I don't have a suggestion for over the couch but I think they would look great side by side over the white drawers or one on top of the other on the left of your archway.

They are too small for that space...and it would be a shame to leave them there as you'd want to show them off in a better viewing place. People would have to lean over your couch to get a better look and really appreciate the beautiful art. Long sconces flanking the clock would fill space and are easy on the budget. :)

I think the problem is the mats are too small for the watercolors. Works under glass look best if they're framed with a mat that is at a minimum of 3" wide on all sides. I am a professional colored pencil artist and I never use less than a 3 1/2" mat around my art. Do that, and I think your balance on the pictures will work better with the clock.

You could keep them there - and add more frames around them...

I agree with cpartist- your art needs larger mats. If cost is a concern an inexpensive way to mat and frame your art is to go somewhere like Big Lots, buy matted and framed prints and replace the subject matter with your own water colors.

I think even if your reframe/remat they are too small for the space surrounding the clock. The clock can stand on its own behind the sofa and the original art should be placed somewhere in your home where it can be viewed more easily and closer. Maybe in your entry or a smaller overall space. I can't see too much of your dining room, but maybe if they were matted and framed to be larger, they could be placed one over the other next to your china cabinet over the chair?

For now, I'd put one over the other on the small wall to the left of the doorway, next to the sofa. Also consider painting the walls in a color that will "bring them out" more and show them off better.

Agree w/ tibbrix about placing art on narrow wall but I wouldn't paint to enhance art. What if she gets other art--do you repaint again to enhance new acquisitions? Besides too much work and present color is nice

Also love carol w fl suggestion but the problem is it takes time. When people go buy 7-8 pics to hang as collections on the same day from same store-90% of time they get it wrong. Proper collections take time or you must have already collected the art

bossy, I'd paint the room in a more saturated neutral. Any artwork will work with it, then. It's not to match her paintings, but to contrast better to help artwork and frames stand out.

I was at a client's house yesterday, newly completely renovated condo near Beacon Hill in Boston, very la-di-da, absolutely stunning, etc. Serious art collectors, get their stuff from Europe (they're real Euro-phile). They painted the kitchen/TV/dining area in BM Eagle Rock, a gorgeous saturated gray, and they did so in order to compliment the artwork. Really, really stunning.

Got it. I luv it when you do your magic with paint colors

Thanks for all the helpful feedback!! That dark gray does look really nice. Interesting about the frame proportions-hadn't realized that. Now to try out some different tips and see what I can do

Is there a reason your sofa is pushed right up against the wall opening? I'd correct that before proceeding.

Look for a small wall for your art if you want it to stand alone. You might consider hanging one over the other, which sometimes works better with two small prints. With art on the large wall, you don't need anything on that little wall. Actually, it doesn't really "count" as a wall at all. I have that situation where I have about 18" to the side of a window but I've resisted putting art there.

I love that you're excited about your new watercolors! I sooooo know that feeling, but watch out - it's addictive! ;-)

I think your clock should stand alone over your sofa and the paintings need to be moved elsewhere. Even with larger mats/frames, the paintings themselves aren't substantial enough to stand up against that huge clock. I would still mat and frame the paintings properly, but would not use them on this wall with the clock.

In your second photo, even from the vantage point of leaning over the couch, I can't even tell what the paintings are. It seems they need a closer, more intimate viewing location, where you can be close up, surprised, have a moment.

Thanks again for the tips. As to why the couch is pushed against the opening, here are a few more pics of the room layout. I was trying to create a conversation space with a bench across from the couch, rather than having the couch centered on that long wall and the bench way down at the end of the room. Down the road, I was thinking of getting a large area rug and perhaps two chairs to put in front of the bay window (not close to it, but rather closer to the couch/bench). The white chest of drawers is there just to take up some space on that long wall. If anyone has advice on the layout, I'd love to hear that too.

Cute room. Some suggestions to try out; I would center the sofa on that wall. Then you could put the side table by the wood bench on the side of the sofa, along with what you have-the magazine rack. the wood bench could either go in front of the window, or it may look fine pulled out more along the side of the stair railing, with the white chest in the corner.

It's an adorable home. The bench would be so cute in front of the window. Try the cabinet near the stairs but it's going to need some supporting players. It's too narrow on its own. It would be best on the short wall, but that leaves the stair wall needing something.

If the sofa is centered and the bench moved to the bay, new chairs could be placed opposite the sofa with room behind the chairs to walk through to the dining room. If you use a low and small console/table in place of the bench, the art work might work over the console/table. Love the suggestion to use a more saturated neutral paint color. Also would love to see closer views of your new art!

