Artwork would look lovely over the mantel.

thanks None of this decor

is fixed or permanent; Things can easily be removed or moved around.

unfortunatley, the sideboard must stay there, there is no other place. It use to be in our dining room, but we removed a wall to expand the kitchen, so it has to go here. the things on the sideboard sre just holiday for valentine; those dont stay there.

if I remove 1 vase, then what to do about the other side?? i feel like it will look off balance ? it is just one blank wall then. I’ll remove one and take a pic, but im thinking it may look odd. I’ll give it s try though as you suggested.

the things on the chest are 2 family pics and our wedding photo. the 3 other items are sentimental- things that belong to my father that passed away. Where else should I put them, as these are things things that i’d like to see and keep. Im open to ideas.

it may be hard to tell in the photos, but the room is long and i thought a ceiling fixture may pull it together a bit. that was why infogured to move the mirror to the firpalce, to reflect the fixture , and put 1 large artwork over the sideboard . I dont know….. those were the ideas I had, but of course, ideas can be altered or changed.

I really love the look of the way you show the room in the first image with the nearly bare mantel, though removing the three small items now on there would be even better. A bar mantel is a look you rarely see, and it feels both calming and glamorous. A piece of art you love would be a second choice but don't put anything there unless you really, passionately love it.

I don't have a fireplace but I do have a white "book" shelf (4.5 feet tall, 90 inches long and 30 inches in depth) on one wall. The only thing above it is a massive print of Paris that I love. On top of the shelf at one end is a small acrylic lamp and at the other end, some tall, slender vases with stunning faux white flowers with a gorgeous sculpture of an elegant native African woman in them. Nothing else, so the large bare section and the glass and acrylic and bareness set off the image very well.

So for you, I love your living room. The only thing I'd suggest changing is putting the coffee table closer to the sofa and chair so you can actually use it. I also suggest reconsidering those round stools and that armless (thing?) and instead get more comfortable chairs with arms. Bring it all closer together to create a wonderful conversation grouping. And keep that bare mantel, which I thinkk works well with the two side pieces with the vases and flowers.

So well done! Now just make it more comfy and home-y instead of shelter magazine perfect.

I love the color of your room, but I think you have too many pairs of everything. Two chests, two vases, two little trays of things next to the vases, two stools, two identical end tables, two matching lamps, etc. Even your bench is divided into two with the placement of the throw. To achieve balance you do not have to have exactly match the same things in pairs. Remove one vase and maybe try the ginger jars and one of your hurricanes on the other side. Prop some books between bookends or something on one of the chests.

I’d add horizontal art and update sides to complement the mantle / simple, elegant.

Thank you maureen, olychick and aphaea for hour kind words and suggestions. i will olay around and try some of those ideas. I use to have 2 chairs where the bench is now for 10 years, but we got new furnithre and wanted a different look, so we chose a bench. we like it , as its small, and is used for extra seating if needed. The throw is not typically on the bench dividing it; it is usually on the loveseat, so not sure how that ended up there in the pic that I took😂.

the round ottomans, we will use to pull up to the sofas to reciline our feet and when not in use, we keep them where they are as extra seating. we honeslty love the multi use of them and like how it is not alot of big furnirure taking up space. it is just four if us in the house, and I felt like before the renovation, we had too much furniture, so we chose different types of seating pieces. When needed, the ottomans and bench serve as extra seats when company comes. it works for us and we like it. Its the decor im struggling with. I like the pic you posted maureen. i am trying to achieve that similar look, of elegance and balance,

but feel like i am not doing a good job at it 😔 i will play around with the ideas everyone has offered appreciated !

Is there a place in your home for a gallery of your favorite pics, maybe matching or similer frames? If not, grouping them together on one of the side cabinets next to the fireplace will create more interest. Olychick has really great suggestions. I have bookshelves that are not filled with books, so my “pieces of interest” I move around and change out frequently, relegating some to different rooms to get a fresh look. Best to start out removing everything so you don’t get caight up in “this is here and mist stay here” mindset. Have fun!

I can’t tell you how long I tried different combinations on my mantle until I was happy. Almost every time I go to my sister’s her living room’s accessories have been adjusted! It takes patience and a love of decorating.

