family room decor dilemma, need ideas
threebyfivebt
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hello wonderful Houzz community! I need some serious decorating help with this room. Any ideas on wall decor ( I need to hang more artwork or other wall decor above book case and maybe mantle), area rugs (I need a larger one) and wall color, and new ceiling fan or other lighting. I also plan on distributing the books more evenly (they are custom built and we had the left one before the right one) so shelf decor ideas would also help! The chairs and couch have to stay. Additional seating ideas would be helpful!!! Thank you all so much!
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Sammie J
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Decorating challenged: Family Room help needed.
Comments (16)I wrote a long post last night and lost it, as I'm still getting used to my laptop (grrrr!) One of my ideas was to possible float the loveseat , as kmg, suggested, placing the tv on that wall. If the room can take it, it would give you seating while watching tv; seating facing the fireplace and a good arrangement for chatting with company. You've mentioned your budget. With that in mind, you can always put off purchasing a tall entertainment piece that would hold, not only the tv, but with bookcases on either side to display books and art pieces, etc. And when I say "art pieces", this can mean anything from a 5x7" card of a nice picture displayed in an inexpensive-but-bulky wood easel frame to a boldly colored large bowl; a basket of silk or real greenery, etc. The possibilities are endless, as long as they're not delicate or too busy. When shopping for an EC, I'd look for a piece with closed door storage along the bottom, as everyone needs more storage these days! But, figure out the best seating arrangement BEFORE buying any tables. This way you can get tables that work with the space you have left. And, look for pieces with some closed storage. Being a mom myself, I know how much clutter they can generate ;^D One way to bring in extra seating and not add too much bulk would be to use two small cubes with storage compartments in place of one large coffee table. I'm not sure how long trays balanced on top of cubes would last with small kids, but even two low, round, sturdy wood tables there might work. But, you first have to come up with some color to add. What colors come to mind when you think of your favorites? Colors that you enjoy seeing and having around you? Use one as your main color and one or two others for your accent colors. Your main color is NOT brown; that's your neutral color. For instance, my family room has a brown leather sofa and chair. I love red, so I've added it (in a more rusty hue) along with green. I've added green via another leather chair and in pops of it in our art and accessories. Red in my throw pillows, a large chunky candle arrangement on my coffee table, and in my art. In Spring through Summer, I add pillow covers in a mellow yellow (my third accent color)with red and green print. The bottom line is to pick colors that YOU like, as you're the one who has to live there. As My3dogs, suggested, add color. You can do this with throw pillows, art, throws, pottery, candles, etc. My own added advice would be to think BIG. You have big pieces of furniture and you need large accessories to balance these. For example, look at your fireplace mantel now. Your accessories there add nothing because they're too small. Think chunky, big, bold, colorful. You can save money by getting large chunky lamps at a second-hand or discount store and repainting them a bold accent color. Add new shades and you've added a great piece to the room that's also child-resistant ;^D This way, you can save some money for big artwork. What kind? Art is so, so, so personal . . . or it should be! Again, you're going to have to live with it day in and day out. What do YOU like? Landscapes?Contemporary still-life? Whatever you like, you can find many with brighter colors that work with your room. A print can be fairly inexpensively double-matted and framed. Spending the extra to have it double-matted really makes a huge difference. I do have to mention your fireplace, though. Everyone loves a fireplace. They're warm, welcoming, cozy and a great architectural feature. But, the way yours is at the moment, it's the wallflower of the room . . . fading into the background. You've furnished the room with big, bold dark brown leather pieces and you have this delicate white and gray marble fireplace that's blending into the light wall. Is there anyway that you might consider giving it a face-lift? My first thought was a beefier mantel in a wood or stone and some glass or ceramic tile on the surround and hearth. These are just quick pics I found online googling "tile fireplace surrounds). If you want or need to stay with the fireplace as it is now, I think you need to repaint the walls a darker, deeper color to make that fireplace stand out. I don't have time to address the drape issue, but you're getting some great ideas here already, Lynn...See MoreNeed decorating ideas for family living room
Comments (7)Hi to your sweet baby! I would start with finding a rug that has a few bright accent colors. Then you can brighten your space by purchasing accessories and pillows using your rug colors. Then you'll need a coffee table or ottoman and some side tables and lamps. The rug size will depend on your seating arrangement. Will you be adding more chairs to the space? You want to make sure your tables and seating can fit on the rug. I would try to find a rug pattern that combines the cool tone of your sofa with your warm walls and floors. That will make your space look more cohesive. eSale rugs has a great tool where you can upload your room photo and it will insert a rug in your space. Many online rug merchants have free shipping and returns. But, wrapping a big rug and dragging it to the post office can be a pain. If you find a rug you like online, order the smallest available. Then you can check the colors and texture in your space without having to worry about shipping a giant rug....See MoreSeating and decor ideas for far wall in basement family room
Comments (17)I am going to show a couple patterns.. but recognize we would need to add a couple pillows too for the sectional and then add art that helps pull it together... going on the brighter side here with some blue. also, recognize you can have multiple blues in the room https://www.potterybarn.com/m/products/balboa-upholstered-swivel-armchair/?pkey=cchairs-ottomans&isx=0.0 https://www.ballarddesigns.com/larkin-upholstered-swivel-glider/furniture/living-room/chairs/224074?uniqueId=224074 https://www.ballarddesigns.com/larkin-upholstered-swivel-glider/furniture/living-room/chairs/224074?uniqueId=224074...See Moreasking for ideas on paint and decor for family room facelift
Comments (10)Taking out the bar to put in a desk area is a great idea. Build in plenty of storage. I would put the tv on the wall to the left of the alcove, where your sofa is currently, and then rotate your seating so you are facing the tv, and the fireplace, with room to walk behind the seating. That leaves room to put more builtin storage in the back corner near the fireplace. You could expand the storage even more by changing your french doors into your living area into a single door, changing the swing so they open into the living area, or removing them completely. That would also lighten the room. I don't mind the half wall going into your kitchen since you have a different level of flooring between the spaces and you need something there. If you put the tv over the fireplace, the room is cut off by the doorway to the living area and the new office, and the length of the room isn't fully utilized....See More
threebyfivebt thanked Hansen
Jamie Ludwig
5 years agoThere are also square and round end tables that match the console.
http://www.kirklands.com/product/Prescott-Square-End-Table/216058.uts
threebyfivebt thanked Jamie Ludwig
apple_pie_order
5 years agothreebyfivebt
5 years agoapple_pie_order
5 years agoI suggest you find some artwork you love nearly as much as the custom cherrywood bookcases. It doesn't have to be found all at once, this search can take a year or so. Framing doesn't make okay art into great art, but it is worth spending money framing art you already love. Here's a random red orange fox and a random red abstract. Choose something you love, maybe with a little orange and blue in it.
PRONicola Interiors
5 years agopartim
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agopartim
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoConsider a larger mantle. Yours is thin compared to the scale of the fireplace. Google how to make a slipcover wood mantle that fits right over the existing mantle and brick brackets. Maybe more of that cherry wood?
threebyfivebt
5 years ago
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
The green cast on the wall is not working with your brick fireplace. Select a more neutral paint color.
Daniela Marino
5 years agodomianj
5 years ago
threebyfivebt thanked groveraxle
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