It’s been a while since I shared any updates from around my home with you guys. Lately I feel like I have been on a roll! I’ve been making lots of progress in SOME of the rooms in my house, but most of them still don’t feel “done” to me. If that’s even a thing. 🙂 But, just wanted to share some progress with you all in our living room.
So I call this our “TV living room” because we have two spaces in our house that function like a living room. One part of our house is a big open-style space that has our kitchen, dining room, my office, and a living room in it. But then there’s this other space that we decided to turn into the “TV living room” because it’s a fairly dark space (like a movie theatre), and it’s separate from the other spaces. So someone could be watching a show but not really be disturbed if someone else is in their home office sewing a late night quilt or something… not that this happens at our house often. Oh wait, yes it does. Ha!
If you think the layout sounds confusing, check out my empty house tour video, as it helps to really show the spaces better than I can explain in text.
When we bought the house, this room was already really great. All we did was paint the walls white and move in. Eventually I swapped out the light fixture, which was the first big thing that made this room feel more like us. (Also it feels like Beetlejuice to me too – sort of a spider up there!)
The second thing is I pretty recently painted this big black stripe on the wall behind the TV. This serves a couple purposes. First, it helps to hide the TV when it’s not turned on. I don’t really have a big desire to 100% hide my TV in my house because I don’t mind seeing them in spaces. But I don’t really love when they feel like the most prominent thing in the room. So I like how this helps to blend the TV into the wall, unless it’s turned on and we’re watching something.
But the second thing this black accent stripe does is it really showcases the artwork that we hung just above the TV. This is a painting my mother created for my last house, and I’m only too happy that it’s getting an even better spot in our new house. Yay!
Above the couch I hung a series of photos that shows off an erupting geyser in Iceland. I took these photos while we were visiting there last year. I think Iceland is one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited. So I’ve ended up decorating our home with a number of photos from that trip!
Now I must admit, something about the couch area feels a bit off to me. Like maybe our couch is too small for the space? Or maybe I should move it off of the wall some, like maybe it’s too far back. I really like this couch as it folds out into a futon, and Trey and I honestly pull it out so we can snuggle and watches movies together at least a couple times a month – so I like the futon feature. But this part of the room really just doesn’t feel quite there to me – but it’s coming along for sure.
I think we for sure need a coffee table in front of the couch. I had a DIY idea, but I’m wondering if the room has too much DIY already? Hmm.
I already shared the bookshelf on our back wall and also how I had this armchair reupholstered with a bright yellow fabric. I’ve been trying to protect it from dark jeans by adding throw blankets now and again. So far it’s holding up OK but probably not as well as the last fabric (although I like the yellow color, so whatever!). I also might take the seat cover off and either wash it or have it dry cleaned once a year just to keep it feeling bright and fresh.
You can see my home office in the background here too.
We had the cowhide rugs in our last house, and they seem to hold up the best in our house compared to other rugs. Our dogs don’t have messes that often (they have a dog door), but when they do, I seem to have much better luck cleaning these cowhides than I usually do with other rugs. So we decided to layer those with an inexpensive basket weave style rug underneath to make this space feel more cozy.
That’s about it. This room still needs some work, but I’m a pretty slow decorator who also tends to change her mind fairly often. So I’m not really in a big hurry. 🙂 Thanks for letting me share! xo. Emma
Room Sources: TV stand/DIY, Light fixture/eBay, Couch/UO, Black chair/flea market, Yellow chair c/o Thrive Furniture, Basketweave rug and metal glass top side tables/Target, Cowhides/vintage + eBay, Tree stump side tables/DIY, Black and white lamp/vintage, Gold lamp c/o Joss & Main, Magazine holder/DIY, Curtains/IKEA, and Large black and white artwork is an original Elizabeth Chapman.
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman.Â
41 Comments
I think what feels off about the room is that your furniture is too far apart – everything is off towards the walls. Since its a tv room, you should definitely up the cozy factor even more by uniting the chairs and sofa. I would pull the chairs a bit closer and get a big, low coffee table to ground everything.
You could also pull the couch away from the wall and put a sofa table/console behind it (long, tall, skinny) to fill the space between the couch and wall. And still, definitely a coffee table – something substantial but still lightweight enough that you can slide out of the way when you want to pull the couch out into a bed (sounds very fun for movie watching!)
