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Design Dilemma Home Decorating

Lots of wall space and no idea what to do with it

7 months ago

My house has great lines and lots of wall space because of the high ceilings but decor-wise it is unfinished. The art we have doesn’t go with the space and isn’t the right size. I’d love ideas for artwork so it complements the space. The look we’re going for is serene, somewhat modern but still warm, and uncluttered without being boring. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

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BeverlyFLADeziner

7 months ago

The volume and the wall surfaces are quite large and the wall art needs to be large in scale for balance. All your small wall decor is swallowed by these walls Look for larger items or series of items. I'd add a narrow console to the stair wall with a buffet lamp for some ambient light in the space.

It's unfortunate your small TV is relegated to such a small wall.

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Comments (13)

mytwo cents
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
I would move the tree to the side of the staircase, take down the horizontal artwork there. Also take down the 3 framed works going up the stairs and consider instead for that space something like a museum exhibition banner. Also look at websites like Rebel Walls and Wallism, and Better Walls to see if you can find murals and panels that interest you.

I would not hang any art that was undersized or in a position too high up for anyone to see it if it is not massive. A blank space with natural light on it looks better than puny framed art.

Often on the website Chairish you can find massive and interesting things at an affordable price. You have to dig and be clever how you search, but it can be very rewarding.

Likewise a piece of architectural salvage can be great, and will often look great in isolation.

If you stare at the white walls long enough you might get inspired to do a fantastic color block.
la_la Girl
7 months ago
Great room!

It could be interesting to gather your smaller pieces together into a collection and hang them that way

- agree that empty is better that hanging something small and undersized

Anthropology has great paper tapestries, many of them are huge and inexpensive
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mytwo cents
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
I think this might be nice on your staircase, at the midpoint going up, given your red elephant print in the other room. 96"high

https://betterwall.com/products/16th-century-coronation-carpet
mytwo cents
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
You should probably wallmount your TV on a flexible arm and put an attractive console table under it. For the balcony above, take away the horizontal artwork and put it with the other artwork behind the sofa (stack them) and think about getting a nice Kantha or some other quilt or boldly decorated fabric and fold it over the railing so the design and colors show (secure it so it doesn't slip)

kantha

mudcloth

suzani
mytwo cents
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
Put down a strongly noticeable wide runner behind your sofa to keep everyone's eyes "grounded" and will not feel the walls are blank but are architecture and airiness.
livingnature
Original Author
7 months ago
Thanks for all the helpful comments!
mytwo cents
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
Truly not trying to sell you that museum banner, but with your fabulous light fixture, I do think it might be a great solution (even if you don't move the tree over). A standard door is 84", so this is more than a foot higher. One of the great virtues of museum banners other than height is that you don't have to frame them for them to look right.

I only realize now that the wall behind your sofa is the same wall as the stair wall. I don't think a solo horizontal print is right for that wall, but maybe one of the 3 that's now on the wall going up the stair would be (is one a b&w of Paris or another city?)

If you buy the idea of putting a quilt of some sort over the balcony it shouldn't hang down much. Just enough -- like a third -- to give color and soften the empty space. A very flexible rug would do.
mytwo cents
7 months ago
For behind your sofa, even just a very simple black rug like this would help make sense of all the high angles in the room and the verticality of the fireplace, but keep eyes at human conversation level

https://rugs.com/blackberry-10-ft-runner-jill-zarin-english-manor-farmhouse-area-rug-6341724?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmICoBhDxARIsABXkXlIvP1UfMtpJm30miAHMkyLeVYOdeinJyTqDHkInnYeMiNHovco4NsYaAgeqEALw_wcB
livingnature
Original Author
7 months ago
Thank you for the picture and advice, it’s so helpful to visualize it
Kendrah
7 months ago
I actually thought you had done a very good job and it looks great as is, then I saw Beverly's rendering. She's great!
PRO
Joe McGuire Design
3 months ago
Since you have so much wall space, you could look at doing bigger pieces of art. Below you will find some images of our designs with artwork ideas along with console ideas that could be placed near the stairs.
Bleeker Street · More Info

Bleeker Street · More Info

Bleeker Street · More Info

Modern Chalet · More Info
livingnature
Original Author
3 months ago
Thanks! The photos of your designs are very helpful— I think large scale is the way to go.

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