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jeannethebeanie

Empty stairwell wall needs help!

8 months ago

I’ve always had trouble knowing where to put things in my living room. The room is immediately to the left as you enter the front door.
I can move the desk elsewhere if needed. Otherwise I simply don’t know how to use this corner. I do have a piano in another room I could move there and put a chair too (?). I’ve done that before and it still didn’t look right.

Comments (39)

  • 8 months ago

    Here are rough measurements

  • 8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    what about moving the 2 chairs and angling them? can you do that and take a pic?

    the secretary doesn't work on either wall


    or, try a credenza w/art



  • 8 months ago

    for the L shape wall area, maybe have the chairs w/something like this

    as a cozy corner.


    the current coffee table is too small for the size of the room. (unless you place the two chairs opposite of the sofa) like this one shows:



    a round table might work better w/all of the linear aspects you have currently


    a nice throw rug to add some pattern and color




    see how this wall is done? you could easily do something like this on that wall



    wood shelving on a dark accent wall is nice too


  • 8 months ago

    I will plan on moving the secretary this weekend when I have help. In the meantime I moved one chair. And here is the piano I could move there. About 5 feet long and 43 inches tall. My husband said he’d only move it once though. Also I usually have nice items on my piano but am still putting christmas stuff away so I just put stuff there so it didn’t get broke.

  • 8 months ago

    Actually I like the idea of a credenza. Idk why I never thought of that. So it’d go against the same wall as the stairs? Would I also put a chair or something near the other wall? I can buy some furniture.

  • 8 months ago

    The piano would be nice. you can jazz up the area around it. better than what you show. it's a rather large area, so don't skimp. and don't use too many small items.



    you want larger items, maybe a tall lamp,



    a gallery wall of prints,



    a plant, etc.








  • 8 months ago

    Beth H, here is the front view of the coffee table and couch. Probably not going to think about it too much till I can that corner taken care of. Also my walls are 8 foot.

  • 8 months ago

    I tried to do a “see in your room” thing. This is what it’d look like with a crezenda although I think I have the proportions wrong. I’d really like to have a single chair there too. Would that work?

  • 8 months ago

    Oops here’s the picture

  • 8 months ago

    Moved a tree from another room just to see. I’d have a smaller swivel chair there and ignore the walls as I’d have to figure the decor out after the furniture

  • 8 months ago

    Why are you putting desk on stair wall put it on opposite wall or piano or what ever your bigger wall need the furniture not the stair wall

  • 8 months ago

    Carol, because I don’t know what I’m doing. In fact the rest of the room was done with help from this community years and years ago. I’ll unload the desk and move it out.

  • 8 months ago

    Fresh slate.

  • 8 months ago

    With measurements.

  • 8 months ago

    I’ll put a spanned in the works. I like the desk, chair and plant combination, but would put the desk on the 92 inch wall as it is taller. With the chair on the 73 inch wall. Did you try this in your attempts?

  • 8 months ago

    First of all I love the Lane coffee and side tables from the ‘60’s. That was some of the first new furniture my family bought when I was growing up and is still being used in the family today. Yours is in excellent condition! I like the suggestion of piano in room. The secretary desk, no matter where you use it do you need a chair or is this a storage desk that you don’t sit at?

  • 8 months ago

    The lane furniture is from my parents! I love it too. And now I have a guitar pick side table from lane too! That idk where to put either. When I put something big on the longer wall, there’s the dark corner and anything I put on the wall near the stairs looks out of place. I don’t need the desk at all.

  • 8 months ago

    Here’s my lane guitar pick table. And old photos from when I had the piano on long walk.

  • 8 months ago

    I am hoping to have a swivel chair there somewhere for when the kids all come home th

  • 7 months ago

    Following

  • PRO
    7 months ago

    Always keep in mind that the layout of your furnishings should be conducive for conversation.




  • 7 months ago

    The piano works on that wall and you don’t need to make that a conversation corner (I wouldn’t put anything on the stairwell wall except maybe photographs or art…maybe a plant. The piano looks good. It’s a nice focal point when you walk into that area. I would rearrange your chairs and sofa however. It’s a bit stiff.

  • 7 months ago

    Can you bring back the tree from the other room and put it next to your piano? The tree doesn’t have to be in the corner - you can pull it down toward the staircase if it needs more space to spread. It will give you some height and it might solve your problem of what to do with that wall. Worth a try!

  • 7 months ago

    Yes the tree would look better than that little table with the photographs which kind of looks out of place on the stairwell wall.

  • 7 months ago

    The piano isn’t there now, it’s an old photo just to show how it would look. I only get to move my piano once so am hesitant to move it there from my ready ing room.

  • 7 months ago

    Bev, I like the chair and plant! I’ll move some stuff from my other room just to test it out (I’d buy a new chair)

  • 7 months ago

    And if that doesn’t work I’ll do the piano although I do wish for a chair there too

  • 7 months ago

    If you have to make a special move for piano and you weren’t crazy about it the last time, I probably wouldn’t go for that again. Cosy reading corner as Bev suggests could also be very nice.

  • 7 months ago

    I decided not to move piano, as it would leave the other room needing a new design too.

  • 7 months ago

    Kazzh. Here is the desk moved (finally). And some things I tried. I’m thinking I’d like a credenza or buffet instead of the desk. And a swivel chair

  • 7 months ago

    Much better! Just hang the picture— not too high! Maybe add a small round drinks/martini table to right of chair in a metallic finish. Ballard has some nice ones.

  • 7 months ago

    Kazzh. Here is the desk moved (finally). And some things I tried. I’m thinking I’d like a credenza or buffet instead of the desk. And a swivel chair

  • 7 months ago

    I’m going to replace that char with a swivel chair. Maybe like this one? With a blue blanket draped or blue pillow?

  • 7 months ago

    Thank you for trying my suggestion. I like the blue chair and desk in that spot, with the lamp. My suggestion would be not to centre the desk on the wall. Feel free to move it further down so the chair can be further in the corner (to replace the plant), with the tall lamp beside. What might be even better is if you have a small table you could place beside the chair - under the stairs. You could have the tall lamp between the two or try the smaller table lamp on the table. . A reading spot over a “vignette” that is viewed, but not used.

  • 7 months ago


    You could purchase another chair...think comfort for reading; move the drop leaf desk to the larger wall, facing the front window.

  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago



    Try the blue chairs and the table there. As set now there is too much blue in one area of the room. That will leave the window area for a console table and a chair (swivel so it can join in to conversations).



  • 7 months ago

    Well this is what I ended up with. I’ll get nice green plant for right side of desk, that hangs down a bit. For some color. Of corse now I only have one char in front of picture window but I kindof like it

  • PRO
    7 months ago

    With the 2 armchairs along the windows and the sofa along the parallel wall the room feels empty so I'm suggesting another furniture layout with a larger coffee table (round or square), 2 poufs (extra seating when needed), plant in the corner. Adding a bamboo/natural fibre roman shade on the window would also be a nice touch.