If never have thought that painting the wall behind the TV would 1. Look good and 2. Work! It works so well, great idea.
http://www.englishgirlinnewyork.org
I LOVE the black stripe – so good! For both the reasons you mentioned. And I really like everything going on in this room. I like the ideas the other commenter suggested, or possibly adding another chair between the couch and yellow chair, in a very similar color or shape. Also perhaps a large plant next to the couch, around the couch’s heights, for some structure, and a floor lamp in the corner. Just some ideas! I agree that a coffee table (pretty simple) or moving the couch in could make it cozier too.
Oh man, I love all your tips. Can you come over and walk through the rest of my house??? 🙂
-Emma
That black stripe is brilliant! I am already eyeing our TV wall to see if I can do something similar. I love that it immediately draws your attention to the painting rather than the TV. I also love how you’ve layered rugs. I wouldn’t have thought to do that, but it’s so much “homier” than just having one big rectangular rug in the middle of the room. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I was nervous about it but I think it turned out nicely. I figured I could always just paint it back to white if we didn’t like it. That would be a bit tedious but pretty inexpensive so I didn’t mind taking the risk. 🙂
-Emma
Never have seen a yellow chair like that but I really like it. What fun to start from scratch and create your ideal space. Bravo.
I find rooms that are purposefully for watching TV look weird when there isn’t something right in front of the TV. If you are sitting on the couch you have to turn your head all the way to the left. The chair is way too far away. And I agree that things need to be pulled away from the walls. The black stripe is cool though!
The room looks great-it’s really coming together. Here’s my suggest re: the sofa area-The photos over the sofa are beautiful but don’t offer much visual weight,maybe try adding something with black over the sofa to balance it out?
I have a similar layout in my living room and have been struggling with it too. I was so excited about having a large room, but it’s hard to make it look cozy and deliberate. I keep going back and forth on a round coffee table or a large ottoman like the Hopson from Joybird or the Retro Tillary from West Elm. I’ve also considered a chaise in one corner to take up some space while providing more seating. At least we have some fun “problems” to solve!
Wow! That’s really nice! I love the colors and how it has a tv… but is still a nice sitting room.
-Emma
http://emmagranger.com
Your mother’s painting is gorgeous! Such a perfect spot for it. And I love the idea of the black stripe behind the TV. It almost feels like a projection, or something structurally different about that section of the wall.
I think a coffee table will definitely help fill up the floor space, but overall, I love how you have decorated! Can’t wait to see how you continue to tweek and change things.
Sweet Horizon
maybe this is crazy, but any way to angle the couch away from the way or just totally move it so it’s facing the t.v. and move the yellow chair to that wall. i think this would up the coziness and t.v. watching comfy factor. room looks great though! black stripe is cool!
I agree with a previous commenter– try your sofa directly in front of your TV! If you move it far enough into the room you won’t block off your space, and a floating sofa looks great with a throw blanket down its back or a styled sofa table behind it. You could then arrange + angle your chairs to face the sofa on either side of the tv (pretend the tv is your mantlepiece) and when you have the need just swivel the chairs to face the tv for viewing pleasure. Would also work chairs facing each other straight on instead of the sofa. You and Trey will be 100% cozier when you don’t have to turn your head or angle your body in order to watch your tube. All this coming from a serial furniture re-arranger…. It just ain’t right unless I’ve tried every possible combo! Love all the elements to this space and looks great as-is 🙂
I love the way this room is coming together! I agree with the suggestion of pulling the furniture away from the walls a little bit. I picture a chunky, round upholstered ottoman instead of a coffee table. Something that you can prop your feet on and that ups the cozy factor of the room. You can style it with a cute tray for sitting drinks on. And I know you said this room is dark, but I think the corner to the left of the TV could use some plant action whether they are real or faux to add some life. Hope this helps!
Or, if you wanted to keep the photos – because they really are beautiful – perhaps you could try changing the picture frames to black frames to make them stand out and match the other room elements (stripe/painting/light)?
I second moving the couch to face the tv and then maybe moving the yellow chair plus a side table/small shelf/bunch of plants to the wall where the couch was. 🙂
That black stripe is FANTASTIC!
Ok, I love that you have a normal sized television! My husband and I have a 30-inch TV and people always ask, “Is that your TV?” Um, yes. And then, “You don’t have another one?” Um, no. Ha!
