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living room Design Dilemma Home Decorating

struggling with above the sofa

Jennifer McGinn

5 years ago

I recently updated my living room and am struggling with what to hang above the sofa. Was thinking something modern because ultimately the sofa will be replaced with a beautiful clean line cream-colored chesterfield sofa. Any ideas?

Featured Answer

Denise Marchand

5 years ago

There are so many art options available. Go to your local street art fair and zero in on an artist you would like to support. Here are some inspiration pics. I would recommend something huge and impressive. There is no rules, so go with what you like. If it's smaller than what you feel if the right size, get creative with the framing. A beautiful white matte with a beveled edge and a good frame can make anything special. A designer friend of mine just had his client's favorite vintage baseball cards all matted and framed in one big piece of art. Looks fantastic!

Also consider swapping out the throw pillows to big (20x20) all the same.

^ ^ ^ Photo Art

^ ^ ^ Moody statement

^ ^ ^ Photo art of a section of a famous painting

^ ^ ^ Pop art

^ ^ ^ Rothko (haha)

^ ^ ^ Series of small art with impressive framing

^ ^ ^ A series of prints

^ ^ ^ Dramatic large photo with black glossy frame

^ ^ ^ With the right placement, there is always a photo shelf

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Comments (18)

Jennifer McGinn
Original Author
5 years ago
And I prefer a big statement piece instead of a collection. Here’s one I was considering but am not in love with...
Heather
5 years ago
You have a very traditional feel going on and that piece is just too modern for that couch in my opinion. I feel like a gallery wall would work well- you have a lot of different colors from the couch and rug you could incorporate.
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User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
How soon will you be replacing the sofa? I'd consider waiting until the new one is here or go inexpensive. Your furnishings are more muted/earthy colors and I think the art should relate a little more. The picture you have is very modern and stark in comparison.
mrspepper
5 years ago
do you have a photo of the sofa you are purchasing?
cawaps
5 years ago
The artwork you are considering might look fine with the sofa you are planning to get, but it doesn't look good with the sofa you have now.

Everybody's taste is different so take the following with a grain of salt. I dislike the composition of the artwork and the way the small quantities of multiple colors meld into muddy masses. It doesn't seem to know what it is trying to say. It doesn't help that I see an evil clown face in the upper right hand corner. (If it had sounded like you loved it, I would have refrained from sharing that opinion, but you sounded ambivalent about it.)
Rina
5 years ago
Unless I had a very clear vision of what I wanted, I'd wait until the new sofa is in. It really could inspire you.
Rina
5 years ago
But I have to post this because it makes me smile.

Hamptons Country House · More Info
Irene Morresey
5 years ago
Love the chandelier paintings from Wayfair
Jennifer McGinn
Original Author
5 years ago
I’m not going to replace the sofa for a few years. Here’s a pic of what I plan to purchase...
Jennifer McGinn
Original Author
5 years ago
Denise: thx for all those examples. I agree w everyone - the piece I showed is way too modern for the current room. That’s why I’m struggling with liking it, I think.

Question- how do you reply to someone’s comment like you would on a FB wall?
njmomma
5 years ago
Question- how do you reply to someone’s comment like you would on a FB wall?

I don't think you can. Maybe copy and paste. Bold and Italic. Like above may help.
Rina
5 years ago
Oh, Jennifer, that is elegant. You know, traditional art would work very well with that sofa -- in fact it can work brilliantly with extremely modern furniture, too.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
5 years ago
You can definitely have a traditional sofa with modern art. I wouldn't be buying art to go with a sofa you might buy in 3 years.

The below photo has a nice balance of traditional and modern.

Buy something neutral in color that could work with any future sofa. Change the pillows to more contemporary or modern or eclectic (whatever you prefer).

There are too many pillows on your sofa. 2-3 at the most. Also, the coffee table is looking cluttered. Too many things. Look at the simplicity of the below coffee table arrangement.

I'd add end tables and table lamps instead of floor lamps. The lamp in the corner looks lonely and diminutive next to the piano.

What else is in the room?

Surrey House IV · More Info
P Banos
5 years ago
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
mrspepper
5 years ago
https://www.framedart.com/hanson/the-path-print-884902.htm

3 ft wide by 2 ft tall for a bit over $100 she is a local SoCal artist. Her open impressionism Style is a modern take on a classic style. this painting would pick up the gold and green in your living room for now.

I highly recommend looking through her whole inventory though.

art.com is another site that has big sales right now on every type of framed art. I just purchased a print of hers on canvas.
Denise Marchand
5 years ago
People collect art their entire lives, not because it "goes" with a sofa. Art and music are the same: buy what moves you. Unless it's cheap and run-of-the-mill commercial art, it's never wrong. It is what infuses your personality into your home.

Go to your local street art fair and support an artist you like. You will be very happy you did and maybe discover a future master!

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