I'm stuck! -- just moved in...Need help final touches in "family room"

12 years ago

Hi, ya'll! Thank you in advance for your thoughts and help. All comments and photo ideas will be super appreciated.

So... I got very excited with this room when I first moved in and knew exactly what I wanted to do with the sofa and chair. I like my arrangement so far but I just need help with final touches to really pull everything together and make it a great space.

1. The cube storage unit fits perfectly on the wall it's on now.. But it's just kind of blah and I just keep shoving things there and can conceptualize what to do next to actually make it look less like a junk corner. The hodge lodge collection of photos, random print on the wall, and horrible lamp kind of represent my whole "blah" feeling when I look at this corner.

2. My back wall behind the couch is empty I bought the beautiful yellow peonies painting and was going to hang it in the middle of the back wall but if I did that now, it'd be off center with the couch. But if i hung it to align with the couch it'd be off center on the wall..... Does that matter?

3. My cute puppy needs a place for her crate, this is really the best spot for her but its a complete eyesore. Metal cages went out in the 80s! Oh wait, they were never "in" > darn!

4. I have a cute little breakfast nook area that is now serving as a catch all -- how can I stop this and make it have a defined purpose?

5. Just overall: how can I make my room look complete??!

See below -- I've attached photo of the general style/colors I'm going for.

Thank you!!!!!

Featured Answer

Makeup Mirror

12 years ago

Hi R, I can see why you're "hitting a wall" while decorating. The first impression on the "go to room" is the fireplace. As your room doesn't have one, I would guess that poses a question; Where might you want first glances linger in your living room? You've got some nice light with the sliding door and two windows on the flanking walls. I might suggest this change up if the sliding door is not highly trafficked. Move the couch to center in front of the sliding doors. Extend your drapery rods. The rod over the sliding door can easily be a longer one to carry it to the left and then drape the window that's on the same wall as the sliding door. Extend the sliding sliding drapery rod above the sliding doors in length to be above the window on the same wall and finish at the corner of the other wall (right to the edge) Now, here's the tricky part: If your drapes are panels already purchased...perhaps you can purchase more. By using one long rod, above the slider windows the small window and ending at the corner....you can create a "focal point" much like the fireplace in the picture.
add more panel....keeping them smooth where there is only wall behind and billowy where a window is situated. Floor to ceiling... your choice of yellow is lovely. Another rod will complete the treatment when attached above the other window stopping 3 feet after the window. Repeat the same idea.flatten the panel as a wall treatment and let 2 panels billow where the will window is...then one flattened panel against the wall to finsh the statement.

What may happen is that the first impression of your living room will be the light and bright yellow drapery to make a subtle statement of color while including window, wall, sliding doors, wall window and wall. Whew!
Place the sofa in front and middle of fabric panel wall.
Also...I'm a family foto freak. But too much is too much. So, I emptied all my shelves, table tops etc of the photos. chose 6 photographs..that are currently my family. I found the rule shelf space applies to me. It might for you. "just because you've got shelves or nooks...does not mean I have filled 'em to the brim"..

And one final suggestion: find a low glass coffee table or put a 3/4" large square on top of your existing one.
Your rug is too pretty to hide. wall mount your flat screen. They have cable covers that can be painted wall color.

add 3 -5 crown molding vintage looking wall shelves to the other side of the flatscreen. Place your lovely painting and other treasures....oh...yea...I forgot...get a vintage bench with a back...white wash..and place under the flatscreen...rest of wood furniture unless it's an antique might want a white washing.

OK, well it'll be a labor of love on Labor Day. Have a nice one. You've got some lovely things to work with.
best, ja

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Comments (34)

rachfeingold
Original Author
12 years ago
What I'm "going for"
User
12 years ago
Why don't you put your yellow painting above the cube box thing and take off all the stuff from the top of the cube thing so it doesn't look cluttered. Then put several small pictures more higgledy piggledy along the back wall behind the sofa?
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abbyjean
12 years ago
What is to the left of the tv?? A table?
abbyjean
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I actually get a good feeling when I look at this room.....love what you are doing to it.

