I think you are concentrating on the wrong thing. It sounds like you have a beautiful room. You want your view to be the focus, not a darker side wall or a huge row of shelves. Someone here once said, "Decorate where the people are". Concentrate on refining the living area and the space won't seem out of balance. Painting part of that side wall will just emphasize the height.

The chairs and table are too small for that wall and the pictures are lost in that space as well. Floating shelves will have the same issue.

It's a great space for a credenza or buffet and a substantial piece of art. If you can't find art in your price range, find a large antique map or two of your area and get it framed. Or hang an interesting textile in the space or a framed mirror.

I hate to rain on your parade but your ideas will not solve your decorating issues. Spend your money and effort on developing a lovely, full decorated living area. That will balance out your open space.

This furniture looks too formal for your space but I think the scale would work well on that wall.

Here are some nicely decorated large great rooms. All the decor is "people" height.

I don’t think painting part of the wall will look good, it will only emphasize the issue. Agree the table and chairs are too insubstantial there. Maybe some ski posters? Lots of nice local type posters too (I’d do three large next to each other); textile suggestion was good too, a rug on the wall could look very nice.

that small table needs to go. i don't know how the rest of the room is laid out, but this entire space and wall would need to be decorated on its own as a focal point. normally they have a fireplace or large media unit as the focal point. would need to see your entire space.

here are some similar layouts to yours. look at what they done.

Decorate below 9'. Otherwise you won't be able to see anything and it won't look right. I could see a large piece of furniture with height on that wall. Perhaps a large buffet unit with a mirror above it that could reflect some of your views while sitting on the sofa? Hate that your backs are to the views? But if that can't change. Then the buffet could be set up as a bar or snack station. You don't need anything else on that wall especially with the loft element.

Notice the buffet and large mirror. Of course, need to select a buffet that would suit your room styling.

Large buffet and rather than art, an oversized mirror.

You could put a tall armoire on that wall as well.

Since you've had comments about the wall, may I add that to me a grounding rug is needed [unless there is one] -- crimson...

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I think your paint is a beautiful color - could add art, not Hurricane though [which this is called].... ;-)

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Apologize for duplicate photos. Here is the entire space via pictures. The top photo is the wall and tower of windows. It is a full, 2 story height, with 10ft ceilings per story! the Wall of windows is at least 15 ft in length. The next photo is standing in front of the wall in ? open to dining area with 4 ft, by 18in server/wine bar with mirror. Notice all the windows on the river side. That is my view and is seen everywhere. The next photo is standing from that wall of windows looking at the double sided fireplace with TV- and the half round conversational sofa centered on that with rug. Also, matching rug under dining table. The fireplace with cabinets are 10ft long. Picture I think, makes it look smaller. The loft area is obviously open to downstairs and shares a common wall with downstairs. Painting that entire wall works and wall-ceiling lines make it clear where to start and stop for an accent wall. If this helps clarify. Thank you for suggestions.

These 2 photos I pulled from Houzz and a google image search portray CONCEPTUALLY, ideas, the top one came from Houzz and how to use tall spaces correctly. This one shows how I could use shelving (proper scale of course) with other larger, taller items. clearly, my ceiling height is taller than the photo above. The entire space is flooded with light, so the area can handle a darker color. Anyone have a clearer picture now? Thank you everyone.

cheryl, you are a perfect candidate for a design consult. Your current choices exemplify the challenges you have already run into, and a local expert can get you straightened out faster than working on your own at this point. I encourage you to make some phone calls; I think it will save you considerable time and money going forward. Happy Houzzing.

I'm trying to phrase this so it won't sound too rude but we do understand what you want to do. And the consensus is that it won't help your space look cohesive. It's your space, you can do what you like. But, based on the photos, the painted half wall and large shelves are not good design choices.

I have a feeling that the shelves with pictures and objects on them may be a passing trend, one that I personally have never found terribly attractive. I do think that more could be done to make the living area more attractive. I'm afraid the rug in the dining area is too small, and the little round rug in front of the couch looks not quite right. I would get a large rectangular rug that covers the whole of the furniture area and find a warmer color that harmonizes with the furniture rather than picking up the cold gray color of the fireplace which doesn't really harmonize with the color of the adjoining cabinets. I would choose different rugs for the living and dining areas. With larger rug areas the sound level in this huge area would probably also be dampened. The picture with the yellow sofa has a much more modern vibe which makes more sense with the shelf arrangements, and probably would look blah without the yellow couch as an interesting focal point. Your colors are all very safe and neutral if you will compare them to the photos of high spaces posted above. I think more lively colors, beginning with some bolder choices of rugs, pillows, etc. would keep the focus on where people are living rather than the high walls. You have a beautiful space (love the windows and views), and to have the furniture turn its back on the view seems a pity. A lot can be done to resolve some of these issues, and perhaps seeking some professional help would be a good direction to take.

Thank you all, just to be clear, I never said I would paint half the wall! that would indeed look ridiculous. A professional consult is probably a great idea.

Well, your post said the darker paint color would end at the soffit. The only soffit I see in your photos is the one under the loft. So, that is why I assumed you were painting only part of the wall. You already have the perfect accent wall - your view! Good luck with your space.

I see how you could get that impression as the first 2 photos were separate from the latter ones I posted. This wall, as someone said earlier, has its own calling for greatness as it connects to the loft, shown here. This is where I'd like an accent color up into the loft back wall. Everyone who comes over looks up there, and vice versa. BTW: from the loft, you get an even better view out the 2 story windows, so there are no views lost. thank you!

What about 4 of these? that type of look, and coverage for a sculpture look?

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