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Help with Balance and Scale
I'm trying to sort out how to decorate a wall in my living room.
The wall is long, but there is a medium sized chest that is centered on the wall.
There is nowhere else for the chest to go because it's part of a set of antiques that are also in the room, but because of it's scale, I always find it difficult to decorate around it.
Here is how the layout is currently
In my last home I had a mirror above the chest, but then also struggled with what to put on either side to balance it out. This time around, I have some things on display which have special meaning to H and me.
Suggestions with how to fill the wall space? I always worry that if I put anything to the side of the chest, it might look odd if there's nothing on the opposite side.
If I put a mirror above it, would it then look odd to add shelving to the right, but not the left? Would a mirror on the right look off balance?
The lamp that is there also needs to stay because that and a table lamp at the side of the sofa are the only two light in there and at night, we like to read under it.
Re: Help with Balance and Scale
Can you slide it over more towards the window wall/couch? A little more centered would help. That said, it's not bad at all.
I wouldn't bother decorating the walls around it. Instead, I think you need taller, bigger more impact pieces on the top. Think tall chunky candle holders, a long planter with a full plant, big vases etc.
I debated taller pieces on top, but then figured it would draw even more attention to the giant blank wall next to it. The piece is already centered to the seating area. Everything in the room is justified to the right because we have double doors on the other side leading into a sun room. Another reason decorating on the left side of the wall proves difficult. When the doors are open, they basically take up that part of the wall.
I agree that it could be moved a little to the right. You could do a few small photos on each side of the chest. I'm picturing two white frames vertical on each side, in addition to some chunkier, simple decor on top of he chest. Maybe a couple big hurricane vases with candles?
I think the problem that most people have with balance is that they confuse it with symmetry.
It is more about the visual weight of the furniture and objects. The chest is large and dark, and visually heavy. The wall to the right needs something large to balance it.
Shelves on the upper part of that would work and might be a better way to display the things that you have on top of the chest now....they seem kind of lost there.
Some kind of large art piece would work. A mirror might work, but it depends on the frame and what it reflects. Same with a mirror over the chest.
I think the top of the chest might be nice with one big accent piece on it. Something to give it a little more height and color.
Some simple vases on top would look good like this:
With some candles too?
I think you're right and that's especially hard for me because I like everything to be symmetrical. I *think* I might have figured out what to do with the space.
Keep the suggestions coming though!
What is the "special meaning" stuff? One of them looks like a painting...can you have that matted much bigger and hang it framed over the chest? I would think about that, and then shelves on the right displaying some other things like this (but not so busy):
ETA: Here's the one I was actually looking for:
It's not a painting, it's an old photograph which is a birdseye view of H's childhood home. It was one of these massive estate type things that had a name and apple orchards and the like...the picture has sentimental value, since his parents have since sold the place. Some books that are yachting related since H comes from a family that used to manufacture racing sails for the Queen of England...other antique related stuff that was family owned...that kind of thing.
The decor in the room as far as the color palette and the girly things are largely suited to my taste so to have the above items in the room balances it out and makes it feel personal to him as well. I actually have some really old pictures and post cards that I'm now considering matting and putting up on the wall to fill the space.
Then I would definitely mat it large and give it more "weight" -- either on top of the chest or above or next to it. And I think it's good to display the items, but again they would do better on shelves next to the chest, maybe mixed in with the framed postcards you describe.
What about a large mirror to the right? Either a long one resting on the floor or a large rectangle hanging on the wall? You need something substantial to the right of the dresser.
What a beautiful room, by the way. What's your paint color?
I LOVE the idea of matting it large.
Can you believe he came home and didn't even notice that I put all "his" things out in a room that I usually reserve as "my" girl cave? LOL. Hmph!
Thank you
It's SW Colonnade Grey