Move the coffee table closer to the couch.....18 inches. Get more yellow pillows for the couch and the chair.

Take the pics down that are on the sides of the big window....they are too high and too small for right there. Move them over to the shelving unit and hang them there. Take down the little itty bitty one floating up there. Clear everything off the top of that for now. The items that go in each space need a purpose to be there....something special....not kleenex. Do you have a collection of anything? What was the plan when you bought it?

Hang the picture on that back wall.....it is perfect for that wall and that space.....right like you have it.

Can you find another stool for that nook area? You will just need to tell yourself that dumping stuff there is NOT an option.
Chem K
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Consider turning the cube shelving in the corner on its side so that it is a tall unit that shows more wall beside it. Remove all picture frames for now.
rachfeingold
Original Author
12 years ago
Here is the TV wall... I have a cube mirror table that I love just sitting there because I don't know what to do with it...
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
Art too small take one above ottoman put on other wall with one you have just add it under that one, leave 2" between. You are hanging things too high. Remove lamp from corner. And ottoman. Add a big palm in nice big pot like yellow. You can add plant light behind on floor for nice effect at night. Put wIndow covers on two windows. Roman in same color you have on slider. You seem to have a lot of furn in a very small room. What can you remove to another room?
Chem K
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Wow! That's a nice mirrored cube! If you have 2 I would put them on the rug as coffee table substitutes! Breaks up the "lots of' wood in the room.
abbyjean
12 years ago
I must be seeing part of the counter in that first pic to have thought there was something there by the tv. Thanks for the extra pics!
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
Remove chest behind sofa. Push sofa back on wall. Remove bookcases on side wall. Put a end table by sofa add a table lamp in yellow base and white drum shade. Add floor lamp to other side of sofa add a dark gray drum shade. Add another bar stool like you have. Pic behind sofa won't work may ind home in hall wall by bar? Hang low. Hold pic in ring of you walk straight ahead that is where center of pic. Will be on wall. Or 4-6" above top of furn. Next to window behind sofa. Add a tall 36" & 24" wide picture. Stay in yellows. Ad some yellow to sofa pillows.
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
Coffee table 8" from front of sofa yours is too far out in room.
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
Push TV down towards bar by 12"
studio10001
12 years ago
First thing I noticed, as well, toriwebb. Additionally, You might try facing the the couch toward the view, w console behind. The TV might move down the wall to the corner. Switch out the dog crate for a furniture grade crate, and you can use it as a side table between chair- seems you could use a second one - and couch. Stronger yellow is needed here, in lined drapery panels at the door, and accent pillows for the sofa. Your current cushions can move to the chair. Perhaps your standing lamp might live in another room. Current artwork (small) would look better together, one atop the other. Reed blinds will add nice texture new woodtones. You will at this point have more room for artwork ( I think the collection mentioned above would be fine) and it should take up some space! If you move the couch, it might even lean against the wall rather than hang.
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
The cubes as coffee table is great. Get another one and place 18" from sofa place with 7-10" between. Nothing on top. Coffee tale ones. Have garage sell.
studio10001
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Covered cab. for the TV would be a good idea, and the mirrored cube makes a great end table, why are you punishing it in the corner?? Very nice piece!
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
You cold put yellow pic behind sofa on wall where bookcase is hang 30" approx from floor.
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
I like idea of armoire for TV and stuff. Center on wall get a tall one dark wood 6 ft tall. That would fill wall better.
Melissa E
12 years ago
I wish the console your tv is on had doors, I think not being able to see the extra clutter there would be nice! I think your room has a great start and you are getting tons of good ideas.
studio10001
12 years ago
We seem to be repeating alot of the same things - hope it is proving useful!
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
A chandelier instead of fan. Hang 36-40" above coffee table. Go on line. Not too big. A modern look maybe brush nickel.
janshopsalot
12 years ago
Turn the cabinet behind sofa so backs up to sofa. Lower the picture in the corner and put a small table there or add greenery to soften the edges of the room. You could even use greens and sticks. Add pillows, etc for color. Visit Homegoods and pier I for ideas.
janshopsalot
12 years ago
More color! Don't be afraid!
janshopsalot
12 years ago
Can you use the cabinet behind the couch for the TV? The piece that holds the TV is too small for it. Take away the lamp behind the TV. I think you just need to move out the small pieces and rethink their placement. Take down the pictures, too. As they are, they are too small for where they are. Group like pictures. Move coffee table closer to sofa and add a plant or flowers there, a tray, a candlestick, etc. think color and stick to two or three strong colors.
rachfeingold
Original Author
12 years ago
I think I'm gathering here so far too is that the way I have it arranged (or photographed) makes it look small, it's actually 20x15 -- a pretty good sized room. Hmmm... If I move the couch to the wall, my rug would look odd in the middle of the room not touching anything. Or just touching furniture with a large gap in front of media center (which definitely needs to be covered, agreed)... The rug is 8x10'.
abbyjean
12 years ago
And if you turned the direction of the rug, would it even work with the couch?
rachfeingold
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks everyone! I'm open to all ideas! Yep, good to hear a lot of repeat ideas so that's a sign!
PRO
Amy Canary
12 years ago
I love your rug and couches! The yellow is great. Can the cube storage unit be turned in the other direction so something tall in the room? I also think the piece behind the couch should be moved and push the couch back. It is often so hard to place a tv. It seems as though it becomes the main focus in a room. Did you try and place it on a different wall? Maybe the piece behind the sofa could be used for the tv since it is longer. Do you like the traffic pattern that has been defined by your furniture placement?
Corinne Morse
12 years ago
Check out GO!PETDESIGN on etsy for cute dog crate.
studio10001
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
This is a Gopet:
http://planetluxus.com/wp-content/uploads/Peter-Pracilio-Go-Pet-Design-Gold-eiCrate1.jpg

