How to decide on a piece of Art for wall

7 years ago

Hi all, I would love some help with this. CDR if your in on this your advice would be invaluable as you are familiar with my house at this stage.

We want to buy a piece of Art for this wall above the dining room table as we feel the room needs a bit of colour.

Any suggestions on what colours or what size we should be looking at? Or any suggestions on general as we are Art novices

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CDR Design, LLC

7 years ago

I like the size of what you have there now, if the three pieces were one piece. So, I'd take down what is there and replace it with something the size of the three together. That's fairly large, so you might want to consider a triptych (3 pieces that go together).

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You could also consider a collage of African baskets.

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Comments (97)

Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks CDR, will try that repositoning of the chairs.

If I move the chairs forwards towards the sofa will I not be creating more space behind the chairs to walk?

"You should not be able to walk behind the living room chairs"
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Oh, my mistake. I meant to type "You should be able to walk behind the living room chairs."
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Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Great, I will try that this evening
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
New pics CDR with the furniture moved forward
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
And
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
And
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Much better. I'd move them forward even more. Move the end table so that it is almost touching the sofa. Then, move the chairs forward so that the corner of the one almost touches the sofa.

Then, it looks like the rug, if turned the other way, would fit under the legs of the chairs and the sofa.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks CDR, I will do that this evening.

Would it not all look too squishy moving everything up?

And do you think I should change the rug around?
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Is this better? Not too squashy??
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
And
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
And
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Much better!
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you.

That’s it then? Am I done??!
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
It really opens up the space around the dining chair. I'd move them just a little closer.....so arms are almost touching.
E D
5 years ago
Haha Caitriona, it's your house! :-)
E D
5 years ago
I do feel this is quite an improvement but you're not done yet. :-)

As CDR says, move them even closer. Move the sofa further away from the wall/windows, more towards the middle and the chairs more to the middle as well.

You can then have all the front feet (of sofa and chairs) sitting on the rug.

This should tie it all nicely together and make it feel more inviting and homely

Don't be scared to move the whole sitting arrangement more to the right hand side (looking at the back of the chairs), more extremely than you think it can go, you can always go back, but give it a chance.

Has anyone mentioned a coffee table yet?
Leslie Tamani
5 years ago
Shop local from a living artist - find something that stirs you, it will become a talking point too, be brave
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Better? I just feel like it’s all so squashed. No?

I won’t go with a coffee table ED as the kids are all small and love playing on the rug, so I feel a coffee table would be in their way
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The issue is that the chairs should not be so close together. But, I see that that you cannot move one because there is that walkway needed for the door.

It is a challenging room to place furniture. I know you just built it.

opt 1

angle the one chair in the corner where the plant is. angle the other chair by the patio door, leaving space to walk behind chair.

opt 2

I believe awhile ago I recommended the tv on the wall where the sofa is. Then sofa with it's back to patio door. (space to walk behind sofa) Chairs on either side of tv.

opt 3

With the tv where it is now, you might consider angling the sofa to face the tv. Then, place the 2 chairs next to the sofa.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Oh Claire!!! How will i get this right.

Ok, so opt 2 is a no go as all the sockets etc are now plugged behind the where the telly is. There is sockets for WiFi, really, DVD player so that will have to all stay.

Option 1: where would the second chair go?? Like this? Seems like that chair by the patio door is in the middle of the way
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Could you explain option 3 for me in more detail?
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Honestly, the funriture is very bulky for the amount of space in the room. That is why none of these options is going to be perfect.

Option 3 would be putting the sofa where the chair is now (chair that is by plant). Worth a try, but then I am not sure where the chairs would go.

Option 4

Sofa is centered on the fireplace and faces it. One chair on left side of fp. One chair on right side of fireplace (chair on right side of fp sits in front of tv a little, but you can still see tv. I think this one has a lot of promise.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Ok, so let’s try option 4. Where exactly would you put the second chair??
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
A chair on either side of the fireplace. One chair will sort of float out in front of the tv.

