It is difficult to decorate around a TV. Not impossible, but not easy. I think you can go different ways. If you want that painting to be hung there, then I would think you need to make a frame for the TV, and hang other paintings/ prints, etc on that wall. Sort of make it a gallery wall. And have a slide show on a thumb drive running on the TV when you aren't watching it, (well, when you are home obviously, not ALL the time) so it looks like another framed picture.

Or you could put a vase with curly willow in it on your table. That would add texture, take up wall space.

Perhaps something vertical in the space to the right of the TV.

I love those last silver skulls you have. BUT, I think you should make it a collection, if you go with them. There are lots of faux/whimsical skulls out there, some in white, in silver, even wood. I think they aren't too modern and even if you feel they are, the juxtaposition they play off of the farmhouse table would work just fine.

If you do decide to go with those movie reels, make sure to check out Pier 1, they have them too, I don't know about prices, etc.

(Is that black box over the TV holding components?)

Hope any of these ideas helped or were even clear!

-Bee

I would do three staggered wall shelves, then put on some books, a piece of art leaning on the shelf, perhaps a cool statue or vase. I think just hanging another single large piece next to it feels like something hung there just to fill the bare spot.

What would be better, perhaps, would be to rearrange and possibly use the farm bench behind the couch as a console, then add a full size bookcase to the left of the tv. You could have a complimentary small cabinet under the tv if you need it for other electronics.

Thanks bee. I had no idea that pier 1 had them.

I was not clear above. I posted that painting to get an idea of what else is in the room. It is actually on a different wall but near the tv wall. Not next to the tv.

I have seen these at william sonoma too:

{{!gwi}}

They are much smaller though.

I think it would make a big difference if you could move the components box to one of the shelves below the tv if you keep the table there. If not, I agree that shelving units would be good, but I would build them around the tv covering the entire wall since that would camouflage the rest. It actually isn't hard to build shelves if you or your DH are at all handy. It would also give you space for storage of kids' stuff! :)

I have posted this picture over and over, but here is what I did with one client's TV. He didn't want it hidden, so we just hung things around it. There is also something large hanging off to the left.

The components are on a small table right below the prints. Out, accessible but deemphasized.

I'm horrible when it comes to figuring out art. Heck, I just hung things up on the nails that were already in the house. And that was almost 4 years ago. But I did want to chime in about the box holding the components. You might want to consider painting that box the color of the walls/ceiling and then getting some similar white scrim/speaker cloth to cover the front. The remotes will work through the scrim, and it will allow the box to recede into the background.

I like the silver antlers. I would do something with those. I think they are nice contrast to the rustic table.

I'm not keen on the table being on the TV wall. It looks out of place.

I do like Les' suggestion about putting a bookshelf to the right of the TV. It will add the vertical touch to the wall instead of having all horizontal things there.

Love the toys!

In the picture above with the couch is the same wall that the table is on now. There is no other spot for the table. :) It also needs to be out in the open because it is used for toy storage at the moment. I like it there under the tv. My son is a climber and has been since he was 7-8 months. I dont want anything tall in the room, so no book cases for now!

I think everything on that wall will be staying as is for now. Well, except I do think I told Allison I would slide the table down a bit to center it on the wall. ;) Those are the components above the TV. They need to stay there until DS is older. Just makes my life simpler. I don't think I could put anything in front of it or I wouldn't be able to load in DVD's or those stick things with movies.

I just really need to fill up the blank walls around the TV with stuff we can anchor to the wall so it doesn't end up broken on the floor.

I have recently ordered some clear storage with lids for on the floor under the table. Maybe I should order some silver things for on the shelf. :) Or wait to see how much the antlers go for.

Unless of course someone has a better idea for the area.

One other thought I had was something I picked up from wisteria a month or so ago. They are basically 10x10 canvases that you are supposed to put hand prints on. I was thinking everyone in the family could do one and then I could do the cats foot prints on one too.

If DS was older I thought it might be a nice area to hang his artwork too. But that won't be for awhile I guess.

I like the antlers but I think they're very trendy. I don't know if I'd want to sink money into a whole wall of them, or even sink too much money into the silver ones.

I like Les' idea of shelves. Attractive, and utilitarian for a room you live in daily.
Dee

I like the shelf idea also, maybe some cabinetry.

I like the shelf idea too-- I'm sure you have lots of nice things to display!

Well, except I do think I told Allison I would slide the table down a bit to center it on the wall. ;)

It's already there in my mind. ;D

Love love love the looooong green table. Can you tell me about it please?

DH originally said shelves too. Maybe at some point. DH also likes the antelopes, so maybe I will leave a bid and we can use them somewhere else.

Last night we decided to watch a grown up movie.

DS's response:

I couldn't believe he was able to get that chair up there.

I think I might have to go back to my idea of some latch yarn pieces my mom made for now,

Rafor - thank you, I love it too. I got it in ebay. Astore was going out of business and they displayed things on it. It was not too far and they dropped the price the second time hey listed so I *had* to get it! I was the only bid.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that scooting the table down would be nice.

If you do get a bookcase, all you do is nail it to the wall. We nailed every tall object to the walls when our kids were toddlers.

