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tarabara1229

help me decorate this giant wall

2 years ago

i have a very large wall in our family room that is in desperate need of artwork, but i can’t make a decision about what would work best. the wall is about 18.5’x9.5’ so i have a lot of space to work with. my thought is perhaps a very large piece of art on canvas, or maybe a diptych or triptych. my friend suggested a gallery wall, though i feel like i would need a lot of pieces to make it work with the amount of space i have. when it was staged before we bought it, they hung a large mirror but i want to avoid that. appreciate any thoughts or suggestions to get me out of this rut and ready to commit to something!

Comments (37)

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I think you can use three large vertical peices of art, two large horizontal peices, or two peices of art with a large round mirror in the middle, which would reflect light from your windows and break up all the straight lines. You also might consider switching your two matching chairs to the other side of the room where they would be looking outside rather than at the wall.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    My first thought was 3 fairly big pieces of art as well. And agree with putting some of the chairs on that wall.

  • 2 years ago

    thank you! i think i’m leaning on the triptych idea too. we have the chairs facing the wall because we unfortunately get a lot of glare and heat from the hot california sun which makes facing the bifold doors challenging during the day.

  • 2 years ago

    A good art collection gets acquired over time and not just bought to fill a blank wall!

    I would visit art shows and local galleries to get a feel for what you like. Collect pieces during travels, both domestic and international. If you are in LA, lots of good places to find unique pieces.

    I've been buying art, prints and artifacts for over 30 years. Only buy what we love and it works in every house that we have owned.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I think either one large piece or three to four smaller pieces that fill the same space would look great.



  • 2 years ago

    I suggest GreatBigCanvas.com. You can put the aspect ratio you like, and then select art by genre, theme, colors, artists, or anything else you like! You can usually get things there up to 4 or 5 feet wide, framed or not.... Even if it's just a placeholder until you find some original art, it might help break you out of your stuck state.







  • PRO
    2 years ago

    I feel like you could use something organic on that wall. Something with texture. Here are a few ideas.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    There are loads of options out there. What do you think of textures?

  • 2 years ago

    I think a huge arc lamp might work on the doorway side


    There is always Fornasetti for every occassion!


    Riflesso (Cole and Sons)

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    temporary solutions

    wawa floor lamp



    plus color block with paint


    but I think you'd want diagonals given your ceiling

  • 2 years ago

    I really, really want someone to use these CB2 mirrors before I do. They come in 3 different metal frames and different sizes up to 4 feet diameter! A group of them would be great reflecting the view from across the room and now you'd need the Wawa floor lamp too! It would be awesome.


  • 2 years ago

    thank you all so much for these suggestions!

    @ilikefriday: i was actually looking at artwork from an artist that has a very similar style!

    @acm: thanks for the suggestion, i hadn’t been aware of that site and will definitely take a look!

    @mytwocents: also wasn’t aware of chairish, so will poke around there as well. and that wawa floor lamp is everything, i love it

    @flo mangan: so interesting you mentioned textiles, i actually have a woven wall hanging on a wall next to the family room (see photo for reference). might be too close to have to similar styles next to each other? but perhaps a different type of texture like wood or metal maybe?

    @paul f: i had no idea cb2 had a round mirror that size. i originally wasn’t thinking mirrors, but i might mock something up to see what a group of them in different sizes would look like!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    A few more options:

    @mytwo cents' suggestion (like the colors):

    Different shapes, leaving blank space for an arc lamp:

    Quieter, calmer:

    All have something to fill the niches as well.

  • 2 years ago

    I agree with chrispa. Art is acquired with time, it tells your story. You have a lovely decor as it is. See what sparks you as time goes.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I love the mirror idea, but you mentioned harsh glare. I wouldn’t add mirrors to an already too sunny room.

    I am an art collector too, but I have bought pieces for their size and color to fill a certain space. Buy something to decorate. When the right piece shows itself, you can replace to store bought pieces. The old ones can go to a bedroom, or on ebay.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I’d tape out various standard sizes to get a better feel of what size you prefer. Art is such a personal decision and take your time, as a large piece especially will have a huge influence in the room. Could add a console in addition to art.


