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tracyblom

Decorating Help

6 years ago

We’ve been in our home about 6 months now and for some reason I just can’t seem to make this room feel warm and inviting. we do a lot of entertainment and I’d love some ideas on how to make this room look and feel more appealing




Comments (37)

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I suggest taking everything that you have on your walls and lowering each item about one foot. I would also add curtains.


    Maybe instead of lowering the artwork, I would move it all to one wall. Individually the pieces look scattered. Maybe create a gallery wall at one end of the table and the buffet on the same wall.


  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Thank you. Ideally we would want to use this space for a dining/hangout area. Should the curtains be long to the floor or short to match the window size? I also use this room sometimes for sitting down and writing, painting, and playing guitar. We kind of envisioned it as a fun dining/hangout room

  • 6 years ago

    I would have the curtains go to the floor.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I think the low blue cabinet is an electric fireplace? Yes? or No?


    Take everything out of the room except the music instruments and the (is this a dining?) table and the fireplace.


    Move the table over parallel to the window; I suggest this because you are walking into or around it from the other two doors......if possible maybe a cushioned bench under the window wall parallel to suggested bench with end chairs on each end and last three on outside for everyday seating.

    Use the other end of the room between the doors for your music instruments; hang them all on the wall for easy access and keeping them safe from damage.


    If that is a fireplace then buy a pair of pretty (to you in a bright color; I mean you gotta have them; your room is devoid of an eye catching color) swivel/upholstered barrel type chairs for either side of fireplace....add small end tables and lamps.


    Try this 'floor plan' idea if it works for you and see how the room functions; the main pieces have to work before you add the fluff, which is really the fun part. Starting is difficult as there are a lot of decisions you need to yes or no! Keep us posted, it is will all come together....

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you! The blue fireplace thing is actually a wine rack! I can move it easily. I love the idea of the swivel chairs and the tables, and the bench!

  • 6 years ago

    I would address those white doors before anything else!

  • 6 years ago

    thank you, any suggestions on what to do with the door?

  • 6 years ago

    Paint it. Bring color into the room with the door.

  • 6 years ago

    Jennifer had some good points.. The center of the wall art should be about 60 inches from the floor...no more. That goes for a single piece of art or a gallery.

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    i like the wood elements in there.

    you need to do something like this^



    for that corner under the plant, can you bring in a cushy chair, ottoman or pouf or two? move what's there now next to the door.




    the doors are too white. you could paint them that same dusky blue of your console. it looks good w/the wood tones.


    If it was mine, I'd paint all of the wood trim baseboards and around the doors white. you have plenty of wood in there. doing those white and then have a crisp painted door would punch it up a bit.

    lastly, I'd bring in a rug. maybe a jute one like this for some texture




    or, bring in a rug w/those dusky blue tones.


    oh and yes,,,all those pieces of art, please, do not hang them higher than 60". that's from the floor to the MIDDLE of the art. 60". ditto the mirror

  • 6 years ago

    This is so helpful thank you!!!

  • 6 years ago

    You've gotten some good suggestions here already. If you can give us the measurements of each wall section, and the size of the table, you'll get even better help.

    If you like the color of the wine rack, repeat it in the room e.g. carpet, rug, cushions on the dining chairs, door paint. Is the wall with the coat hooks painted a different color or is it just a trick of the light in your photo? Some more questions on my rough diagram of your room.


  • 6 years ago

    The wall with the rack on it is a brownish purple, hard to say what color it is, as it looks different In the light. I will see if I can find a picture of the floor plan

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Here are some ideas to warm up space

  • 6 years ago

    Could table be moved, to make room for a couple hang-out chairs by the bass [?] ?

    Do you want a large table....

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    If no rug, maybe patterned end chair [s] .. and moveable when needed.

    If you like idea of chalk paint, the chairs could have a creative outcome.

    Blend of two colors per chair / or a different color for individual chairs.


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  • 6 years ago

    That’s a neat idea!

  • 6 years ago

    Houzzers yes about stark white doors... but on other hand, it could also be the black chairs [that stick out]

  • 6 years ago

    Guitar playing and you might like armless [under window?]

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  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I lowered your mirror and started to paint your room but my arm got tired.


  • 6 years ago

    I think if light-warm walls are basically satisfactory, you can add warmth with patterned [or not] in rug, in 2 'hostess chairs', in curtains.... ?

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    You posted this in a recent thread.


    So I'm guessing this is your family room 24 x 12 and the plan just doesn't show the interior walls and an opening into the kitchen. Here's my suggestion for furniture arrangement. I showed the traffic paths in light gray, so avoid putting wider furniture in those areas. You could easily switch the dining table area with the coffee table/chair area if that works better for you, but I thought you'd prefer the table closer to the kitchen opening. At some point you'll want to change the lighting in the room, maybe a swagged pendant lamp over the table.


  • 6 years ago

    I added a chair... small steps!


  • 6 years ago

    Nice. Idk if you're done buying art [I can't seem to be done]... anyway-- seems the art might be better arranged differently - seems high.

  • 6 years ago

    In that location it looks a bit like the "naughty chair" unless there will be other seating around it.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

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  • 6 years ago

    Yes lower the art 12" above the chair

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Cool chair. Did you just purchase it? Put at end of table. But truthfully a Victorian chair doesn’t work in your room. I would cone up with total plan before purchasing anything.

  • 6 years ago

    I did just buy it, it’s an old chair that I got from an estate sale. I love the Victorian feel and thought it might go well w the mirror and wine rack that’s already there. Ideally we will be replacing the dining table and chairs with something more fitting

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    tracy,,nice chair. could you lower your artwork? it's too high. 60" from the floor to the MIDDLE of the piece is where it should be. (give or take an inch or two)

  • 6 years ago

    I lowered the some of the artwork but still have to lower that top one. I also added curtains. I think this looks better?


  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    raise the curtain rod. should be hung 4-6 inches above the trim. You're making your windows look short and squat (see below diagrams)

    the artwork still looks high! the middle of the picture should be dead even with your eyeballs. (looking straight ahead, not up!) and w/that type of bracket, you really need panels on both sides so that you hide the ugly hardware.







    so if you hang the curtains like you're supposed to, then you won't have any need for that small art to the right of the window. the panels should cover a good portion of that wall

    pull the chair away from the wall a bit and more the little bar cart over to the right.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I would move the table as close as possible to the window so you can enjoy the natural light while you are eating or writing, and put other furniture (wine bar, blue chair) on the other side of the room. Maybe even turn the table if it fits the other way.

  • 6 years ago

    I would move the green chair next to your bar set up and I would move that little table that's by the chair more centered on that little wall area

  • 6 years ago

    Lower those pictures more

  • 6 years ago

    I would a just had bamboo blinds and those rods Raising

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