Home Decor votes/ opinions

jenna8984 · September 2015

This is my new house....the living & dining room are open concept with the cathedral ceiling. So the dining table is behind the couch. The previous owners had a large mirror above the fireplace that looked really pretty. So we ordered 6 large canvas prints of scenery pictures we've taken on various vacations (fluffly cloud pink sunset in Jamaica, London Eye lit up at night, etc). Would you put a mirror above the fireplace and hang these prints right in the center of the wall? Or would you hang these prints over the fireplace? Four of the prints are 20x16 and two are 12x16 so in a grouping they should be around 5 feet by 5 feet of wall space.

Second question, here's the new couch setup. It's a little awkward because instead of the standard sofa and loveseat, we got a sofa and chaise so they don't "line up" in a square. Would you get a square coffee table or a rectangle coffee table? Thanks!!

emmaaa · September 2015

I would either just do the mirror above the fire place or the prints above the fire place. I think if you did the prints off to the right it would look unsymmetrical (which isn't inherently a bad thing but is just not my style).You could do prints on the sides of the mirror or in another location.

I would do a rectangular coffee table in front of the couch.

sparklepants41 · September 2015

I'm never a fan of mirrors above fireplaces, so my vote is definitely for the "collage" of pictures - they sound amazing!

For the coffee table, I would do a square, almost to mimic the shape of the fireplace it will be in front of.

thefanciestbeckler · September 2015

I agree with @emmaaa. I personally like the idea of prints above the fireplace, but then again I am biased because that's what I have above my fireplace

It looks like a rectangular coffee table would fit best and look best. congrats on the new house!

Maggie0829 · September 2015

I would do either a mirror or the prints above the fireplace, but I would not do both on the same wall.

I like square coffee tables but you could also do a large round coffee table. It may help to break up the heaviness of the couch and chaise.

littlemushroom · September 2015

I would do a mirror over the fireplace and the prints on another wall.

I don't think I would do a coffee table at all, or if you really want one I would do a smaller rectangle one. It doesn't look like a lot of room in the middle of the couch and chaise, and a large coffee would end up making the area feel smaller. You need to leave some open floor space to keep the area from feeling cluttered with either too much stuff or furniture that feels too big for the space.

novella1186 · September 2015

Maggie0829 said:

I would do either a mirror or the prints above the fireplace, but I would not do both on the same wall.

I like square coffee tables but you could also do a large round coffee table. It may help to break up the heaviness of the couch and chaise.

I was gonna say pretty much this; if you do both on the same wall, it may look too overwhelming and detract from the fireplace if that makes sense?

I'm also a fan of round coffee tables for some situations. I think round would be easier to move around in that space, and a square table might make everything look too boxy.

Check these out:

jenna8984 · September 2015

Thanks everyone!

Hmmm I kinda hate round tables. Don't know why, I'm a math person so I guess I just like the consistency of hard angles and not mixing shapes. I don't think no table is an option since we like to put our feet up, put a bowl of chips & a drink, etc. The end table right now is only there for a spot for drinks until we can get a coffee table, then we plan to ditch the end table for more walkable floorspace.

I guess it's hard to tell in the pic too, but the chaise looks like it's against the window and it's not. There is a good 2 feet between them so the room is not that small.

lyndausvi · September 2015

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

Maggie0829 · September 2015

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

I was thinking about this as well.

I am not sure what the entrance to that room looks like, but what about moving the sofa to where the chaise is and then angling the chaise near the wall/fireplace into the room?

And again, not sure what the entrance looks like, but what about moving the tv to where the chaise is, moving the sofa up a bit, and then moving the chaise to where the tv was but as an angle?

You could even put the sofa in front of the window, put the chaise at an angle near the wall/fireplace and then move the tv to where the chaise is now, but then again I have no idea what is over in that space that can't be seen in your pictures.

AprilH81 · September 2015

You need something with soft edges in my opinion. You have a lot of "square" going on there (couch, chaise, fireplace) and looks one dimensional. If you don't like round tables what about a large round mirror or clock above the fireplace?

