Software
Houzz Logo Print
ruburr

Cabinet. Decorating suggestions

4 years ago


living room · More Info

awe are in a small 1930 s cottage style house we have a small living room with 2 entrances ( dining room and hallway)

Question- does the cabinet look ok? What could I put in it without making it too junky suggestions for the rest of the room?

Comments (37)

  • 4 years ago

    You already have a display area to the side of the fireplace, so unless you have a large collection to show, I'd find a new home for the cabinet. Also, the end table looks squeezed between the sofa and fireplace. You need some lamps in the room. Could you show the room from the other side, and also a layout including windows, doors, fireplace, and measurements. There may be an arrangement that would balance better.

  • 4 years ago

    thank you i will upload some more photos

  • 4 years ago

    Totally agree about the end table. do you think a table with less depth would work?


    unfortunately i dont have anywhere else for the display cabinet ( other than basement) and its one of those sentimental inherited items ?..


    if i did have the 2 display areas , do you think it would work if i went easy on what i display

  • 4 years ago

    If a sentimental piece isn't easy to use, it's not bringing you or the piece value. How would the family member, from whom you received the furniture, feel about it being shoehorned into the room in which other sentimental items will be stuck into the cabinet, not viewable or enjoyed?


    If you must have it you should place it flat against the wall so it mimics the built-in next to the fireplace.


    2nd removing the end table.

    ruburr thanked Jen K (7b, 8a)
  • 4 years ago

    Well, then you really must not angle it. Place flat against the wall next to the fireplace. Move the end table out of the corner. Try it next to the blue chair, with a lamp on it.


    Remove all of the small ornaments from the mantel. Put a single canvas about the size of the firebox there.


    Minimal items for the display shelves, no crowding. Are any of the shelves removable?


    Post photos so we can see the rest of the space. Older cottages can be lovely and cozy, let's get yours feeling that way!


    ruburr thanked P Banos
  • 4 years ago

    Oh thanks

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I think the cabinet is very charming and looks great in the room. It’s a good style for displaying pretties, just play around with things you’d enjoy seeing in there.

    I’d find a lovely piece of art for over the fireplace, and an area rug.

    Yes, please show more angles of the room for placement suggestions.

    Love your floral sofa and plaid chair, very English cottage. :)













    ruburr thanked Jilly
  • 4 years ago


    living room · More Info

    There is a piano at the other end of the room

  • 4 years ago

    I also have 2 painting hat I could use above the firep

    living room · More Info


  • 4 years ago


    living room · More Info


  • 4 years ago

    Thanks for the help will look up those for more inspiration

  • 4 years ago

    Try them both, just lean up on the mantel for now.


    When you turn the cabinet straight, does the end table fit next to the blue chair between the chair and the opening? You'd need to slide the chair a bit further down?


  • 4 years ago

    Just heading out for a function- I am afraid that is the end of my weekend decorating as its back to work tomorrow. Hopefully can update next wee end willtry hanging some photos and the table suggestion.


    Thanks again for all the wondrful help. Great to be able to get some opinions- so many people have such great ideas.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    The cabinet is too small for the scale of the fireplace and built-in display shelves, plus it reminds me of the metal cabinets holding instruments in the dentist office when I was a kid. That's a great corner for one of the chairs and a floor lamp. Although your dining room is quite French looking, maybe the cabinet would hold wine glasses and linens in that space.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    I suggest you turn the white glass cabinet flat againts the wall next to the fireplace and instead turn your armchair at an angle. I show a plant on top of the cabinet to balance with the built-in bookshelf on the other side. I also show the following: a natural fiber area rug, curtains with natural fiber roman shades on the window behind the sofa, a mantel decor, a table lamp, and a tray coffee table decor. I also suggest you group the pillows on the sofa and lean they against the back and one another so that they don't lye flat.



  • 4 years ago

    Ok so I tried putting cabinet flat and putting chair on angle I also tried adding something ( maybe will purchase a fern) to top of cabinet

    living room · More Info


  • 4 years ago

    I tried putting the 3 paintings up Any comments

    art · More Info


    art · More Info


    art · More Info


  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    My favs are #2 and 3. Both are very charming and have a nice vintage look.

    Are you planning a rug?


    ruburr thanked Jilly
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I like #2 best, then #3 , then #1. You could hang one above the mantel and one on the wall behind the armchair.

    ruburr thanked P Banos
  • 4 years ago

    Oh thats a good idea

  • 4 years ago

    If I was going to do a rug, do you have any suggestions?

  • 4 years ago


    Do you thinksomething like this would work? i dont have any idea how to bring a rug in with all the pattern

  • 4 years ago

    And we also tried putting the cabinet in the dining room and just putting the chair in the corner with either a a small lamp or I have an old floor lamp that we could use. I even thought of painting the small half table ( not sure what colour)



  • PRO
    4 years ago

    You've made a lot of progress, it's almost there... Seeing the room now, I find the blue chair too large to place at an angle I suggest you place it simply straight against the wall.

    For the paintings, I prefer #2 and #3. If you opt to hang 2 paintings, I would hang the larger one #2 above the mantel and #3 above the armchair.


    Note: Other options: 1) move reverse the table with lamp and the blue chair; 2) if the plaid chair in the foreground is smaller than the blue one maybe that one would fit better at an angle.



    ruburr thanked lisedv
  • 4 years ago

    Did you see the photos showing the cabinet out of the room

  • 4 years ago

    I like the room best without the cabinet as it competes with the built in on the other side of the fireplace. Here’s what I’d do: move what looks like a small table and lamp to the other end of the couch. Nestle the floor lamp more to the left side of the corner near blue chair, like in the corner but nudged left a bit. I
    Like the art shown in your “no cabinet” pics. If the wall to the right of the fireplace looks too bare, stack two complimentary art prints horizontally between the fp and blue chair. Gah! I wish I knew how to do mock-ups! I think there is least one chair too many in the room. I’d remove the one at the end of the couch. A less wide, bench-type coffee table would make things less tight as well. It’s a very nice space. You’ll get there.

    ruburr thanked Lynzy
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Actually, no I hadn't. I like the arrangement with the 2 chairs and table in between however what I don't like about it is that the 2 chairs have different styles and fabric, would be better if they were the same plus you're now introducing another print into the room which doesn't seem to blend-in with the other uphostered furniture.



  • 4 years ago

    Darnit! I meant stack prints vertically, not horizontally.

  • 4 years ago

    Can you take a picture facing the sofa to show how it is positioned under the windows? Is there room to move it further away from the fireplace?

  • 4 years ago



  • 4 years ago

    Just a couple of inches

  • 4 years ago

    Can you relocate that wood chair in the corner? Move the table and lamp at the other end of the couch to the piano end. See how that works.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Can you take a picture of the entire window wall (or two next to one another) so that we can see the entire positioning of the sofa on the window wall between the piano wall and the built-in shelves wall.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    To create that cottage style the walls require paint



  • 4 years ago

    There seems like there is more room to the right of the fireplace than the left. Is it possible to float the sofa on the right so that the front edge is even with the right side of the fireplace and put the chairs in front of the window?

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I prefer this look. You could use a smaller, more slender, less contrry feeling coffee table with the traditional seating. I think MJD232 may be right about switching the chairs and sofa to opposite sides due to the space you have on the right. That will also allow hanging another of your pictures over the sofa, using the horizontal one there and the vertical one at the fireplace. Have you considered stationary drapery panels or art right of the piano? You might look into wool sisal rugs. I think your little table lamps is just that; too little. If you flip the seating, you can add more books to the built-in so that really becomes a reading corner.