15 Basically Free, Completely Genius Ideas · More Info
    a variety of colors, all in the same frames, all go together despite different pics. Have fun! Sorry wont be here for the unveiling.

  • 10 years ago
    Gallery wall!
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Your posters sound like a good alternative for the interim, but I think you should look for one large, good work of real art for that wall. Skip the chair rail and wallpaper idea because you have a uniquely neutral color scheme going. If this is a lake house, do you have a wonderful view out of the windows? If so, I suggest not getting a landscape, unless it is a local artist's interpretation of the same sort of landscape, maybe even commissioning a local artist to create one. Please contact me if you would like to look for something special.

  • 10 years ago

    I agree that the chair rail and wallpaper idea is not the best for this space. Not every wall has to be crowded with something. If you really love the idea of utilizing your current artwork, but feel that it's not enough to fill the wall, incorporate some found object type pieces that are modern but will relate to lake house living. It will break up the monotony of too many pieces that are the same size and shape.

  • 10 years ago

    My two cents: nix on the chair rail and wallpaper; nix on repainting the entire wall to coordinate with dining room. As someone else said just hang the paintings in a manner pleasing to you adding or subtracting as necessary. I love what you have and I'd really hate to see it "chopped up" with rails, shelves, paint, etc. It is such a calming room as is and your bright artwork should make a happy statement in it. I'm not a decorator but I do read houzz.

  • 10 years ago

    If you love what you are putting on that wall, then it will be right. Don't rush to fill it. If you stop thinking about it for a while, an idea will come and you will know and it will be great. The room you made already has a feel... (to me it looks practical and serene, I'd like to sit in there and read). I look forward to seeing what happens.

  • 10 years ago
    How about breaking it up with either stone veneer and shelving or cabinets similar to this photo, or a much less expensive option, use a faux stone or brick wallpaper. You could do entire wall or "create" a fireplace feel by trimming out the area of stone all the way up to the ceiling. There are some gorgeous papers out there that can really fool the eye.
  • 10 years ago

    The large piece of art I suggested earlier is my modern interpretation of a Turner painting and a reminder of Gerhard Richter's swatches from the 70s.


  • 10 years ago

    I agree with havingfun. Choose artwork you love and hang it in a way that is pleasing to you. Your neutral room is a perfect canvas for some interesting art. Others have given some good suggestions about laying it out on the floor first, and about how high the work should be hung.

    Breaking up the wall with shelving, stonework, etc, changing the wall color, or hanging decorative elements are decorator schemes and could work. Hanging artwork that you love and respond to is different--it tells more of a story about who you are and what speaks to you.

    I always frame artwork to complement the work and not the decorating scheme I currently have in my home. Consequently, the wall arrangements I have created over time, in various homes, from our art pieces include varying frame styles, colors, etc. I know the arrangement is right when it looks right. I often change paintings from one room to another until I like the "flow." Whoever said living with the artwork in a particular place for a period of time is important is correct. Good artwork tells you where it likes to be hung! (So slay me; my art does speak to me.)

    There are three "unifying themes" on my walls: First, I love every piece that is hung. Second, because it is I who have chosen the artwork over time, there are patterns of color, mood, technique, artistic flair, etc, that are unconscious but that work together. Third, I tend to gravitate toward landscapes and watercolor, so most are watercolor landscapes, with an occasional still life or abstract thrown in to provide an interesting change. Whatever your passion is, it will come out as you "collect," and it will "go together."

    Or here's a thought: It will NOT "go together." It will be exciting and provocative, and will showcase your eclectic nature!

    I can "see" your wall decked out with travel posters. Speaks to your wanderlust and brings some color into the room. I can "see" your wall with peaceful watercolors in blues and greens. Speaks to your love of nature and tranquility. I can "see" your wall with an exciting mix of traditional and modern artwork, arranged "museum-style" from sofa to ceiling. Speaks to whatever you are passionate about and love. I can "see" your wall supporting one very large painting, but only if it really calls out to you and grabs you when you enter the room. Speaks to ??? --as yet to be determined!

    Don't buy artwork to fill up a space. Buy it because you love it. Buy it because you see yourself in it, or the self you want to be, or the self you were in your early life. Buy it because you feel like you could jump into it and live there.

  • 10 years ago

    I don't know which ones you have, but some of those posters are fabulous!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I kinda like this poster but know it isn't PC for several reasons.

