The ginormous armoire is going to dominate no matter what wall it is on. However, the room needs more furniture to balance against that armoire. Start by moving the armoire up against the corner near the doorway. That may give you more room for the desk and seating.

It would be ideal if the desk occupant sits with his/her back against a wall and faces either the doorway or the window, especially if you will see clients in this space. But, I can't tell if there will be enough room to angle the desk in the far left corner. If not, place it in front of the back wall, though it does not have to be centered. Put seating in front of the windows. The average sofa is 6 & 1/2 ft wide which would leave less than 3 ft on either side. Add one chair that can face either the sofa or the desk, and a small coffee table, or an ottoman that can hold a tray for serving. If you don't mind sitting with your back facing the windows perhaps the desk will fit next to the armoire. That will allow more room for another chair and a more formal living room feel.

In either case, fill the wall next to the armoire with a bookcase, large art with a wide frame, or a large collection of smaller pieces. Try to match the visual weight of the armoire. Try to match that visual weight in the furniture also. Something with carved wood, perhaps like THIS.

The only other option is to place the sofa and chairs opposite the doorway and put the desk in front of the window next to the doorway. The desk would be easily accessible after bringing in the mail, but it's not at all private.

Thank you so much for your insightful comments, I appreciate you taking your time to provide a very helpful response!

Do you need an office or are you just trying to find a purpose for the room? What is the interior configuration of the armoire? Would you be willing to re-purpose it? If it can be tweaked to hold a flat screen TV, this could become an intimate media room. Center the armoire on the back wall and gather seating in front of it. If you can be daring with the armoire, remove the doors and mount them on the walls flanking it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>I don’t “need” it as an office, just trying to find a purpose really. We have another office in the house but my husband and son have commandeered it for conference calls and video gaming so I figured it would be as good a reason as any for the space, however I don’t really want to remove my files and such from the actual office.

The armoire did actually hold a large old style tv at one point in time so a flat panel could easily fit (the doors also can be easily removed to flank it as in your idea, or can fold all the way back 180 degrees to double back on them soon the sides). It is basically just a large empty box with two removable shelves.

Another off the wall idea I had just to give it some purpose was getting a used piano and throwing it in there for a music room. My husband was not so keen on that idea being that none of us actually play, (my argument being how else will the three kids learn)? LOL

I suppose right now I just want it to look somewhat decent at the entrance of the home more than anything.

I wish I had a room like this all to myself. I would encourage you to move your files into the armoire, set up your computer on the desk, buy yourself a very comfortable chair and enjoy the luxury. You can add a couple of plants, a small club chair for reading, a lamp and you are set!

Well, now that you mention the piano, personally, I would sell the armoire and put the money on a baby grand (maybe a player one) so you could enjoy music and family could learn to play as well. That, a chair or two, a great piece of art and some lighting would trick this out as a fabulous music room.

Center the lovely armoire on the wall and then place the desk at an angle across the corner.

Place art or wall decor on the back wall. You don't need any additional furniture just correct placement.

Thanks so much! I think I’ll try rearranging like in the diagram. (I did actually try this configuration at one one point but I don’t think I have it enough time to let it sink in.)... At least until I can convince my husband that we need that baby grand! Lol

Do you think a slightly larger chair would be beneficial? This just for example?

Until the room starts to function I wouldn't spend any money on more furniture.

As to which wall it could go -- best if we know the width of both options.

And if you have a special chair / distinctive-- in mind for the desk....

And do tell if there are stripes in the entry - to me that might be reason to have the unit on the large wall [nearest windows].

You might find a transitional item that has good blend with a feature of the unit - maybe this type? different color, etc....

https://www.houzz.com/products/surya-wall-decor-wall-mirror-prvw-vr~55196786

To make it look at home: I'd find items that blend with as much as you can - maybe this type has elegance of your piece.... color of carpet... fancy sheen [but not too much]:

https://www.houzz.com/products/williamsburg-framed-oval-mirror-in-silver-leaf-with-brown-antique-19x23-prvw-vr~63063630

Thanks, yes there are stripes in the entryway. My style is definitely much more transitional with makes it a bit difficult to mesh the rest of my home with the armoire’s very formal traditional style.

Wow, that armoire is gorgeous!

I would:

• Lose the dwarfed desk
• Center the armoire on the back wall
• Add in two large scale accent chairs
• Large low, round coffee table
• Add in a potted (olive) tree to the right of the armoire, near the windows
• Add in a floor lamp to the left of the armoire
• Add one large scale piece of art across from window wall
• Add in b/w photos of your family in thin set frames with wide white matting

That armoire is very beautiful, imo, and would offer a striking view on the wall opposite the entry. I'd want to showcase it somewhere in my home. I like @BeverlyFLADeziner's furniture placement suggestion for an office. Once you figure out the function of this room (office? entertaining? lounging?), you'll have an easier time figuring out what to do with this piece and if you actually do need it in the space. (Could it be repurposed for linen storage, as a bar, TV and music unit, office supplies and files...?) But perhaps it's simply too big for the room? (The feel of of a room or its flow and proportions don't always translate in pictures.)

Google is coming up short helping me find pictures of a traditional armoire in a contemporary room but I know I've seen it before. Perhaps in a book. I'll have a browse and share later today if I find these images that are tickling the back of my brain.

Thanks so much! We can try the armoire against the wall back too. We definitely plan on some draperies to help (and trim, new baseboards, chair rail, crown, etc when we are able to get around to it.)

