Bare Wall - Add Lighting, or Art, or ...?

5 years ago

We have a fully open modern floor plan, which I love. Most of the walls are a medium blue which I also love. I was given design advice to paint one of the walls white, otherwise it would be too much blue; I agreed and painted it the white of the hall, so that those spaces connect. I got a gorgeous Restoration Hardware media center + we have a giant TV. Yet, the wall is very plain. I don't know if I should:

1. Add something in the right corner like one of those arc lamps (or something like a sculpture?)

2. Instead of the small white leather benches (which are really just a placeholder), put something tall, flanking either side of the TV/stand? And if so, what?

3. Add some artwork (but I like minimalism and already have a large painting nearby)?

4. Other ideas?

Note: We have a major feature wall in view - stone that goes up our stairway, so adding a feature wall isn't really an option.

I have attached three photos - one of the room from the wall view so you can see the furniture/decor in context. Then a long view of the blank wall, and a closer up view.

Note: I know the TV isn't centered on the wall; it is, however, centered with the furniture. This makes the space on the right about twice the size on the left, which is why I don't think two matching things work as well as putting something in the corner.

I appreciate any/all ideas:)

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PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

5 years ago

I would have done a whole wall of TV display and storage in Besta line from Ikea.

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Comments (12)

PRO
Anglophilia
5 years ago
You'll know what to do when you find something you adore and just must have in this room. Don't look for it - it will find you.
Kathy G thanked Anglophilia
lmmcnitt
5 years ago
IMO large artwork and a large tv on the same wall compete, especially if you’re trying to hang the art over the tv. How about some floating shelves in wood to match the media stand -to the right of the tv? I also noticed immediately the white wall-I wondered why it wasn’t painted. I don’t feel it’s a decorative feature, it stands out too much to me and may be the reason you are calling the wall empty. How about painting it a much lighter version of the blue or a tone on tone wallpaper with the same blue color? Everything looks really great with the two rooms coming together.
Kathy G thanked lmmcnitt
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I think your snake plants are perfect and that bringing in a leafy tree fights the painting. Again, I'd do another tripod lamp but it could also be fun to do a gallery wall of modern prints very much in the same vein -- a Diebenkorn, a Mondrian, a Vasserly op-art, even an Escher. Just put them up and down and around the wall, collage-fashion Diebenkorn's Untitled 1980 might be fab instead of a tripod lamp https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Untitled-1980-Posters_i14762136_.htm?srsltid=AfmBOooU_HH4jZwc2csJBvWeDmxdAbG6uNGwa1tc4f8tpZLMoZ0Df48BGoo add a Mondrian https://frametowall.com/products/2xboxl-pc-shd-s596-composition-no2-2x-matted-28x33-extra-large-black-ornate-framed-art-print-by-piet-mondrian?srsltid=AfmBOoqV1iT_QwZPx_ODI7LtCKeS4K2770C4fzBgqeZkTCPYACjGdwx7MGQ vasserly https://www.chairish.com/product/4949614/victor-vasarely-progression-3-5-optic-art maybe a small escher https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/pdp/eye-by-escher-print-under-acrylic-fcag3580.html?piid=
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
5 years ago
Since you're a minimalist the stark, bare look you have going is probably a plus. I would, however, suggest some large plants to give some life and color without adding extraneous items that would compromise your style. Minimalist interiors often profit from large, rather dramatic plants and it will give you a bit of color that the rooms seem to need.
Kathy G thanked ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
Sammy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Those rooms are completely furnished. Good job! Now you need to personalize the space with unique pieces — family photographs, books, the little pine box your grandfather made, etc. Building on anglo’s sage advice, any art collection worth having usually (unless you’re extraordinarily wealthy or you’ve stolen/been given it) takes time to acquire, as in decades; It’s a project without an end date. The same holds true for furniture and rugs (and jewelry!)

You could use some table lamps, though.

;)
Kathy G thanked Sammy
groveraxle
5 years ago
Very pretty room. Perhaps a floor lamp in that corner would be enough.
Kathy G thanked groveraxle
groveraxle
5 years ago
A lamp:

A delicate plant:

A blue wall to match the others:

A spot of color:
Kathy G thanked groveraxle
Karen
5 years ago
Your room looks terrific! I really like grover's rendering of the blue wall to match the others, and of the delicate plant in the corner.
Kathy G thanked Karen
Kathy G
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you all so much.

I love lmmcnitt's idea of tone-on-tone wallpaper, I hadn't thought of that (despite loving wallpaper! I did a funky mid-century modern style accent wall in our master). That could really work - adding either a blue tone-on-tone, or even a neutral, could really do the trick, the texture would be a great layer.

Special thanks to Groveraxle for the renderings - that is incredibly helpful! I love the first rendering of that mechanical-arc lamp, that's what I was envisioning and seeing it makes me really think that's the way to go (in addition to a tone-on-tone wallpaper that would really complete the space). I'm going to look around for things similar - even taller maybe, as the ceilings are high and can really handle height.

I do like everyone's ideas of a plant too - a little green would warm things up. Alas, I am crazy picky about plants, not sure I'd be able to find one I like. It's weird, but it's hard to find 'modern plants'.

Cheers everyone, again - much appreciated.
babophz
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
What a lovely, well-though-out interior. Regarding the wall, I would start with not adding stuff, but by removing those x-legged stools. They seem to emphasize that your TV stand is on the short side for both tv and wall, and I think the console would look better on its own anyway :) As for the colour of the wall, the white not only connects it to the hall, it also relates to the kitchen on the other side of the room. Therefore I would not paint it blue, and for wallpaper would pick something with a (lot of) white in it. Furthermore I think the big plant in groveraxle's rendering looks terrific.
leelee
5 years ago
That space to the right of the TV is crying for a tall plant.

A fiddle leaf fig or a palm or bird of paradise.
leelee
5 years ago
All the things you have lined up along the oven wall are out of sync with the rest of your furniture.

The console and the bench are too small and you're obviously trying just to fill space.

Your art on the side wall would benefit greatly from a floating frame to give it more presence and a finished look.