You posted several good photos, and frankly, I like the way your room is arranged and the position of your piano the way it sits right now. Of course, when you are walking into a room, or using the room, it's much easier to see if something works, than by viewing photographs.

The other thing that I think we forget about sometimes.....is that the function or usefulness of a piece of furniture, lamp, rug, should really determine the placement, more than anything else. In your pretty room, it looks like the piano is out of the walking space, it has a light for the player to see their music, and there is art in that corner too, so the piano doesn't have to be tucked into the corner all by itself. I saw your sconce post and loved those sconces. They didn't do anything for the corner, but they will look awesome somewhere in your home, I am certain.

Sometimes, it's just not possible or practical to expect a room or piece to look wonderful at every angle or time of day. In my own home, I try very hard to arrange my furniture so that, first of all, it is comfortable to use, isn't blocking access to something else, and looks good from as many views as possible. Lamps can be a challenge, because I want good lighting from every seat in the house, and some of my chairs/sofa are out angled in the room in such a way that the lamp cords are a problem. The paint shade (Laura Ashley Gold #3) that I painted my master bedroom looks wonderful in the early morning, during the day, and late into the afternoon. But if I think about it, at bedtime, when it's full dark, the color is more intense than I like. So, I have to enjoy the fact that most of the time, I like what I have. And I have to ignore those times I don't.

It's hard to tell sometimes from pictures but I agree with the previous poster that your piano looks really nice the way you have it now.

I'm not sure I would want to be stuck "back there" if you turn it around and you are playing. I also think it's nice for people to be able to see the keys. Of course if you turned it, then people would better be able to see you instead of your back. I have a baby grand and my piano is bascially oriented like yours.

Maybe you could do something about your cords hanging down. :)

Thanks red, you make some excellent points. It is tough to have things look great from every angle. When that's not possible, have it look good from as many views as possible, and ignore the times/views that we don't enjoy as much. I'm sure I needed to hear that!

I have struggled with our piano, too. Best thing we ever did was put it on wheels. It has had at least four different "homes" in our LR over the last six years. I expect we'll rolling it around for a while in the new house, though there will be fewer options there.

Generally, I like a piano facing out because it looks nice in a room. I might put a potted palm (or a cello!) on one side or something else to soften it some. I looks a bit lonely there!

The big question though is who plays and what works best for that person? Where does that person want to be facing? Out into the room or into a corner? If you turn the piano so that the player is hanging into the doorway, that might feel weird. Just things to consider...

Another question about lighting... How is the piano lamp attached and is it in any way damaging the music stand? I would love to have a lamp like that, but I have been afraid to!

I love your room, btw!

I agree with everything red said. A few months back when I was arranging my LR I had similar delimna where to put my piano. There just was no ideal spot for it from a decorating perspective. Sometimes you need to look at it from a functionality perspective and how much enjoyment you and your guests/family receive from where it is placed. Personally I like it where it is. It would be possible for a larger group to gather behind, look at the sheet music, perhaps sing along with the pianist. Looks like a lovely home for a party! A good friend of ours who is an avid piano player recently bought a grand piano and it was interesting to note she placed hers right in the center of the room dividing the living and dining rooms. Some would say it made the rooms feel closed in and smaller, but for them since music was an intergral part of their lives having it there made perfect sense since playing music is a focal point of many gatherings.

I love it just where you have it. What a beautiful room!

You should turn it, as the sound has no place to really go. It's hard to have a large piano in a room without concert hall acoustics, but if you turn it so the raised side of the lid faces the couch, and your audience, the music will sound better. You would sit under the western landscape, which shouldn't be too cramped.

First of all, you have a very beautiful room. The decor and ambience are simply lovely.

As for the paino: it looks quite good as you have it. So the question is, what is its function? You will have better acoustics if you turn it, so that when the lid is open the sound is not blunted by a wall. Also, and this is strictly personal - as a pianist who's owned a couple of grands, I am much more comfortable with my back to a wall; I feel very exposed with my back to the room. I also prefer to look over the piano at the room and the people in it. Just my opinion, but I think that piano placement should first and foremost please the pianist and produce great sound.

Thank you for all of your thoughtful comments. This forum is a great tool for thinking things through. I think I'm going to keep it as is, but next time I have movers over for anything I may be tempted to try it turned 90 degrees just to satisfy my curiosity. So many of you are correct in your assessment that any piece in a home that has a function should be placed so that it works best for those who use it. In this case, the piano is not used as much as it was when the kids were home, but I still use it, mostly with others who sing in a group with me. In that case, we do enjoy pulling up chairs around it or sitting in a larger circle in front of it. So for me, the placement as it is does work, even though I never really thought about why. The acoustic isn't really an issue as the room is not large and the sound is great as it is. I thank all of you for helping me through this. I do agree with the assessment that it looks a bit lonely where it is, so I'll work on that!!

Les is right. You usually want to place the grand so the open top faces out for the best sound. We have a 6'3" and the open lid is toward the foyer. Of course a good sized room is important too. You will enjoy the sound more if you open the lid and rotate as Les suggested. I also would suggest wooden dishes for the feet. They have carpet on the bottoms and are essential to prevent the ruin of wood floors and carpet. They do change the sound , but in our case with the wood floors it was for the better. Anyone can then slide the piano around very easily. They can be purchased on line for grand pianos. Caroline

jjam,
I don't know if this picture will help any, but I had kind of the same problem, the piano not quite right. I rotated it a bit (at Les's suggestion!) and maybe this will give you an idea of what your piano could look like if you did the same thing. I got tired of playing with my back to the room when it was turned another way, I was stuck in the corner, facing out, but what a production it was to get to the bench!!! So, by turning it at an angle in the corner, I like it much better! Hope this helps and I love your room. It's very pretty and put together beautifully!

Thanks, n2bach. I love your room. Yours looks wonderful.