With large walls like you have you need large scale art (or a large collection) otherwise it gets lost on the wall. Your print collection sounds awesome but I'm not sure it is big enough to go on the wall behind couch or not. I could be wrong. Also, with square prints on one part of the wall you will want something round on the fireplace. Again, you don't want everything in the room to be square.

kimmiinthemitten · September 2015

I'm a color person, so I vote for the prints above the fireplace and a cute patterned storage ottoman in lieu of a table. This will give you storage, extra seating and with a tray a place for drinks etc.

I'd also angle the chaise so the back is closer to the wall and the feet more towards the center of the room so it's not so square:).

AprilH81 · September 2015

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

I would also angle the furniture, especially the chaise.

OP: What about putting the couch directly facing the fireplace and putting the chaise where the couch is but angling it in towards the middle of the room? Does that block the entry completely?

lyndausvi · September 2015

AprilH81 said:

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

I would also angle the furniture, especially the chaise.

OP: What about putting the couch directly facing the fireplace and putting the chaise where the couch is but angling it in towards the middle of the room? Does that block the entry completely?

That is what I was thinking. She said there was about 2 feet from the chaise to the wall. There is plenty of space between the chaise and the sofa. I would think it would work.

teddygirl9 · September 2015

I would agree with a round table - do you have enough room to walk around a square/rectangular table? Since you hate the roun idea, I'd probably say square. (but really prefer the round). Maybe mark it out (or cut it out) with cardboard/tape to see what you like better?

We have a sectional sofa and I like the look of the round in the middle.

I have no idea about the pictures. I love the vaulted ceiling, but that its off center with the fireplace makes it hard for me to imagine. I'd again be taping shit off and doing it that way haha.

jenna8984 · September 2015

AprilH81 said:

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

I would also angle the furniture, especially the chaise.

OP: What about putting the couch directly facing the fireplace and putting the chaise where the couch is but angling it in towards the middle of the room? Does that block the entry completely?

I guess I like those round mirrors and clocks. The sofa would likely fit where the chaise is. And then do you mean putting the chaise with it's back nearest the fireplace angled toward the center of the room, or do you mean putting the back of the chaise where I took the picture from? Where I took the picture from is the main entrance to the room. It's a split level house, you walk in the door, up the stairs and it's right there so that would be too weird to block off.

A lot of my friends have this same shape house and they have sofa against the windows and loveseat where the chaise is. But then they have TV in place of fireplace, so the fireplace kind of screws us there and leaves no place for a tv. My H refuses to mount it above the fireplace, I have no idea why but it's like the only hill he will die on lol.

luckya23 · September 2015

I don't like coffee tables - they've always been clutter catchers ime. I have 2 ottomans... you could put trays on them if you need to.

I don't know anything about wall hangings, but I like my giant clock above my fireplace!

AprilH81 · September 2015

jenna8984 said:

AprilH81 said:

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

lyndausvi said:

I would go with a round coffee table or a large round ottoman that you can put your feet on and a tray. I do not like all the boxiness of all your furniture.

I would also change the layout of the room in general. There are a lot of just empty space. Like between the sofa and chaise. Maybe switch the sofa so the sofa is in front of the fireplace. Angle one of the pieces. IDK, the layout of the furniture is just not doing it for me.

I do not have an opinion on the prints or mirror. I think they both can work. Since you already ordered the prints, just stick with that.

I would also angle the furniture, especially the chaise.

OP: What about putting the couch directly facing the fireplace and putting the chaise where the couch is but angling it in towards the middle of the room? Does that block the entry completely?