I too would put armoire on wall opposite doors. So pretty. Perhaps use a round table with a couple chairs. Could be sweet spot for helping with homework or afternoon tea or just using laptop to catch up on electronic tasks. Such a pretty room. I have a favorite multi-use room. I will dig up a photo of it.

Instead of book shelves something like this would be beautiful. Probably smaller scale furniture but you get the idea. The Armoire is so beautiful it is the star. However, a large piece of art on the wall opposite the windows would be stunning as well.

Have you considered having a craftsman make the interior of the armoire a office/desk?

Some ideas

Rough mock up. Concept pieces. You can go in any direction style-wise you want. I think a juxtaposition of some transitional pieces would be great. I love the wall color. Do you know what it is?

The last thing you want to do is shove that armoire in a corner--a sure sign that you don't want it in that room and that it doesn't fit and that you've given up. Design isn't about giving up.

I don't know what the history or age of that thing is, but it looks really cool. Give it the space and place it deserves. Put it dead-ahead as you enter the room.

First, determine what you want the room to do and to be. Work around that.

I personally like to sit at a desk with a window next to me. It makes the work feel less like work if I can see outside.

Depending on your budget, i would probably take that carpet out and install wood flooring.

Don't make this your office. It sounds like you don't really want to need it to be in here. Before you think of furniture, I would ponder the kinds of activities you like to do solo in an isolated space and then design around that.

For example, I love talking on the phone to my mom and friends and do it often. If this were in my house, I'd add a chaise lounge, on the wall where you have the desk, find a horizontal piece of artwork to put above the chaise, flank it with sconces, add a small table for a drink, a floor plant between the windows or in a corner and enjoy the solitude of many hours on the phone!

Just because this piece is heavy and ornate doesn't mean you have to decorate the whole room in that them. It takes skill to go eclectic but done right, you can certainly make this room a place that is not dominated by the theme of that one piece of furniture.

You could call this your girl cave!

I suppose I had originally thought of the office idea because it allowed me to have my own space to do our business paperwork. However, I usually just do it on my laptop anyway so a table with some chairs for a laptop spot/homework area does sound like the most practical use for this spot, at least at this point of time. With a 9 year old, 2 year old and an 8 month old, I have many more years of homework helping left to be certain. Even if I install some doors (with locks) now, I'd still have toddler fingers under the door interrupting my zen, lol.

We definitely do want to rip out the carpet and ugly orangy oak floor throughout the entire first floor and install some darker wood flooring, however the previous homeowner installed new carpeting throughout the entire house right before we moved in so we figure we might as well let the kids destroy it first (as they undoubtedly will in no time flat) before doing so. I am not a carpet fan so I am definitely looking forward to that day. The wall color is Valsar Nuance, it almost identical to Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray with perhaps the tiniest drop more green in it.

I think if we have time this evening I will try this configuration, maybe temporarily borrowing some furniture from other rooms just to get a visual.

I sure can understand that! Having 4 kids, we struggled with what to do in a 1900 Victorian we bought many years ago. Wood was out of the question then, so I went with, believe it or not, off white carpeting. Got best quality we could afford, and had it cleaned professionally twice a year and after 10 years, it still was going strong! Had a cat or two along the way too, with various other critters, my middle son dragged home. Some scared the devil out of me! Good luck. I think this can be a functional yet really pretty spot too. Best of both worlds!

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Why not put an office in the armoire that just is used when you need it then just decorate as nice spot to sit and read a book listen to music some nice chairs some art on the wall good lighting and be done I also think the same wood flooring in there would make it seem more part of the main house.

50x40

47x38

Thanks so much for all the help and ideas. I think 47x38 may even be better bc the painting is tall and colorful, do you agree?

Houzzer comment about eclectic got me going. :)

So how about this - a rug that complements stripes nearby - and blends very well with paint - and is same basic material/ quality as carpeting? and go from there...

https://www.houzz.com/products/aschera-contemporary-area-rug-blue-and-brown-79-round-prvw-vr~47922349

With armoire moved to empty wall, place a small-ish rug in front of it.

https://www.houzz.com/products/richmond-area-rug-gray-53-x-74-prvw-vr~57972799

If a rug that matches stripes - square that covers most of carpet?

https://www.houzz.com/products/adirondack-area-rug-silver-ivory-8-square-prvw-vr~69915374

Pretty colors in poly.

https://www.houzz.com/products/under-the-wave-iii-36x36-hand-embellished-giclee-prvw-vr~5287028

https://www.houzz.com/products/vintage-floral-fringe-blue-5x79-prvw-vr~95364848

Patterns not too dainty small patterns, but some nod to wood furniture. A bit of color to ground the room like the furniture does - don't want the piece to look alone in there, would be odd.

https://www.houzz.com/products/filippo-cardu-penguin-lovers-art-birch-frame-white-mat-16x16-prvw-vr~77742829

https://www.houzz.com/products/kas-oriental-reina-9507-71-x-71-gray-prvw-vr~137185411

Large scale of traditional makes it contemporary I think.... maybe carpet and stripes are on grey side....? black for drama. ooh just went back and saw your white nail head chair!

https://www.houzz.com/products/nourison-graphic-illusions-black-area-rug-53x75-prvw-vr~83398986

I had some fun doing this.... totally opposite of furniture is aluminum art, which will bring out something unique about each. A few showing over the desk?

https://www.houzz.com/products/marc-allante-the-cellist-sketch-floating-brushed-aluminum-art-16x22-prvw-vr~85274958

Whimsy that you and children like, whatever that is. I'd use similar pieces so the room doesn't become too disjointed with too many looks.

https://www.houzz.com/products/windy-fairy-tales-artwork-30x198-prvw-vr~79243314