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marybeth_haavisto

need to breathe some life into this space

9 years ago

I have attached multiple views, any advise would be greatly appreciated. we moved in almost 2 years ago and I am still at a loss with what to do- I am so overwhelmed with is the tv wall ( the tv is 50 inch , ceilings are 7ft high) 50's ranch style rambler, I don't know where to begin. The room feels so cold and unbalanced. I am inclined to get a larger media console but not sure if that is the best place to begin. Thanks in advance !


Comments (16)

  • 9 years ago

    thanks for the ideas, I will check out your art work, it looks amazing!

  • 9 years ago

    I think you need an accent color that's not so neutral in your pillows, throws, and art. What about window treatments?

  • 9 years ago

    Yes to art on that wall, curtains, and lamps!

    Mary Larson thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Would you please post the room dimensions (a basic floor plan with dims would be great)? Also give the dimensions of the sectional sofa, Thanks.

    Mary Larson thanked adalisa frazzini
  • 9 years ago

    OK, here is my take on the room.

    1. You have too much furniture in such a small space. 86 the big chair and move the slipper chair in it's place.

    2. You have no floor lighting. Get a floor lamp for in the corner behind sofa and an end table and lamp for end of sectional.

    3. You rug is too small. You need at least an 8x10

    4. Once the slipper chair is moved get a longer console for the TV.

    When you have all the furniture in place then look at art and curtains.

    Do you have blinds on the bay window now? I suggest you look at roman shades instead of curtains.

    Also take that shelf down behind big chair. It is too high and you need to get furniture placement before hanging anything on the walls.

    Mary Larson thanked susan2494
  • 9 years ago

    my first thoughts are that the sectional is oversize for the room and the rug is too small. also think you should move everything to take advantage of the large bay window. bring in life and color with plants, maybe just one or 2 large ones. move the sectional to the tv wall and the tv to the wall you have the recliner and shelves on now.the shelf could stay there. you could then move the recliner and chair into the bay window area with a table and lamp between. can the sectional be broken down to pieces? maybe pulling it apart is the answer. think you need a new larger rug with some more color and detail. my own living room is gray and my recliners are that same color, but everything in the same tone of gray is what is making it lifeless. if you find a rug you like - pull a color from it for an accent color. think blue, red, yellow, green, purple, soft or bold you can go anywhere with gray. or find a color from a large picture you like for over the sectional (if you move it to the other wall). Ive seen some nice pictures that aren't too expensive at peir 1 and world market. you could also have a photo of your own put on canvas. I know you can do that at costco.

    Mary Larson thanked Cheryl Smith
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks everyone for the great feedback.. I am going to see what I can do with placement and taking apart the sectional.. I believe it can be broken up. We currently have silhouette blinds on the bay window., I would love to do something there once I find a groove. There a nice sized floor lamp and table; the photos missed it-it's between the recliner and sectional. I will work on getting the dimensions too.. I have been holding off on the larger rug until I had a plan, but I will go rug shopping this weekend and start with that for my color scheme. thanks again.. I love all the ideas and feedback !!

  • 9 years ago
    Add some shiny things and an accent color in art, pillows, throws, vases, etc. to sparkle and warm up the room vibe.
    Mary Larson thanked marylut
  • 9 years ago

    Mary Beth Haavisto, I have silhouette blinds and I love them. moving the tv will probably be the worst part. but if you can, I think having the sectional on the back wall will give the room a more open feel, even if you keep all your furniture. if you wanted to bring in more tan as the accent color in patterns, textures and most importantly the rug it should still feel more alive. you have enough gray in the room. tans and grays are safe but a perfect choice for furniture that you can't afford to replace all the time. I'd opt for a bolder color as accents myself (love red). pillows are cheap

    Mary Larson thanked Cheryl Smith
  • 9 years ago

    Totally agree with Susan: you need curtains on the window by the table/chairs and the windows over the sofa. Whatever style makes you happy. Definitely a print rug. A floor lamp in the corner behind the sectional. TV's are always a problem, but something more substantial under the tv would help.