I guess I like those round mirrors and clocks. The sofa would likely fit where the chaise is. And then do you mean putting the chaise with it's back nearest the fireplace angled toward the center of the room, or do you mean putting the back of the chaise where I took the picture from? Where I took the picture from is the main entrance to the room. It's a split level house, you walk in the door, up the stairs and it's right there so that would be too weird to block off.
A lot of my friends have this same shape house and they have sofa against the windows and loveseat where the chaise is. But then they have TV in place of fireplace, so the fireplace kind of screws us there and leaves no place for a tv. My H refuses to mount it above the fireplace, I have no idea why but it's like the only hill he will die on lol.

As long as it doesn't block access to the room (hard to tell how big the entry way is from your pictures) I would try putting the couch with the back towards the entry and directly facing the fireplace. If you are sitting on the couch you would be looking directly at the fireplace without turning your head.

Then I would put the chaise where the couch is, with the back of the chaise towards the dining room and the foot angled in towards the fireplace.

If moving the couch doesn't work, keep the chaise where it is, but angle the foot in to the middle of the room. You want to create "conversation areas" so if someone is sitting on the chaise they can easily see and talk to someone sitting on the couch. Right now I think the "problem" is that you have two competing focal points in the room. You have the furniture oriented towards the tv but your eye is drawn to the fireplace.

I don't know what your budget is, but if you have any extra money (or furniture from another room) what about adding another smaller chair by the window? That might help. I think having two large pieces of furniture without anything else is contributing to the problem.

Again, this is all personal taste so if you like it go for it!

lyndausvi · September 2015

My DH can't wait to be able to hang up his obnoxiously large TV on the wall.

I think your TV stand is off too. It looks like an afterthought.

Sorry if I'm being too critical.

novella1186 · September 2015

lyndausvi said:

My DH can't wait to be able to hang up his obnoxiously large TV on the wall.

I think your TV stand is off too. It looks like an afterthought.

Sorry if I'm being too critical.

I think it's the scale of the TV stand. Go to a thrift store and find a cool vintage desk to put it on

(That's our plan, whenever we get around to actually moving into our house)

[Deleted User] · September 2015

Is your dining table behind the couch? I'm just trying to get a sense of the whole room.

If it is, then it might be best to leave the couch where it is and angle the chaise toward the fire place more. If not, then try switching the couch and the chaise and angling the chaise toward the fireplace (with the head of the chaise toward the entrance).

I actually do think a round coffee table might be best, just to break up all the rectangles, but if you really hate something like that, try to find a rectangular coffee table that is not "heavy," with thin legs and maybe lighter wood (or marble?).

I think I would have to see what the photos look like in frames to be really opinionated about what to put above the fire place. I think either would look fine, but don't mix the two along the same wall, unless you move that hutch that is on that wall somewhere else. If the dining table is behind the couch and you want to move the hutch, I think it could be nice to have the photos in an arrangement on that end of the wall to give it a more "this room" and "that room" type feel.

[Deleted User] · September 2015

As many PPs have said, I too think you should do one or other (prints or mirror) on that wall- not both. I also vote for a round coffee table since you have SO much that is angular in what appears to be a small space. I'm not a huge fan of round coffee tables, but in this case I think it would look best.

Congrats on your new house.

lyndausvi · September 2015

I'm changing my mind a little. Since you have such large pieces maybe 2 small square or round ottomans would be better then a larger piece.

jenna8984 · September 2015

@aprilh81 Thanks I see what you're saying about the chaise now. We could try moving them around tonight and see if we like that with the couch facing the fireplace directly. The only thing is, we're not on the set of a sitcom, so yea the TV is the focal point and it's all we do in that room LOL. On sitcoms they show 5 people sitting around chatting and a tv off in the corner not being used but that's certainly not how we use a living room

Also as @abcdevonn mentioned, the dining table is behind the sofa and the floor transitions there from carpet to hardwood in the dining room. So as the couch stands it covers the transition, it might be weird to just have that open and glaring.