    The seating area feels a bit cramped and I’d pull out the chairs and couch a few inches with back feet off rug.


    For a less crowded corner near fireplace, I’d move the chair in/over and remove the tall accessory. A tall plant to the right of fireplace by window would add a bit of weight/interest to that side of room.


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Beautiful room.

    With so many square shapes in this room, I‘d try to find a uniquely awesome large piece of art.

    This gorgeous example is on paper.



    https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/step-inside-the-vintage-inspired-paris-home-of-a-french-fashion-designer

    Obviously the above is precious and probably cost a fortune, but it’s just an example of finding something that could be the focal point of the room, break up the grids and linear elements, and not have glare.

    Maybe find a long, horizontal canvas, something on paper/parchment under non-glare glass, framed tapestry, old rug or other textile, etc.

    ETA: I respectfully disagree that your seating looks cramped.

  • 2 years ago

    Like Jilly said, some type of Mural wallpaper could be interesting. They can be pricey, but not too bad if you are only buying a few panels.

    No mirrors since you said you couldn't place the chairs on that side due to glare.

  • 2 years ago

    Love the ”quieter, calmer” from simplynatural.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    I would have used that wall for a larger-screen TV for starters. The TV over the fireplace seems too small and too high for the room.


    There are lots of options for large walls.







    A large mural can be a less expensive solution for one large item on the wall.





  • 2 years ago

    Still voting for the mirrors to give some depth to that wall. Placed in a way to give a view to the chairs not glare.

  • 2 years ago

    I love the @Jilly idea also. Looks fabulous!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    @BeverlyFLADezner -- where did you find that first piece (pair) in your last post? I think I'm in love!!

  • 2 years ago

    Simplynatural, wow, I love how you added the lamps and plant! Whatever the OP decides for the wall, I hope they incorporate your ideas!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Beverly must have a lot of male clients! ;-)

    My DH would also say that the wall needs a 100" TV and then a painting over the fireplace! He would also want to add 5 ft tall speakers on each side! lol

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Along the lines of Flo Magan’s idea to use something organic, I like the idea of organic cloud shapes - albeit within a rectangle! There are many wonderful cloud artists out there. This one is by Ian Fisher.




  • 2 years ago

    Clearly, the wall is perfect for a short throw laser projector. The image could be huge.

  • 2 years ago

    thank you so much, everyone! these are all such great ideas and i appreciate your advice and input—definitely opened my eyes up to a lot of creative solutions!!

    @simplynatural: those are actually windows with the shades drawn but i like the rendering with @jilly’s paper mural and the lamp and plants!!!

    @maureen: yeah, that tall plant accessory is just temporary, i don’t like it there either haha. and the room is actually quite spacious, though you might not be able to tell from the angle. i do like the idea of taping out various sizes are art.

    @beverly: we have the tv over the fireplace because of the glare from the sun. and like @chispa’s dh, although my husband would love a 100” tv, ours is 80” already so it’s big enough for us!

    @paul f: thanks for the mock-up of the mirrors!

    @ffpalms: actually funny you mention clouds because we have a large painting of clouds in our formal dining room!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Paint and decorative trim will do it.




  • 2 years ago

    You have an over abundance of squares in this room.. I would definitely pursue something with integrated curves

  • 2 years ago

    The window coverings beside the fireplace would be another spot to adds some color and curved pattern print… a starving artist.. airbrush project perhaps?

  • 2 years ago

    Thin console with large art…



  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I had to share this coincidence:

    My husband and I went to our favorite antique mall today and saw this in a booth:





    The seller has it hanging upside down (!), but it’s “The Nightingale & The Plum Blossom", a 4 section folding screen painted by Haruki Sakuraba.

    How it should look:



    I told my husband I was posting about something similar here just yesterday!

    Anyway, just sharing because it’s wild I saw this art the very next day. :)

  • 2 years ago

    @Jilly

    That is wild! I would love to know the price.

  • 2 years ago

    Messaged you, Friday. :)