Your room is lovely and many people would be thrilled with the results; you did a nice job. I find elegance is achieved by a using a few well selected items - a black dress with a lovely piece of jewellery! Maybe try looking on line for ideas.

so many of you are really helpful. i did a bit of shifting around before ehading to work. I removed one vase. i moved the decorative bowl that was on my entry table along next to it.

the other cabinet, i put 2 ginger jars and i moved a decorative plate that I had on an end table next to it .

i moved my antique/ sentimental pieces to the cubbies in the entry hall tree.

the photos, I am trting to figure out…. for now, I put them on a corner shelf- which is a work in progress. It can stay here, or I can move it to the other side of the room. ignore the mantel pieces. i jist left it there. i was concetrating on the cabinets

progress so far??? critiques??

so many of you are really helpful. i did a bit of shifting around before ehading to work. I removed one vase. i moved the decorative bowl that was on my entry table along next to it.

the other cabinet, i put 2 ginger jars and i moved a decorative plate that I had on an end table next to it .

i moved my antique/ sentimental pieces to the cubbies in the entry hall tree.

the photos, I am trting to figure out…. for now, I put them on a corner shelf- which is a work in progress. It can stay here, or I can move it to the other side of the room. ignore the mantel pieces. i jist left it there. i was concetrating on the cabinets

progress so far??? critiques??

No mirror, add artwork instead. Use real plants instead of fake greenery. Break up the symmetry.

the advice here for art over the fireplace, real plants instead of fake, and removing 80-90 percent of the doo-dads and matchy symmetry is all on point!

Pretty great improvement on your way out the door! What a difference it makes. I'm struck by Maureen's pic below of the two mirrors on either side of the fireplace and think it could be great in your space.

Your ottoman evaluation is really useful as I'm thinking about purchasing some now. Thanks.

Thanks kendrah undoetunatet, morrors wont work well on the sides above cabients. I had tried it out originally when I got the cabinetd , and the mirror that would be above the right cabinet refelcts my kitchen microwave!! total eyesore. which is what led me to get the large vases. Alrhough now i am wondering if perhaps the floral base will maybr block the microwave reflecrion . i may try mirrors again and see if its still visible.

i like the idea of a mirror, which is why i thoight of moving the mirror to the fireplace, as I am thinking of adding a lofhting fixtrue over the coffee table.

we absolutely love the ottomans instead of the chairs we use to have. they are large, so they multifunction and they also swivel, which is great when being used as extra seating. we have been happy with them.

i will keep playong around. keep the suggestions coming!! they are helping

You have a beautiful room and start! Have fun moving things around , as you have many lovely items to try. I really liked the original placement of the vases, so would try ONE of them as you had them, then try to achieve some balance with different items on the other side. Keep us posted! As you seem to have a strong desire and eye for symmetry, if your original arrangement pleases you more, then that’s all that matters.

Perhaps? (Specific choices may not be your taste, but hope the general ideas help.)

Could add mirrors that will reflect less and distract the eye.

A more modern/less dense/touch shorter floral arrangement and create a “grouping“ feel with your pieces.

Low, layered art on mantle that has a connection to the sides, as it‘s important to consider the entire wall vs in isolation. Adding some black into room will pull in the console, accessorizing in three, and adding a lamp would be a nice addition. (I’d remove the corner shelving.)

If interested down the road, add some cushions to tie room together and even update the coffee table’s items. Only mentioning, as it seems you enjoy decorating and wanted an elegant feel.

Wood tone chests on either side of the fireplace would be better than white. Also, they should be a bit taller.

Thank you for the ideas maureen. they are all lovely ones. Although it appears in photos, the console isnt black. Its a dark wood, almost like a cherry burgundy color. it has a marble top. So, I really wouldn't add black anywhere. but i could understand why you would suggest it based on how the photo looks. Yes, my coffee table decor will be changed. i have a tround tray that id like to stay, but the other accessories will be pared down. I just havent gotten there yet! lol . I typically just live with things for awhile to look at, move around etc until something works well. i like your ideas!

I took all the great ideas from kendrah, olychick, maireen etc, and suggestions and am trying to ” mock up” with things I have to get a feel for what options would look like.

If i did mirrors over the cabinets, my only cern would be the reflecrion from one of them. If sitting in a certain spot, you see the kitchen microwave. if the french doors are closed, it masks it a bit. but im not sure how much of an eyesore this would be. This is NOT a mirror or art that i would use. its just an example of refelction/ look. I only had 1 mirror to put over the cabinet. I would do 2 mirrors- one over each cabinet. this is all I have to play around with at the moment.

1. mirrors over each cabient and artwork over fireplace….

door closed

Door open

2. if i did the opposite and did artwork on each side and a mirror over the fireplace Again…. these are NOT the items i am using. its for mock up only to get a visual.

