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sixkeys

Update on family room

9 years ago

Ok, this is scary to share. Hoping for some gentle feedback. :) I got the 2 end tables, worked on the media unit "stuff", put up artwork, and got new pillows for the sofas.

The table lamps are temporary and just for sizing. I will definitely get a chunkier lamp for the square table. I am kind of liking a smaller lamp for the circular table....we will see.


Still working on decor for the sofa console. I do plan to get a bigger TV to fill the space.


Showing the artwork I posted about earlier this weekend.


How do these pillows look? They can be returned, just laid them out quickly for the pictures.

Ok, deep breath. :)

Comments (28)

  • 9 years ago

    Looks nice! I like how the blue in the pillows brings out the blue in your beautiful art. Love the pillow on the left with the white background. Looks so inviting!

    sixkeys thanked jlj48
  • 9 years ago

    The room is coming along nicely. I agree with what LynnNM said about the pillows. As far as the end table lamps, I feel that with two different tables, the lamps should be the same on both. I think the lamp you have on the square table would look good on both tables.

    sixkeys thanked k9arlene
  • 9 years ago

    It looks nice, I would change the pillows to something that captures the blue in the artwork.

    sixkeys thanked Sunny
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Very nice space. I especially like how you've hung the art next to the media cabinet, as well as that wonderful piece to the right of the sofa. I agree with k9arlene that I think either the tables or the lamps should match, but it might be a bit of a problem because even matching lamps will be different heights. Don't let anyone convince you to put books under the shorter one. eta: on second look, maybe the tables are the same height, which eliminates the matching lamps, different heights problem.

    If your ceiling spots are on dimmers, so you could use them for mood or reading lights at that end of the room, perhaps you could get away with a lamp behind the floating sofa, on the sofa table, one lamp on one of the end tables and the floor lamp placed next to the other end of the sofa. You might not need one by the gray chair unless that's a favorite reading spot. Or you could get a matching floor lamp instead of 2 or 3 table lamps.

    sixkeys thanked Olychick
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Realize they are temporary, but maybe try switching lamps on end tables.

    sixkeys thanked mdln
  • 9 years ago

    I'd do just two larger pillows in a cool print on the sofa instead of those smaller ones you are trying. I think your media wall (the view from the kitchen) looks wonderful!! Really great space!

    sixkeys thanked nini804
  • 9 years ago

    Super helpful comments - thank you! I will keep working on the pillows. Unfortunately no outlet near the console, so no lamp for there.

    The two end tables are from the same "collection" and are the exact same height. For the sake of discussion I've placed matching lamps. Looks good but I don't like how it covers the art from certain angles (which was why I was considering a shorter lamp there).

  • 9 years ago

    I forgot to ask.....should I just have 4 matching pillows for the sofas? If so, then would I have something different for the chair?

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    As far as 2 or 4 pillows go, it really depends on how you all feel about throw pillows. Would you use them to lean against or toss them on the floor when sitting there? I personally like 2 at each end, but with coordinating, not matching, prints (2 and 2). I also prefer thinner pillows, soft but that hold their shape.

    sixkeys thanked LynnNM
  • 9 years ago

    The rectangular end table looks too large to me in relation to the other end table and sofa, but I think that can be solved by turning it so the long side is along the sofa. I always thought that was how rectangular end tables were supposed to be placed.

    Love your art and that you're selecting it with so much care.

    sixkeys thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    It has been a long project to pick artwork. They bring me much joy and are my favorite part of the room. I was nicely encouraged by everyone here to slow it down to find the right pieces. So glad that I did.

    Agree about the end table! Looks better this way. (Old pillows as place holders)

  • 9 years ago

    Seems like the pup liked the other pillows.

  • 9 years ago

    He is one of my two "comfort hounds" that love to sleep all day.

  • 9 years ago


    OMG, your fur babies are adorable and that second one looks very much like my two: India (L- my grandbaby) and Sasha (R), my sweet baby girl. Both are Tibetan Spaniels. Yours?

  • 9 years ago

    Awwww, so precious! Mine are Tibetian Spaniels too. Cosmo and Tami, brother and sister, are actual littermates. Your Sasha and my Tami look so much alike!

  • 9 years ago

    is it possible to move the floor lamp to the other side of the chair so it doesn't block the view of the art?

    sixkeys thanked Olychick
  • 9 years ago

    Yes, I should have enough room to move the lamp - thank you!