I am not understanding the tv unit. Is it a corner unit, but you don't have it in the corner?
fionaoneill
5 years ago
Caitriona, your furniture and room are fine and normal proportions for a room of this size. How many of you watch the tv at a time? Usually , I mean. Of course there will be times when everyone will be sitting around watching something special. But in general one of those armchairs could be moved further up towards the tv or by the Patio doors and can be positioned to face the room for conversation unless needed for tv watching. I don't think having two armchairs shoved so close together looks or feels ok unless you have to, with all that empty space by the doors. While I wouldn't recommend a sofa in front of patio doors, smaller pieces can be distributed to balance the room. Try it but do what suits you . It is your home and comfort is more important than style. Lovely home .
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Yes. The furniture is fine, but all the furniture facing to watch the tv is not working. In design, there is never perfection. You have to do what works best for you. I do think option 4 has a lot of promise.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Fiona and thanks again Claire for sticking with me on this one.

I’ve never even seen that... that the corner into is not actually in the corner! I’ll try that later and repost photos
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Fiona, I really don’t know where to put the second chair without blocking the patio doors....which we use everyday now in the summer
fionaoneill
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If its really bugging you and you don' t need it move it to another room for the summer. Otherwise maybe move the sofa dead on facing the wall with the stove and tv and the two chairs in front of the windows so your seating is in an L shape but not so squished . Happy days ;))
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Fiona, no we do not all watch Telly at the same time. I will experiment and get back to you both and see what you think!
fionaoneill
5 years ago
Love the stone wall with the stove...it really is a beautiful room .
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
Second chair sit right under this window....sort of in front of tv.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Any improvement Claire or Fiona? I am unsure myself. Corner unit is now actually in the corner
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
And
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Sorry. And....
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
It doesn’t feel right to me, I think the chair in front of the television is in the way or something
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
This feels a bit better but prob needs a bit of tweaking???
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
And
E D
5 years ago
Like it.

Much better zoning.

Again, just keep some more distance between the walls/Windows and the chairs and sofa.
E D
5 years ago
Quite liked the chairs opposite arrangement as well though.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks ED. I like it opposite the best. Fits better with me. Do you mean push the chairs out from the wall?
E D
5 years ago
Yes and same for the sofa.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Ok, thank you
E D
5 years ago
And the same for the floor lamp.

There's often the temptation,or instinct even, to move furniture etc against a wall, probably to save space, but most items look much better with some space around them.

It's a good looking lamp. Give it some space. It will also benefit the light it emits.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Getting there. For this arrangement, move the table with the lamp so that it is centered on the wall. Move the chairs accordingly toward the fireplace. Then, move the sofa forward toward the fireplace.

In other words, take the entire arrangement and move it toward the fireplace, centering the table with the lamp between the windows.

The sofa should be centered on the fireplace.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
For this arrngement, move the sofa forward toward the fireplace. Center it on the fireplace.

Take both chairs and put the on either side of the fireplace. Don't worry about the smaller items.....those can be tweaked later.

The chairs should face the sofa, but be at an angle. The chair on the right will be sitting in front of the tv.

For this arrangement, if you like it, I reccomend hanging the tv on the wall on an articulating arm.

In any arrangement, I'd actually recommend hanging the tv on an articulating arm. The corner cabinet feels awkward to me.

Chair would be situated like this, with other chair on other side. I think the tv would look better like this.
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fionaoneill
5 years ago
Like the arrangement of the armchairs in both settings, but would do as ED suggested with the two armchairs on the side and to add one thing , anle furthest away armchair slightly towards other chair and sofa...it looks better .Or if going with the armchairs opposite one another, angle towards the sofa unless watching tv , then angle towards tv. Keep sofa midline facing stove wall otherwise it looks like furniture all shoved in the corner. Plenty of room to walk around.
Caitriona
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you both, will tweak some more.

As usual Claire a picture explains a lot. Love the chair under the telly like that
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MEEKNEST
5 years ago
I'd take this as a great opportunity to have some fun and explore making your own piece of art. From the space (that I can see), a canvas would suit being placed above, either leaned against the surface or elevated. I'd lead towards to being elevated. I'd say get a cheap canvas with some oil based paint and just try different shapes and different ways to add the paint to the canvas, don't try to make actual shapes but try blending colours (a spray drinking bottle makes an excellent tool for adding blending) in an abstract style. In term of colours, I really feel burnt orange and a mix between duck egg blue and royal blues would make a very eye-catching scheme for that area. If you do try a bit of art, make sure to send us an image! I guarantee you'll have fun doing this, and you'll be surprised how well it could turn out. Good luck!
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Alison Cotterall
5 years ago
Susan molina Washington is my ‘go to girl’ for fabulous art ( one of her pieces is hung behind Diane Keaton’s chair in film ‘ book club’)