Awkward Wall

Rav · 2025-03-12T23:29:30+00:00

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hi! I’m new here and hoping for some advice from some seasoned members. I work from home and I’m at home….a lot. Because I’m home so much, I fixate (to put it lightly) on the things about my house that don’t work and make impulse purchases to quell the cabin fever in my soul. I am currently fixated on my formal living room, which is small and a bit awkward. You walk into our home and it’s the first thing you see to the left. It’s a rectangle and you enter perpendicular to the room. There is an awkwardly large wall that makes the room feel empty (see the photo with the two large shelves which have since found a new home). As you can see, I tried a large floor mirror but I think that’s making it worse. Any suggestions for what to do with it? Also I love the art but hate where it is, so suggestions for above the couch are also encouraged. Will gladly remove the sconces. I’d consider a new couch. I appreciate any and all insight. Thank you!!!

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Comments

InspiredCFSUK

For that large wall, I agree that the mirror might not be helping. Since it’s the first thing people see when they walk in, you might want something that feels intentional rather than a placeholder. A gallery wall with a mix of artwork and sculptural elements (maybe a few floating shelves with curated decor) could add some depth. If that feels too busy, a large-scale piece of art or a bold textured wall treatment (wood paneling, limewash, or even a statement wallpaper) could anchor the space. The sconces might not need to go, but they might look better flanking a larger piece instead of the current placement. It’s clear you have great taste, and sometimes it’s just about tweaking the layout until it clicks. Hope this helps.

DanielaAraya

First off, I'm obsessed with your furniture and whole design style! And I totally know what you mean about WFH and just overthinking everything haha. Don't get rid of anything just yet! I think this calls for a good ole fashioned game of moving the furniture around until it feels right

Where do you walk in from? Is it the door to the right of the mirror? And what's your view outside the windows? I would move your sofa so it's facing the window, and then shift the chairs so they're more conversational to that new layout. The sofa would create this almost "hallway" effect between the two openings in your room (this would be more distinct if you had a sofa that wasn't curved, but I still think it can work!). I'd then move the large mirror to the wall with the art and sconces. You could potentially make the sconces work if you can rewire them to come out wider so the mirror fits. That leaves the long awkward wall where the mirror was — I'd use this as a passage way or entryway kinda feel. Get a long console table (maybe something like this) to style books and decor on, get a floor lamp, maybe throw a gallery wall on the wall. Have fun with it!

phyllks7683

Love the suggestion of moving the sofa to make a hall and do a gallery wall or a few large pieces that are cohesive and can add a few smaller pictures over time. Has to be something you love.

Rav

I’m back with some ideas I’ve come up with. I’m thinking I’m going to wall paper the wall and add a long credenza, but otherwise keep the layout. Thoughts!

Rav

how thoughtful! Thank you for the kind words. Nice to hear when I’ve picked apart my own taste so much. Your ideas are wonderful!! I’ll be back when I implement some. You essentially walk into the house to a bit of a sunken entrance and walk to the left facing the wall with the art. The window is the front of our home.

Zephy

I like how your sofa, the wood-and-white chairs, the white slipper chair, and the coffee table all go together with the same kind of bulbous curves — very cohesive, and what a sense of style! And I like your brown and white palette. I'm afraid I don't have any brilliant ideas for changing the layout, though I think the chairs should relate to the sofa a little more. (You could set the two wood chairs across the coffee table from the sofa and move the white chair off to the side on its own in a reading nook — I'm a big fan of reading nooks.) My suggestions are:

Add some color accents, like in throw pillows or wall art. (That's me — I like color. I realize not everyone does, but I feel like you've coordinated all the browns so well, it looks a little bare and unlived in.)
Think about balancing the heights of things on different walls. To me, the piece of art behind the sofa is too high; it's higher than the door and the mirror. And it's too narrow for that wall. I would put something horizontal there (especially if it's behind the sofa), and put the vertical piece where the mirror is now, its top level with the door, anchoring a gallery wall of smaller pieces that would fill up the wall space, or maybe add another large art piece or two medium-sized ones.

Very curious to see what you finally come up with! But I agree with Daniela — don't get rid of anything yet. You have very stylish and coordinated pieces; see what you can do with them.

Rav

thank you so much! What a thoughtful response. I agree about the height of the art - what if I moved it down to tuck behind the couch a bit. I’ve seen this in some design magazines and I think it might look cool coming out from the couch if that makes sense. In terms of color, you’re right, I’m allergic. I generally add a fresh bouquet of flowers in the center of the table to give some life. Let me know thoughts on potentially shifting the art down.

bonnie2613

That mirror looks great with your other furniture -- definitely keep it. Take advantage of the curved sofa and rotate it into the room (45° or less). Move the slipper chair to the side of the window to face the new sofa angle. Those wild wooden side chairs should flank the mirror where it is now. Swap out the framed print between the sconces with something art deco. People will come into your room and say WOW!

DanielaAraya

Love me some wallpaper! Where would the large mirror go then if you're putting a credenza on that wall?

DanielaAraya

If you're allergic to color, using flowers to add some pops is great! You can also use coffee table books to bring color to your space. Find books with interesting covers or keep them open on your coffee table to a colorful spread you love 😊

Zephy

I think that could work. I would put the top of the art at the same height as the door, which is about the same height as the mirror, so they all relate to each other, and I think you'd still see most of the art above the sofa. I also like @bonnie2613 's suggestion of putting the sofa at an angle, since it's curved and would work well that way (people are so clever! I would never have thought of that). Then the art wouldn't look too narrow behind the sofa. Many possibilities here — have fun!

DanielaAraya

Love the sofa suggestion!