    I like these lamps if I do matching. They are almost 3 inches taller than the white ones I have now. Maybe that's too tall?

  • 9 years ago

    Changing the direction of the rectangular table so it doesn't look so large is a big improvement. I really like the matching lamps posted just above. Had you decided on drapes? The view out the window looks cluttered, I'm afraid, and detracts from the ambiance of the room. At any rate, the drapes or panels would add softness to the room, especially since you have no area rug. I was hoping you might consider adding one at some point, because it can really pull a room together and add so much in terms of color and patterns.

    sixkeys thanked ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks! The back porch is filled with junk right now (we are massively purging before a huge family event, and that is our staging area)....so the view will be improved. I am considering window treatments to soften the room. I will need to make a plan for the sliding door and windows in the connected kitchen. One day I will make a post all about window treatments when I am ready to tackle that one.

  • 9 years ago

    I still think there's an imbalance with the tables flanking the sofa. I'd try the round table on the outside arm of the chair--you may need to slide the chair slightly toward the entertainment center. I have a floor lamp between my sofa and corner with the entertainment center on the perpendicular wall and it works for me! I also think the tall narrow-based lamps there now and the ones you're considering are too big for the round table, so I don't see a matched pair working on the tables. Using the floor lamp instead eliminates that problem. When the table is small, a tall lamp looks precarious so a wider lamp base anchors it better to the table.

    Did you get those thunder boomers this morning?

    sixkeys thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    Your room is so pretty. The changes are definitely making a difference so far. I'd scoot the end tables out from the wall slightly so everything doesn't look jammed up against the wall. Maybe even move the sofa out a couple of inches too. Also pull the tables away from the arms of the sofa a couple of inches.

    The accessories on the sofa table need to be spread out a little. Think of 3 items in thirds on the table top.

    For the pillows, I like something like those 2 matching paisley pillows you posted and would repeat the print on the other sofa. Instead of a lot of pillows, maybe try a throw on the sofa closest to the kitchen. And a lumbar pillow like you show in the chair. If you use the room as your main TV room, maybe you like a lot more pillows so that would be fine to add more. I think you can get too many and then they are just scattered around and are in the way when you need places for people to sit.

    sixkeys thanked OutsidePlaying
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I believe the round table would look better if it is moved forward. IMO it is sitting too far back and creates the appearance of imbalance.

    Very much like the lamps you picture above.

    You are creating a really comfortable, inviting room that is going to look lovely.

    sixkeys thanked WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
  • 9 years ago

    These are great ideas - thank you all! I am going to play around with the table arrangement. If I keep them "as is" I will pull them away from the wall and space out the furniture a bit more. I don't think the little table will fit near the chair but I can give it a try!

    I think mayflowers pegged what is bothering me about using the same lamps on the two tables. Since the tables are such different sizes, the lamp might either look to big on one or too small on the other. I do have some accessories planned for the large end table so that could solve the problem. I probably shouldn't have ordered tables until I made a bigger plan. I am hopeful that I can figure it out without too much heartache. :)

  • 9 years ago

    Would any of these pillows be a good option?

  • 9 years ago

    When playing with the placement of the tables move them out from the sofa. There needs to be some breathing space between the tables and the sofa. With the round table, try to center it between the back of the couch and the front, then sit down beside it and pretend you are putting a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) on it comfortably and that's where it should be.

    With the most recent pillows that you just posted you are going to wind up with a very blue and brown room. There are two pillows (one on the couch and one on the easy chair) that you have that has some colour in it, keep those ones, then look at your picture and get some that have more of the colours, not just the blue, from the picture. And don't do all the same pillows.

    Do you have any other colours that are in adjoining rooms that you can bring into the living area? That helps to create a more cohesive home when colours can wind from one room to the next.

    Lamps - It's fine to have the one lamp block the corner of the picture. The lamp that is bothering me is the floorlamp as it is completely blocking the picture in the corner. Can you move the easy chair to the right a little and put the lamp behind or on the other side?

    I like the new lamps that you have posted but am worried that they might overwhelm the round table. But no harm in trying them.

  • 9 years ago

    What, I can't just pick grey and blue for everything??? :) The dining room is adjacent...as you will see we have lovely navy blue walls. I am trying to think of another color to bring in for the pillows.


  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Maybe one of these colors; I like the yellow-green.