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kaitlin8908

Living room is missing something. but i don't know what.

10 years ago
I love my living room, but I think its missing one or two elements to really bring it home. I can't decide if it's too bland. Should I paint the fireplace wall up to the ceiling or add more wall art? Help.

Comments (23)

  • 10 years ago
    Post more photos of all angles so you get better responses. It's hard to tell from just this photo but so far I don't think you should paint the upper fireplace unless it's a very pale shade. A darker shade (especially grey which you have a lot of) seems too oppressive. Again, more photos needed.
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    IMO the fireplace already is a dominant factor in a very small space , don’t hang the art staggered, I like the idea of a light instead of the fan I would get a new mantel that one looks odd but I am not sure why The little table lamp serves no real purpose so I would get rid of any little pieces you don’t need like that tiny table and I think the 2 floor lamp idea could add some much needed light at useable level

  • 10 years ago
    Looks to me like you've been stricken with gray-itis and could use a dose of color. I'd replace some gray accents (eg pillows) with anything with some color. Any color. Looks like maybe you lean towards blue-green based on your art.
  • 10 years ago

    Too much gray. It looks like you tried to introduce a little teal/blue-green. I would expand on that significantly, replacing gray pillows with that color, add a teal throw, etc. I would not introduce more dark gray to the room by painting the fireplace wall. It doesn't look like you have art over the sofa, there is another opportunity to introduce color and brightness. The painting to the right of the fireplace has great colors so I'd use those as the palette, although I wonder if that is best location for it as it is really jammed in there.

    Also I think the doo-dads around the TV are doing nothing for decor. Move them out to the mantel and maybe add color their also, some nice pottery vases for instance. Would love to see the hole the TV sits in drywalled over and the TV mounted instead, as it is clearly a remnant of an earlier time when TVs needed the depth, but I understand if you don't want to bother with that. I don't love the TV over the fireplace but cannot tell if you can do a different arrangement or if you are even willing to.

  • 10 years ago

    The mantle should be painted white or replaced. Art should be moved from either side of fireplace. TV looks odd there, move it if possible or mount it flush. Furniture looks nice.

  • 10 years ago

    The space is beautiful and I don't think it is suffering from grey-itis. I think you just need a bit more dimension along the whole TV wall. It feels a bit flattened out and is just calling too much attention to the TV. I would not carry the accent color up to the ceiling. Here is what I would do instead to bring more dynamic interest to that whole wall:

    Less is more. I would paint the wood mantle the same color as the walls and remove the candles and other items from the sides of the TV.

    I am not in love with the artwork on either side of the TV. The sizes are awkward and they don't seem as high end as the look you have developed in the room. I think the piece to the right of the TV looks too big and crammed in the space. If you are attached to the artwork, I would consider putting it in a silver frame that has some reflective quality and doesn't look as dark and boxy as the current frame. You have done a great job with the table and lamp below and the artwork above just isn't sitting right. Otherwise, consider a more three dimensional piece of artwork or a tall rectangular mirror above the table with a silver colored frame. It would do a nice job reflecting the light.


    The two pictures to the left of the fire place don't really do anything for me. Is there a little table with a plant on it below the pictures? If so, I would get rid of the pictures, tables, and little plants and get a large floor plant and nice container to take up that space.


    Bedroom pic gives a nice idea of a tall mirror hung above table:


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  • 10 years ago

    I think it looks really well done

  • 10 years ago
    Thanks to all for the input. I appreciate the new ideas. I needed different ways to look at the room. Decorative block.
  • 10 years ago

    I think you could add just a bit more color. Perhaps if you add some soft yellow. See inspiration pick below. I think a textured throw in a soft yellow and grey, and switching out or adding some yellow cushions will add some additional color. I would use your art work and pull out some colors from that into your room. You may like a monochromatic room and I do too but sometimes just a soft accent color makes all the difference in the world. I'm usually not a big fan of accent walls but the wall in the inspiration pick just helps pull everything together so nicely. Just some things to consider.:)


  • 10 years ago

    Kaitlin, what about a mirror on either side of fireplace? I think the two arts are just not working for some reason.

  • 10 years ago
    The other angles of the room
  • 10 years ago

    It's a tall room but the eye is drawn down because everything is low. Move some artwork up higher. Maybe put an architectural piece above the TV.

    I agree; too much of the same color. I think an industrial type coffee table would add texture.

  • 10 years ago

    First I'd remove the little candles by the TV. They are out of proportion with the items in the room. Move the blue and yellow painting above the couch, add a tall thin mirror by the lamp instead. I'd move your chair to the left side of the fireplace, angling it in towards the other couches. This leaves easier access to those doors. I'd put your little table on the wall between the 2 sets of french doors with a yellow orchid on it. Then you need some light blue/aqua (to mach your pillow/painting) pottery or vases by the fireplace. (Either on the floor or on the mantle (infront of the wall not the TV). I think you need to add a little more color for balance.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I like Nancy Gram's suggestions - paint the rest of the fireplace wall the color of your tile. Add dimension on the back 2 walls with a wallpaper not paint.

    Overall, love the space, nice job!!!

  • 10 years ago

    Your room is really lovely. I also feel like the whole fireplace only wall should be painted. And given the size of the cutout for the TV, I would have gotten a TV that more closely fills that space so it looks more built in (not sure if that's an option). I know it's slightly angled for viewing, but I'm not sure that's really necessary - I have a 65 inch over a fireplace and viewing is fine - it's just on the provided stand flush with the outside edge of the cutout. It will give a more integrated look. And when you play DVDs of just fish, beaches, or whatever, it looks like moving art. :) I would remove the accessories from the TV mount area. It might just be me ... I like ottomans, but those look a little small and lost to me, maybe that's another option for some color. I know they can't be too high. I agree on a more architectural coffee table. That wrap around mantle Nancy suggested was awesome as was the side wall treatment.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Floating shelves on either side of the fireplace can help achieve a more modern look with clean lines, and I think that would go nicely with the gray tones that seem to be prevalent throughout the space.

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  • 10 years ago
    I like the idea of painting fireplace the stone color, all of it including the nook that the fireplace is in. maybe some pillows that pull the color from that large print, the blue and yellow
  • 10 years ago
    You could paint the tv nook a different color than the rest of the fireplace. That would be cool. Then remove all the candlesticks around tv. They are all cramped in there and not necessary imo. Also, I would just wall paper the area where the art pieces are now...they look strange.
    I love more color in one space than 90% of the population (or more lol), but I think the neutrals look good here:)
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Also, it is nice to see a rug fully pop out the backside of a floating couch. Maybe layer a larger rug underneath?

    and plant placement on heater only highlights unattractive heater. Id probably move that somewhere else and declutter the console table to right of tv. And finally maybe move the chair in a bit towards center of room? It looks a tad close to the doors

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    What about

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    mirrors instead of art on left of fireplace?
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  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    and a tall narrow table with the plant on it (left of fireplace).

  • 10 years ago

    Pretty room....lots of suggestions. Only thing I see for sure is that your artwork on both sides of the fireplace are too much and also the little things around your TV. Don't usually like floating shelves but how about stand alone bookcases on either side of your fireplace? If you can't get the right size, may have to have them made. You could paint them the same as your fireplace or white like your woodwork.