And then they learned the word "No!" lol. Seriously they need to learn that for their own safety. Isn't it funny how kids that age bring every single toy possible to the living room? :)

I personally like your original idea with the clock & reels. Sure, it's a little theme-y, but the shapes have a nice symmetry (no doubt someone else could do a better mock-up job, but the general idea is there).

Have you seen the similar reels from Ballard Designs?

Smaller, but cheaper, so if you decide you don't like the theme down the road, you can feel less guilty about changing things. The Horchow Melrose Giant Film Reels are 42", 32" and 24" for $546.90, whereas the Ballard Designs Film Reel Plaques are 24", 18" and 12" for $189 (currently 20%: $151). Heck, you could get two smaller sets and scatter them on both sides so they blend with the clock, too.

The silver heads creep me out, though. Seems like they belong on the cover of a death metal album.

ACK!! I sympathize. I never had a climber, but I can imagine the stress. I am loving those film reels, when you think it is safe.

Pier1 has the two larger film reels for $50 and $40, if that is on your agenda.

Thankfully I never had a climber, either. Getting the chair up there probably wasn't that hard - if you look in the pix, that would be at the perfect height for him to lift up the chair and just slide it onto the top, and I am guessing the chair is one of those lightweight cushy ones. I think it is so smart of him to know which way he needed that chair to face so he could be looking at you!

This is actually his playroom so all the toys stay in there! :)

Thank you for the mock up jessica. I do like it.

Well three chances and he was out. Well, his chair was for the night anyway. He does not listen to no much yet. He was actually dragging it on to his plastic slide thing and then up to the table. I thought all kids were climbers. I guess I just got lucky. ;)

I am going to check out Pier1 Les. thanks so much for the tip!

Gosh, that is such a cool green table. If I were you I would center it on the wall and hang the television lower or put it on a stand and remove the shelving for the video equipment and put it down below on the green table. Then, you can decorate around the television. I think then some large oversized lamps on either side of the t.v. would look great. Some large pottery and baskets would look good mixed on top and on the shelves.

I just wanted to say that I have that clock and I love it! I get compliments on it all the time.

There are tons of great suggestions and I think I like them all. LOL.

I think I've seen some similar reels at TJMAxx or Burlington Coat Factory. And for WAY less money than mentioned.

I've also seen the animal heads but in white a Zgallerie.com

I think my personal favorite would be the table centered ;-) and wall shelves on either side of the tv with pretties on them. But until your climber outgrows that I'm not sure what to tell you to try.

Oh and LOVE the table. It's so different than everything else out there.

Since this is a true family room ---read "playroom," ours certainly was! ---- can you hold off on trying to decorate around what are temporary situations such as a tv very high on the wall, the components' mount, etc.? Can you find some very inexpensive travel posters in cheerful colors that would pick up the happy jumble of colors in your son's toys and that fab green table? Art.com has lots of lovely, inexpensive travel posters. . . you could display places you've been or dream of going. . . You can put them in frames from a craft store like Michaels. . . for a little money that gives you a big impact. You could put two large (24 x 36 for example) vintage or travel posters up on each side of your television.... see link :)

ps your boy is resourceful, they are the most fun of all children!

Here is a link that might be useful: vintage travel poster

Some day we will move things around rindy. Right now we wanted the TV in between the beams and had the TV all set up before I found that table. We may be able to center it all when DS is older and move the components down.

Good to know kristine. I still havent ordered it. I have no idea why!

kswl - travel posters are a good idea too! I will keep my eye out. Ballard has some kind of alphabet letters too. Very expensive though. Maybe they will go on sale someday. I still am thinking of a map too.

Well, in case anyone was curious, I did not buy the antelope heads. I can't believe it, but they went for $900! Not much of a deal. I think from what I found that they were about $400 each new.

I would not put a objects next to the tv on either sides, it will confuse your eye and give you a big headache while watching tv. The tv is the main focal point you dont want to distract from it.

I would center your green table underneath the tv and add maybe simple things such as hurricane's with candles on each side...maybe add baskets to the bottom for storage.

Another suggestion, move the tv down. Your necks will hurt from looking up all the time.

Although this is a recreation and relaxation room, the messages it sends are important for growing children. I'm big on built-in bookcases. Having the t.v. in a unit with a large central opening for it would tame the t.v. and make it less of an overwhelming object, assuming you can afford the bookshelf. If books, games, favorite objects, albums, today's newspaper, toy storage were collected into the same space as the television, the t.v. becomes part of a bigger world. Shelving can also house videos/Cds whatever you collect. And then the other walls might tell different stories--family photos for example. Also consider a couple attractive sconces.

I agree that the t.v. screen needs to be ergonomically positioned.

As a mom of an 18, 16 and 9 year-old, I remember many years where my formal dining room was a playroom. About 4 years ago, I finally reclaimed the space for it's original use. I think the age of your DS is precious and these years will soon pass and you will have the freedom to decorate the room as you wish (or more likely) the farm table will house all his electronic gagets. I agree safety need to be first concern, but when decorating I would decorating not just for this stage of his life, but what your longer term vision for the room is. Longer term, I agree with Les' suggestion on some tall bookcases; and that may only be 1-2 years away and your DS moves on from the climbing stage! In the meantime, I liked your first idea of some large colorful maps and perhaps the clock. I think some large wicker baskets would look great under the farm table to house your DS's toy collection.