This is furniture grade I mentioned w floating seating group (lots to choose from here):
http://www.brookstone.com/webassets/product_images/700x700/711705p.jpg

Lighter treatment to go with stick blinds:
http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4863652136552663&pid=15.1
designgene
12 years ago
You're getting great ideas here. My favorites are to move the credenza/buffet behind the sofa to the tv wall, and then consider if you should wall-mount the tv. Make your mirror cube a side table to the armchair. That person needs a place to set her beverage.

Bring the soft forward a foot or so, and put the cube thing backed up behind the sofa. That will make its openings non-visible when you enter the room, but visible in the "hallway" you've created behind the sofa. Hang that fabulous long painting above that cube thing on the wall where you've marked it.

Yes, more curtains, floor to ceiling like on the sliding glass door.

Reserve the now-empty wall space where the cube thing was for a fabulous huge painting, a stick-on mural, or two German school charts/posters (search Jung Koch Quentell charts) , like the ones attached. https://www.etsy.com/search/vintage?q=educational+posters

Change the fan light and add table lamps. Big ficus tree to right of the sliding glass door.

Really great to see how the inspiration is translating in your space!
Kim D
12 years ago
Oh man you are so close to your inspiration picture. I love the peonies print, would you consider hanging it over the cubes. I have cubes in my house that cover an entire wall from floor to ceiling. I filled almost each cube with one large white ceramic item, cubes without ceramic item have books. It looks great and clean. You could consider that with white items or yellow items. Add more sets of drapes to the other windows and edit other small pieces. That's my two cents. Thanks for sharing your space.
E L
8 years ago
I think your coffee is too small and you should get glass/chrome to achieve the look in the photo. Wayfair and Overstock have lots of inexpensive choices
Gerry
8 years ago
Post is from 2013.