I love all the elements of the room. Great colors and furniture. Lookin’ good!
First, I love your mother’s paintings!
I like the suggestions of changing the position of the couch to face the tv and get the furniture off the wall. The first thing I noticed (besides the gorgeous painting) is those two rugs, plus the throw, so close together. I’d remove one of them from the space or space them farther apart, if possible. It’s a little too much competing pattern (at least for my old eyes).
I love the black stripe! That is such a great idea.
I would add a large plant to the far corner of the room, to the left of the TV. I also agree that more visual weight above the sofa would help – maybe a dark wood or black photo ledge? Or colored mats in the frames? I worry black frames would be too much going on.
Second all the comments regarding placement of the sofa. How can you possibly watch TV with your neck craned at such an angle? That just seems super uncomfortable.
Room looks beautiful! Where did you snag those square white frames? I’ve been having a tough time finding good ones!
The stripe to hide the TV is so smart! I love it and the geometric element it provides!
I agree with the poster above that said the frames above the couch add very little visual weight. I think black frames would bring more balance and in a sense be geometric squares to go with the long stripe. I love the texture of the weave look rug and the contrast of the cowhide.
Awesome transformation!
http://www.mytwopence.com/
HEY THERE. My teenage years were spent in Springfield. Went to junior high and high school there. Graduated from Hillcrest High School!!! So love seeing your blog because it, honestly, never occurred to me that anything stylish was in Springfield and I couldn’t wait to get the heck outta there. That was in the 80’s though so I am sure it has changed A LOT!
Anyhooo…..where did you get that fantastic chair that is in the corner?
Vintage right?
Gasp! That is one gorgeous space! I fell in love with the chandelier in particular.
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com
I was thinking black frames would add more visual weight too the photos as well. The black stripe to mask the tv is a great idea!
Yes! I came here to post just this!
When Emma said something just feels a little off, I felt the same way… I immediately thought the white frames on the white wall feel too weak. Changing the frames out for darker frames would be just the ticket. They would feel more substantial for sure and also balance the weight of that gorgeous black stripe.
I also agree with someone else who posted that the furniture is spaced too far apart for creating that cozy feeling I think Emma is trying to achieve.
I love the black stripe to “hide” the TV in plain sight. I, too, hate it when rooms are centered around the TV. This is the best of both worlds – the TV is still readily available, but not the main focus of the room. Really neat idea.
Love the black stripe -and love your Mother’s painting even more! I also think pulling the furniture closer together will do the trick. I would try bringing the two chairs closer together to mirror the width of the couch -and then add a round coffee table between them (though the basket weave rug would then be too large for the furniture orientation)..? Moving the couch to face the TV could work but my couch and TV have the same relationship in my home because laying down is our preferred method of watching. Or! Or you could leave the couch where it is (if the room is wide enough adding a slim console behind it is clever) but bring the handsome black chair to join the yellow with it’s back to the outside of the room and then throw a non-view-disrupting daybed across from the couch.?! Coffee table for sure -oh, and ottomans!!! I also really liked the black frames suggestion to both bring more weight to those amazing photographs and to encourage more conversation between the pictures, the stripe and the lovely black window trim (which I also really, really like btw 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I love this style http://www.hannamarielei.com
For a simple solution I would hang the pictures above the sofa 2 over 2 in a clockwise sequence. This would make a vertical area that would match the one you have going on with the tv/painting pairing. I think you’re right about the sofa not being long enough for the length of the picture arrangement you have now. I would wait until you get a coffee table before rearranging the other pieces. I like the white frames with the photos, they don’t distract from the photos themselves like I think black frames would. Just my two cents worth. ? I really like what you have so far.
This is stunning, I love that lamp!
http://www.makeandmess.com/
You look like a fashionista
And your room is excellent, just like you so
Love it
Love the black stripe! It gives the same feeling that a fireplace would but thousands cheaper. Good choice!
I love love love the black, white, beige and yellow combination! Wow!
Love, Caroline
https://carolinespassion.wordpress.com
It looks something different. I Like it.
Placing such a photograph made me pay more attention to the picture but the TV was not very noticeable
Room looks beautiful! Where did you snag those square white frames? I’ve been having a tough time finding good ones!