Software
Houzz Logo Print
stacy_bradshaw98

Help! Decorating around my fireplace - struggling!

6 years ago

Do I need two chairs? Are there two many things on the wall? I bought a nice grey clock for over the fireplace (on its way). But something Is off!!!

Comments (30)

  • 6 years ago

    I think nothing on the walls, but yes to art over fireplace, no to clock, and yes to a 2nd chair. the one piece of art over the fireplace will draw you to the fireplace. other art will be too busy. the 2 chairs will fill the space on either side of the fireplace nicely. you dont necessarily have to match chairs either....

  • 6 years ago

    also, possibly a small side table and floor lamps for chairs. may need to scootch chair forward a bit for room for side table

  • 6 years ago

    From an Eastern Feng Shui perspective, a mirror over living room fireplace is considered to be an excellent placement/most auspicious. (As long as your fireplace does not directly face front door or other entries to dwelling.)






    And as mentioned, art is also a nice option. Just don‘t hang a canvas painting of great sentimental or monetary value over fire.


    Clock is really not the way to go for your fireplace/mantle. But metal art could also be another interesting option.

  • 6 years ago

    Art over fireplace to bring in some color. What is the purpose of this room- reading, relaxing, TV watching, etc?

  • 6 years ago

    you may have a special piece of art to go over the fireplace, if you decide to put art there. I noticed the piece to the right is a barn.... that piece is a bit small for over the fireplace, but thought I would show a couple others that bring in some color so you can get an idea of what added color could look like.

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you everyone!! Ok, no clock and no art on the walls - thank you! Thank you! Will try to find two nice arms chairs that aren’t huge (and reasonable $$). Maybe camel / leather?

  • 6 years ago

    @Gcubed - there’s a tv elsewhere in the room - it’s a rec room but this extra seating would be for guests for visiting and ourselves for reading

  • 6 years ago

    Would a pair of these look too “office / waiting room-y”?

  • 6 years ago

    I have a hard-to-place-furniture great room because there has to be a path left to the staircase which is on one wall of the room. So, the fireplace isn't "part" of the room, kind of like yours. My area in front of the fireplace is larger (wider) than yours but I also used big barrel chairs (which I've had since the 80's; what goes around comes around) that I had recovered in a "splashy" fabric and put a fun confetti shag area rug between them.


    In other words, I filled the space with color. I have one very large and colorful painting above the fireplace. Either side of my fireplace has large windows.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago
  • 6 years ago

    can you show more pics of the room to get a better understanding of the entire room and your style, so I can give additional chair ideas

  • 6 years ago

    following

  • 6 years ago

    For sure! Here are some more pics including a few where I moved my grandma’s old tub chairs down there to get a sense of the look

  • 6 years ago

    More ... with chairs ...

  • 6 years ago

    One more..

  • 6 years ago

    Another option?

  • 6 years ago

    ding ding ding.... last option. the MCM chairs above that you like could work for sure next to fireplace. have you considered a narrow console table with storage to put below the TV and then a narrower but longer rectangular shaped coffee table.

  • 6 years ago

    Yes!! Thank you - I’m liking the last option too. I’ll have to get these refinished or buy new ones but I like the comfy tub chairs for guests. 100% on the console table - my husband is keen on building one. And yes to rectangle table - good idea. This was my mom’s that I repainted but it’s too big. Ok feeling like I have a plan now lol thank you!!

  • 6 years ago

    love the tub chairs too for the room. I get it wanting to refinish and revitalize. the style is perfect with the sofa and the size is perfect too. I vote to use them, FWIW. I am going to be reupholstering a chair that has been in my husband's family for 3 generations. they dont make chairs like they used to... my guess is that those chairs are very well made, but just need a little TLC.

  • 6 years ago

    Since it is a rec room, I would use a pair of lightweight chairs and a game table. The chairs should be light enough to easily move into a conversational group with the sofa when needed.


    Beach Style Living Room · More Info


  • 6 years ago

    have you thought about art yet for above the fireplace, anything from grandma, by chance, to put there?

  • 6 years ago

    The last set up allows for the best inclusion/conversation, doesn’t block view of fireplace and provides good tv viewing. You could try slanting the chairs so that a floor lamp could be added and tv site lines improved. Suggest streamlined low back chairs.




    To improve tv wall, I would lower tv and add a floating shelf and you could add a large plant between tv and window to warm that area up


    Fireplace wall: floating shelves and round mirror and basket


    Perhaps low bookcases from Ikea and a set of travel or family photos above



  • 6 years ago

    No art on the walls ..no clock above the fire..no this no that ....why do all you want every house to be drab ?what happened to individuality ?

  • 6 years ago

    Can you lower the TV? Looks way too high for distance from sofa/chairs. I like the last set up you posted

  • 6 years ago

    Yes to lowering the TV (we’ve been having quite the debate about that! Lol) it’s perfect for watching from the bar behind the couch. But wayyyy too high for watching from the couch.

    Love the idea of the plant to the right of the TV

    I’m keen on something on either side of the fireplace. I have a vintage record player that needs to go somewhere. I just don’t trust my design skills enough to style floating shelves ... everything I do ends up looking so busy :(

  • 6 years ago

    Just a thought, have you considered adding built-ins/floating shelves around the fireplace? You mentioned reading. You could fill up the built-ins with books/memorabilia and imo would look great.


    Yes to a art piece above the fireplace, no clock.


    Huge yes to adding greenery around the space in general.


    Go with your most recently added photo with the chairs positioned around the coffee table! Looks great. I would upgrade the chairs to modernize + match your couch a bit better if you have it within your budget to do so. I would consider leather to add texture + warmth.


    I would also consider a coffee table with a smaller footprint, consider a slimmer rectangular one to provide more space to walk through on each side, as well as adding some type of credenza or floating shelf like the other user suggested to give the tv wall that something it’s missing. :)



  • 6 years ago

    Need a floor lamp behind at least one of the fireplace chairs if you hope to read there. Like the new conversational arrangement. TV looks 2-3 feet too high for comfortable viewing, but maybe the location will make more sense once there's a console underneath.

  • 6 years ago

    I think it looks “off” because it’s too neutral, and thus lacks body. You need artwork (the small piece you have is like a speck of fist sitting in a sandbox—no one can see such neutral-on-neutral). And the chair, same thing. Lost in its blandness. It’s like an accountant at the prom, just disappearing into the woodwork...(plus the shape is odd, it looks like a medical examiner’s or dentist’s chair).

  • 6 years ago

    Jpp21 - yikes, thanks for the criticism (notice I didn’t say constructive :)). The chair was a gift for my son’s nursery that he no longer uses so thought it would be nice to give it a home. Obviously not working with a huge budget here, so just look for ideas.