I like this look for the style that you're going for! I would just say to make sure that the rug size you choose is to the right scale for your room (can't tell from the composition above) and make sure the artwork isn't mounted too high/too low -- try to keep the gallery height centered just under or at 5'. Good luck! -Myra

following

I like it - however, I'd turn the rug.

Yes, turn the rug for sure.

Make sure before you purchase lamps that they don't block the art when they're in place. I would prefer a rug without the medallion and border as they stop the eye from going further. A nice oriental with some red and blue would look super and no borders or medallion.

Great thoughts, thanks so much for everything you've all said so far! :)

Should have included size of the foyer: It's 7 feet feet across and 9 feet wide. This mockup view would be standing right at the door.

If I turn the rug, it would have to be downsized to a 6x4 (or it won't fit in the room properly). That said, I did shrink it in this image, and think it looks better in this orientation!

Yayagal: Thank you very much for these thoughts, super helpful! I'll look for a rug without borders or medallion, will post pics once I find something appropriate. As far as the lamps: Are there ANY lamps that won't block any art at all? The gallery arrangement would be about 80 inches across, so it extends past the console on both sides.

This was actually one of my issues, I don't know if it's okay for some of the art to be blocked... and if not, then I realize I'll have to either get super low lamps (which would look out of scale and STILL block some art if it's hung at an appropriate distance from the table), OR swap out the lamps for something else altogether.

Do you have any thoughts or ideas as to what else could be placed there? Thank you again. :)

Yayagal: Please excuse my ignorance, but I can't seem to find an oriental rug without a border. No medallion, yes... but no border, no. Am I looking for the wrong thing? Any examples of what I should be seeking? Thanks very much! :)

Awesome, thank you njmomma for finding that! I think it works! You? :)

Other orientation for comparison...

I am not a Pro., but I love helping out!

Yes, the lamps will block the art from some angles. If you don't want it to, change the art orientation. Not a bad idea to do so. Or,if you don't need lamps,use a long and low piece at centre. A ceramic footbath might suit your somewhat trad tastes or something
like a birdcage that is very see through. Also, if the rug is in front
of the console,it should be longer. For your space,a wide runner might
work.

alex9179: SUPER helpful!! I have the hardest time NOT being symmetrical (most of our home is in complete symmetry because mismatching purposefully is simply impossible for me). But I do see exactly what you mean and it was bugging me, too -- there still isn't perfectly symmetry so it looks like someone tried and missed!

I tried rearranging the pieces and placing them more in a vertical orientation. Is this better? I do believe so, but not confident about this. Also the lamps look like they're teetering on the edge of the table, so I'm posting a version without the lamps, and I do like it more!

hollybar : Thanks for the footbath idea, I like it! I'm also trying on a runner in these pics (this is as wide of a runner as would fit in that space). Don't think I'm a fan of this idea because I'd like to have a rug right at the door, and a runner by the console table won't allow for that setup (unless I put two rugs down, which will overwhelm such a small space, imo).

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated as well... I'm kind of stuck rug size/orientation-wise.

Thank you all for your help!

I like vertical much better! I personally don't mind if a lamp blocks a bit of the picture. Maybe just one lamp. Take my entry. I think it looks balanced and the large painting isn't centered over the table, which gave me room on the other side for the lamp. I know your symmetry loving brain is doubting me but remember, it's the whole that needs to relate.

So,your table is across from the door? If so,I would not do a runner either. Can you tell me why you like the two very folksy matching pieces in your arrangement? Wildy curious. For me,they throw the rest off,not in a good way. Rug wise, for most entry ways,I would not worry too much about the centre medallion or the borders. I would worry about wear and cleaning. In our side mudroom,I use a poly rug that cleans up a treat but feels soft and luxurious. It is a Karastan Spice Market rug,but there are so many others at lower price points that feel just as good. (I just fell in love)

alex9179: I like your setup very much! I don't have trouble with asymmetrical things when they're done by someone else. I just have a major problem creating the setups myself! I'm going to keep playing around with the arrangement, but in the meantime, I do like the vertical version much better. Thank you thank you!! =o)

hollybar: Yes, the table is directly across from the door. This is why that vertical rug orientation is definitely most practical (and suits the size of the room best, as well). Part of the reason I love the black tones there, is because I know a light rug wouldn't stand up to constant shoe traffic. But yes, looking at a poly rug for sure!

As for why the folksy pieces... nothing wild: We like farm animals (hubby loves chickens, I love cows), we like the blue (our dining room is blue and is visible from here, I thought it'd be cool to tie that in), we like the black frames (seemed to make sense to add some black because of black table), and we couldn't find other pieces that we liked, which we believed would work with the arrangement. Clearly, these don't either, but we didn't realize that. I'll see if I can find something else! Thank you!