Like the second look! Just edit the floral configuration (shorter and less) and call it a day 😊

Those rich abstract paintings breathe so much personality into this mostly white space.

we've got plenty of wall art ideas to spark your creativity. Here are some options -

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Wall decor for your Home · More Info

Size! The stuff that you're putting above the mantel is too small.

I like shirlpp’s example. Let the size and shape of your firebox opening be a guide for the art.

I see what you mean about the reflection. As nice as mirrors might be, I agree that's not ideal. But see how nicely something over the chests adds to that wall.

Okay…. i went and got 2 mirrors that i think are pretty. Inwasnt planning on it, but these ARE the mirrors I I would actually use. It was difficult to picture withoit having 2 mirrors, so I went to the store just to grab any 2 mirrors to bring home , just to use as examples to see true reflections and what the proper soze would look like. ,But I actually found these as soon as I walked in! i aways find things when I am not looking 😂 i thought they style was pretty if I go the mirror route, unless everyone thinks they are way off in style / scale. please let me know.

anyway, so if i go with the mirrros over the cabinets option, here is the look and reflections on both sides of the cabinets and the overall look in the room with this option.

Again, if sitting in one particular spot, you see the kitchen when the french doors are open. that is my reservation, but I am not sure if that is an automatic problem or if I personally am making an issue of it.

The artowrk is NOT the actual piece I would use. It is all i have to place up there for now as an example. regardless if i go with mirrors or artowrk over the cabinets , as Maureen suggested, I will get a lower arrangement, so that will be different as well.

Option 1- mirrors

option 2 - Artwork….. These are NOT the 2 art pieces or round mirror that I I would be using. it is just a mock up.

My vote would be art. I like the bit of color it would add to that wall. Plus you don't have to worry about the kitchen reflection and since you already have a mirror over the console, that would be 3 mirrors in the room. jmo.

If I used these 2 mirrors over the cabinets, i would remove the round console mirror.. i wouldnt have 3 mirrors in the room. just the 2 over the cabinet.

i would have these 2 mirrors over the cabinets, a soft colored art over the fireplace , and over the consile, i would maybe add a long horizotnal, sculpited/ textured artpieceart piece, to replace the round miror that I would remove..

I like the art pieces over the cabinets.....no mirrors.

Remembering you wanting a mirror over the fireplace to reflect a chandelier, I think that reflection is a better choice than those specific mirrors (although lovely). With the ceiling not being very high, suggest horizontal, an interesting shape, try resting on mantle, and accessorize in a simple way.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/Home-Garden/Kate-and-Laurel-Leanna-Framed-Arch-Wall-Mirror/32955760/product.html?ostk=true

Art’s placement is important, so test until happy. Hope the proprortions/feel below help.

Thought this style chandelier would suit your room and the reflection of the crystals in the mirror would be lovely.

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/clarissa-large-round-glass-drop-chandelier/?clickid=SsyREXTYGxyPR2JW3iQQeXznUkHzIBx8e3jq3w0&irgwc=1&cm_cat=116548&cm_ven=afshoppromo&bnrid=3317500&cm_ite=&cm_pla=ir&irpid=116548

I like the idea of mirrors above the consoles, and I like those mirrors. But ....not in that space. You need bigger mirrors, much bigger. The space on either side of the fireplace is pretty big. Artwork over the mantle should be pretty big aswell. I personally think you do need a pop of color. Consider an abstract with primary colors.

Okay……. i am really wrackng my brain here trying to find 2 pieces of artwork for over the cabinets. the problem is, if i find one that i like, it often doesnt come with a version 2 or 3 of it. therefore, would i have to jist get a totally different artpiece for the other cabinet?? i feel like that would look really weird. if different art is on another wall of the room, i get it, but its the same wall, and should be complimenting each other, no???

i am thinking flanking these 2 mirrors over the cabinet and doing 1 artwork over the fireplace would be easier.

unless i just do one thing over the fireplace ( art or mirror) and leave above canients blank? seems a bit barren to me, but the headache of finding 2 pieces of art is getting daunting. i am hitting a wall wit it.

How about these Audubon birds from art.com. They coordinate but are not duplicates. And the delicate colors would go with your room, while adding some needed contrast. One of Maureen’s photos had similar, I think.

Hi Susan L thank you so much.

its a good pair, but that really isnt my style.

i am leaning toward abstract, and more pastel colors - blush pink, light blue, light green etc… i am more comfortable without stark contrast or loud bright color.. i prefer soft, muted colors.