@lyndausvi @novella1186 The TV and stand are both "fillers" until we buy the big, new pieces we want. We have our eyes on a new 4k tv (that's the definition not the price!) and we plan to buy whichever entertainment stand comes matching the coffee table.

jenna8984 · September 2015

Also, I am definitely taking all your ideas into consideration! I realize that I'm not a design eye person so for me it's easy to just instantly say "I don't like round" but if the majority of people think it will look better, then I should trust their visions and get out of my box a little.

STARMOON44 · September 2015

I would not match the entertainment center and coffee table. I think it will visually dominate the room and be too matchy.

[Deleted User] · September 2015

jenna8984 said:

Also, I am definitely taking all your ideas into consideration! I realize that I'm not a design eye person so for me it's easy to just instantly say "I don't like round" but if the majority of people think it will look better, then I should trust their visions and get out of my box a little.

I actually always thought I didn't like round coffee tables until I looked at some newer ones recently. If you find one you might like, maybe buy it but make sure you can return it if it doesn't work well in the space? I know returning furniture isn't always fun, but I always have a hard time visualizing things until I can actually, physically stare at it!!

lyndausvi · September 2015

STARMOON44 said:

I would not match the entertainment center and coffee table. I think it will visually dominate the room and be too matchy.

same.

But I also do not like matchy, matchy furniture sets. Although we have a set for our bedroom. I do not have any true sets in the rest of my house. Just random pieces that all go together.

novella1186 · September 2015

lyndausvi said:

STARMOON44 said:

I would not match the entertainment center and coffee table. I think it will visually dominate the room and be too matchy.

same.

But I also do not like matchy, matchy furniture sets. Although we have a set for our bedroom. I do not have any true sets in the rest of my house. Just random pieces that all go together.

That's how am I too. H asked the other day if I'd be interested in eventually getting a matching bedroom set and I was so offended lol. My dresser is absolutely beautiful and was inherited from my grandma, my night stand is a cheap Target one that I love, and my bed frame is something that I spent 9 years looking for. No, I do not want a matching set EVER! (I just hate how things look when they match too much, but that's just me)

sparklepants41 · September 2015

novella1186 said:

lyndausvi said:

STARMOON44 said:

I would not match the entertainment center and coffee table. I think it will visually dominate the room and be too matchy.

same.

But I also do not like matchy, matchy furniture sets. Although we have a set for our bedroom. I do not have any true sets in the rest of my house. Just random pieces that all go together.

That's how am I too. H asked the other day if I'd be interested in eventually getting a matching bedroom set and I was so offended lol. My dresser is absolutely beautiful and was inherited from my grandma, my night stand is a cheap Target one that I love, and my bed frame is something that I spent 9 years looking for. No, I do not want a matching set EVER! (I just hate how things look when they match too much, but that's just me)

YES! I like the way non-matched pieces exude character and display our personalities. Since college I have used a really cool vintage steamer trunk as a nightstand - and I don't ever plan on changing just to be matchy.

jenna8984 · September 2015

sparklepants41 said:

novella1186 said:

lyndausvi said:

STARMOON44 said:

I would not match the entertainment center and coffee table. I think it will visually dominate the room and be too matchy.

same.

But I also do not like matchy, matchy furniture sets. Although we have a set for our bedroom. I do not have any true sets in the rest of my house. Just random pieces that all go together.

That's how am I too. H asked the other day if I'd be interested in eventually getting a matching bedroom set and I was so offended lol. My dresser is absolutely beautiful and was inherited from my grandma, my night stand is a cheap Target one that I love, and my bed frame is something that I spent 9 years looking for. No, I do not want a matching set EVER! (I just hate how things look when they match too much, but that's just me)

YES! I like the way non-matched pieces exude character and display our personalities. Since college I have used a really cool vintage steamer trunk as a nightstand - and I don't ever plan on changing just to be matchy.

Guess I'm the opposite hahaha. I feel like mismatched looks like you live in a college apartment with pieces you just inherited from family and roommates and the the side of the road because you couldn't afford a nice set. (I really did have a couch that my roommate brought home from the side of the road lol) My parents always had matching sets and I prefer how it looks intentional and not haphazard.

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