That front room doesn't seem so conducive to actually living in it. I would move the tall lingerie chest out of the room, center the sofa on the wall, anchor it with a rug and place a chair in front of the window, perpendicular to the sofa.

Very cute room. I love what Beverly did with it-- and the pumpkins are making me LOL! What a festive touch!

You'll find just the right spot for your pretty watercolours, but I have to agree that the tall white chest is what draws the eye first; have you another spot for it?

I'd try taking out the chest; moving the couch closer to the window, angling the bench toward it, and moving the table and the lamp to the other side of the bench, Then try your large art piece over the couch and the 2 smaller water colors replacing where it was on the other wall. Your clock could move to the dining room.

You could put your two watercolors to the left of your window.

So DO you need seating for conversation? I would try two of your dining room chairs in front of the window to see how much space you have. If it's not crowded, I'd look for small scale chairs with upholstered seats and backs and wood arms. I think it might be too tight though. What about a petite desk in front of the window with a chair that could be turned around for guests?

I think the important thing is not to take away from the cottage feel of the room. Which is what that large clock does, so I'd be looking for something new.

funny--I almost didn't put the clock there. I was going to put in across from my hutch in the dining room as a few others suggested. I had the photo above the bench above the couch originally but felt it was too small. Since centering the couch is the consensus I'll try that this weekend if I can talk my husband into moving the white chest, as it is quite heavy! I had pulled in the 2 dining room chairs in front of window, just to get an idea, and also moved the bench forward. I like rooms where the seating area is in the middle, as opposed to all the furniture on against the walls but haven't had much luck achieving that. I'm going to try the bench in front of the window too. I also have shorter antique dresser type thing that used to look good where the bench is but gave that up since I did need the seating. Anyway, thanks again to all for the ideas. I'm excited to play around and will post updated photos if I strike a balance!

I can see that you want to create a conversation area, I did too, in my tiny living room. The problem is, you have your conversation area set up so that the traffic flow from the stairwell and front door to the dining room has to pass right through it. Plus the seating is pretty far apart for "conversation." I'd play around with the furniture placement. I'd move the couch over and create an "L" shaped conversation area around the bay window. Then you can play around with art placement. You've got great pieces in the room, you'll find the optimum place for them once you find the optimum place for your furniture.

I'd put the bench in the bay of the window, center the sofa on the wall, pull it away from the wall a bit, and put the cabinet on the wall to the right of the entrance to the DR, so that it is facing the windows.

Use an appropriate sized mat and match the frame color to the clock and it will work fine.

Putting the art in larger frames does take up more room on the wall; however, it's still hard to see the actual art without leaning over the sofa. They would be best in a place where you can get up close to them without having to lean over anything.

All those heavy black lines (in the frames and the clock) take away from the random charm of the watercolors. They deserve their own special space!

Pick up some sliders when you get ready to move the chest of drawers. They are back-savers when it comes to moving heavy furniture. The plastic side is for carpet and you put the 'socks' on the plastics to move furniture on hardwood.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-Movealls-and-Protect-Alls-83037N12/203566384

I agree with those who've suggested moving the couch to the left and putting the chair in the bay. Not only will it not protrude into the opening, but people won't be walking to and fro between the folks conversing.

And I still say those sweet little watercolors deserve a place of their own where they aren't dwarfed by their surroundings.

Trying to get the furniture placement right before working in the art. Several people suggested moving the bench into the bay window and I'm really liking it! What do you think?

I think the new arrangement looks much better! I'd keep the watercolors together either stacked or side by side somewhere else.

That chest is so pretty there! You might think about stacking the watercolors to the left of the bay window so people can see them up close. I agree, pull the bench out a little closer to the sofa. Think about getting a cushion for the bench. A fluffy down filled cushion would be great, instead of a box cushion. You may want to keep an eye out for larger side tables for the sofa on Craig's list.

Very nice! I love the placement of the chest and the art above it and the sofa centered on the wall is much more inviting.

eta: I like Voila's suggestion for stacking your watercolors to the left of the bay window.

Yes to the new arrangement! Much better, and really nice! Get a couple of small cushions for the bench, would be my suggestion. Also, try pushing the two drapery panels in the middle over to each end to combine them with the end panels and see if that doesn't maybe work better so drapes aren't falling behind the bench. Not sure.

Very nice improvements. I love the bench and the chest, they look great! What about stacking the art and placing them on the wall beside the chest, on the way into the dining room?