    Mary Larson thanked mjconti
  • 9 years ago
    I think that the room is a little unbalanced. The sofa side is heavy with furniture, and the opposite wall is too scattered with small things. I love the big window, and it would open up the room.
    How about putting the sofa on the TV wall, which is too large for the TV anyway. Put the TV on a corner stand and place it on that little corner by the window.
    Brown is beautiful, but too much is too heavy. Lighten the room with printed pillows of teal, orange, and another great accent color, lime or yellow. This will brighten it up.
    And use these popping colors in a centerpiece for your table.
    Mary Larson thanked cheryljean1951
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Too much oversized furniture for the space.... take pieces out, then selectively put some back in.

    Mary Larson thanked Sustainable Dwellings
  • 9 years ago

    Love everyone's ideas about moving the sofa to face the windows and getting rid of the recliner chair.

    In the table area, I would put floor length curtains that hang outside the window area. It is a simple way of adding a lot of color and texture to that area.

    I'd paint the folding closet doors the same color as the walls. It will make that whole area seem a bit more expansive. It feels kind of cut up and tight.

    I like your color choices and the texture of the pillows. The slipper chair and ottoman are great. I would maybe put one small pillow on the slipper chair. It is so lovely and too covered up by stuff.

    Play around with moving the furniture to different places before you invest any money in rugs or other things.

    Mary Larson thanked Kendrah
  • 9 years ago
    Agree with other comments, if it were my room I would want that gorgeous window to be the focal point that invites you into the room so turn the sofa around to face it.
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Brighter colored pillows would be the easiest place to start.

    The room seems crowded; perhaps the armless chair next to the tv which extends into the walk path could be repurposed to another room.

    You don't need a larger credenza below your tv but you should consider closing the space between the credenza and the tv and hiding the wire with a shelf -- either hung on the wall or set atop the credenza -- painted any color you like.

    https://img1.etsystatic.com/021/0/6326520/il_570xN.495500505_trna.jpg

    The large center ottoman seems a bit too large for the space -- is there someplace you could use it as a window seat -- such as, do you have a large formal dining area and could put the ottoman in the nook where the table and chairs are now located, perhaps with a modern corner shelving unit for books and/or radio or other music source.

    http://assets.dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/corner-shelf-wall-system.jpg

    You could also add something tall but not nearly as deep as a chair on the floor on each side of the tv.

    [http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/.a/6a00df351e888f88340120a9550ffd970b-400wi]

    and/or you could add something uncommon on the wall on each side of the tv.

    [http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/8621a2660f33f9ef_4-3583/contemporary-display-and-wall-shelves.jpg}

    Even though you've chosen a sofa with a back higher than the bay windows to place against the windows, you could embrace your windows as the asset they are with stained glass sun catchers.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=stained+glass+panels&biw=1366&bih=673&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyirTA2MXKAhXJ8z4KHccsB0AQ_AUIBygC

    Alternately, a hanging planter in the bay window and/or wooden window treatment could be used to warm the room. You could even go vertical with wood window blinds.

    http://s573.photobucket.com/user/householdstuff/media/Blinds/wooden_window_blinds_3.jpg.html

    http://www.mastermoltyislamabad.com/images/blinds1.jpg

    Art need not necessarily be a framed poster or photograph or painting; it can be objects on shelves

    http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518rp590s3L.SY300.jpg

    and/or pressed metal and/or wire art.

    https://img0.etsystatic.com/045/2/8559747/il_fullxfull.674326320_a5ub.jpg

    You could repurpose the rug (which, here, serves no real purpose) to another room and enjoy the beauty of your floors.

    Beware of clutter in small rooms, including too many pillows -- consider replacing a few rather than just adding more, remembering that throw pillows are an accessory you can readily store and swap out as the seasons and/or your mood changes.

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