    Journey…

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    you need paint your wall with color white
  • PRO
    10 years ago
    My object favorite for a big wall is a bigger watch
  • 10 years ago

    We had a similar situation (loooong wall in bedroom) and after a number of false starts we found www.greatbigcanvas.com. There you are able to choose an image and select a size. You can go canvas, print, tryptic - even oversized peel off wall screen. Good luck.

  • 10 years ago
    Sam's Club also offers prints on canvass, and has sales. The other wholesale clubs may too. You can take any photo, and add effects to make it look like a painting.
  • 10 years ago
    Yes, Sam's Club art seems appropriate for this space.
  • 10 years ago
    I'm agreeing with teamaltese.
  • 10 years ago

    Have some people been bitten by Trump and infected with the outrageousness bug?

    I'm not going to vote for him, or Sam's Club art, but understand current events : )

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    With that large of a space, I would recommend either leaving it blank or doing a gallery. If you go with the gallery, you will want a common thread to tie all of the different pieces together. (I.e. All have the same frame, all black and white photos or prints, all the same shape OR the common thread could be that they are all different, if you are really brave). Also, once you choose the are pieces to use, make a scale diagram of each piece and a scale drawing of the wall. I used graph paper when I created mine. Then you can arrange and re-arrange your art while sitting at the kitchen table rather than up and down a ladder putting holes in the walls. Here is a photo of my wall. I'm in the process of changing out the colored 'art' with black and white photos, so it needs some work.

    Also, might I suggest that you lower your light fixture. From the photo, it looks like that beautiful fixture is lost in the tall ceiling.
  • 10 years ago
    @terrytoon, no, no, no, you've misunderstood! You take your photo, they enlarge it and do the effects you want. Not "Sam's Club Art"! You know, we posters finally got Sophy Wheeler to crank it down a notch, we'll have to work on you too!
  • 10 years ago
    And I've reread my first comment, and didn't make it clear that it would be to poster's own photo that was the basis for the art work. Sorry, Toon!
  • 10 years ago
    Oh, and I agree with whoever said that that wall is just made for putting bookshelves with lots and lots of books and other pretty things.
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    @Terry Toon - I have a feeling you are missing the point...reaction has been to your comment: The cheap Naugahyde sofas have got to go! Frumpy! There is a course called WriteRight, which may be a good idea for you and you'll realize how impactful words can be. Why that comment...poster wasn't even asking about the couch and this statement was uncalled for no matter what the posting was for. How would you feel if you were told your furniture was cheap? Think first, put yourself in someone esle's shoes and then look to provide constructive comments, as it reflects on who you are. Better to say nothing, if you have nothing helpful to say - this site is to encourage and provide constructive advice. If it continues, I'm sure you are going to have people flagging and having the entry removed as it derails from the advice that the poster was soliciting.

  • 10 years ago
    The framed posters if they hold meaning for you and are colorful will work but I agree with those suggesting large scale in bright colors like what Kat and Sandra Hansen posted. A large triptych would be great in some bold colors. Google Janelle Lindley if you want some bold color and texture.
  • 10 years ago
    Large distressed 3 panel world map!
  • 10 years ago

    I was surprised at the hostility of a few posts, over someone's request for ideas. Reminded me of some on my adult daughter's Facebook page, telling her in a snarky fashion what photos she should have on her home page!

    I think Carol's room is lovely. She just wanted some ideas. Too much color on that wall would be cartoonish. Think jazz, think New Orleans, and stay with the colors of the theme, and within the colors of the furnishings. My Dad once finished an entire basement as a jazz club, floor, handmade bar, mirror and small tables, with posters of his musician friends on the walls. Not for everyone, but we loved it, and it spoke to what he loved. We had some great musicians jamming down there!

    The chandelier is a bit high, and really looks more like dining room. A great New Orleans related or mid century light would tie to whatever posters you put on the wall. Just don't stray far from what you have, because the room really is great. I love the couches, and would, no matter of what of what material they were made!

    Stick to what speaks to your love of music, and the whole room will come together. Don't add colorful items that mean nothing to you, just to get color. Draw some ideas for what you might like, and see how it flows. With all the suggestions, and your own ideas, the right wall treatment will come to you, likely as you are about to go to sleep some night.

  • 10 years ago

    Stick to what you love. Great advice!

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